American Students Learn Their ABCs and Chinese

From http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/19/eveningnews/main7263167.shtml

American Students Learn Their ABC's and Chinese
Only 9% of Americans Speak a Foreign Language - Compared to 44 Percent of Europeans

(CBS) China's president said Wednesday young people are the future of the relationship between his country and the U.S. The problem is, he said it in Mandarin - a language most Americans don't understand.

CBS News correspondent Terry McCarthy reports there are some American children who don't have to wait for the translation.

Americans generally assume everyone speaks English. Often, they exceed our expectations. Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin surprised Mike Wallace in 2000 by reciting the Gettysburg Address in English.

Even the French President speaks English - kind of.

But Americans do not generally share such multilingual talents. Only nine percent of Americans speak a foreign language, compared to 44 percent of Europeans - something President Obama is painfully aware of.

"We need to learn foreign languages," Mr. Obama said at a campaign rally in 2008. "I don't speak a foreign language - it's embarrassing."

Instead of struggling with foreign grammar, Americans would rather struggle with headphones to hear the translation.

But not in City Terrace public school in east Los Angeles - where 90 students have been learning Chinese since kindergarten. Like his classmates, third-grader Nelson Enriquez even has his own Chinese name.

"At five years old they are like little sponges," Principal Elaine Fujiu said.

Nelson's family speaks Spanish at home, so he is trilingual - which the
8-year-old is already planning to exploit. "I might get a better job - and a raise too."

The students have been learning Chinese for four years and they are pretty good - but it's an unusual school. Across the country only 50,000 Americans are learning Chinese. In China, by contrast, there are 200 million students learning English.

The numbers are increasing. A decade ago about 300 schools in the U.S. taught Chinese. Now it's close to 1,600 - driven by interest in China's $6 trillion economy, now the second biggest in the world.

At City Terrace the Chinese immersion program is so popular they have a waiting list.

"Learning Chinese as a second language will help their children to get a better job later on," said third-grade teacher Theresa Kao.

Two languages, two cultures - and no one at a loss for words.

Click and Help CLSC Win a Chase Manhattan Grant to Promote Chinese

We are eligible to win $25K from a Chase grant, to local charities (where Chase has offices) throughout the U.S. Please click on the link below and type in our name to vote for Chinese Language School of Connecticut.

Donations, grants and fundraising (which are down considerably these last 2 years) are our primary way of keeping tuition as low as we can, while providing interactive activities and the finest educational materials and faculty training of any U.S. supplementary Chinese language program.

More and more companies are using social networking tools to target clients and promote giving (such as Chase).

Even if you don't have a Facebook account, it's worth it to take 3 minutes, log into to www.facebook.com, and just set yourself up.

Then, click on the following:
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Chinese Language School of Connecticut Chopstix Preschool Chinese Classes at the Greenwich Library



--School to introduce youngest children to Chinese language and culture.--





Photo Caption: Children learn Chinese in a recent CLSC Chopstix class.



RIVERSIDE, September 1, 2009– The Chinese Language School of Connecticut (www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org) will be offering a Chopstix preschool Chinese demo class at the Greenwich Library, on Friday, September 18, at 10:30 to 11:15am in the Children’s Constellation room of the library.

Greenwich Library's Children's Librarian Alice Sherwood said, “We're very pleased to offer these engaging programs for young children at the library, as a service to the Greenwich community."

CLSC Principal Daisy Chen Laone, explained, “We’d like to offer complementary Chopstix classes to the community, to introduce more children to learning Mandarin Chinese.”

“It’s such an ancient, rich language, and the children enjoy the stories, songs, and puppets we use in our preschool classes, in order to make Chinese come alive for them!”

Regular CLSC classes are held Sundays in Riverside, and weekdays at the Greenwich Family Y on East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich.

To attend the free class, please come by the library 10 minutes before class is scheduled to start, as class size is limited.



For information on the Chinese Language School of Connecticut’s language programs for children or adults, their Before– and After- School programs, special workshops, private tutoring or corporate language programs, please visit www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org or email them at info@ChineseLanguageSchool.org.


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Chopstix Chinese Story Time at Perrot Library, Old Greenwich, CT

The Chinese Language School of Connecticut Presents Chopstix Chinese Story Time at Old Greenwich’s Perrot Library
-- School presents activities and stories for three to five year olds --

“Perrot is thrilled to partner with the Chinese Language School of Connecticut in adding Story Time in Mandarin Chinese to our preschool program offerings. Learning a second language not only has a positive effect on a child’s mental development, but also opens the door to other cultures!” Perrot Library Technical Assistant Vicky Livoti”.

Riverside, CT, June 29, 2009 – The Chinese Language School of Connecticut (www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org), the fully-accredited, non-profit Riverside, CT-based provider of Chinese language programs, is pleased to present Chopstix Chinese Story Time at Old Greenwich’s Perrot Library (www.perrotlibrary.org).

This program is for children ages 3-5 (and their siblings); a parent or caregiver must be present.

Story times are Wednesdays, 1pm, July 8, 15, 22, 29. For more info www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org or info@ChineseLanguageSchool.org, or visit http://greenteapop.blogspot.com.

CLSC parent, Greenwich resident Robyn Wasserman said, "I am so pleased that the Perrot Library and the Chinese Language School of Connecticut are able to bring such a culturally enriching program to our community. Our children truly benefit when two wonderful institutions collaborate."


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Musical Mandarin 2.5 hour preschool class

Thanks to our parents of preschoolers for your suggestions on forming an expanded preschool class! We're happy to offer Musical Mandarin, a drop off class for children ages 3-5, which uses activities, songs and music to introduce children to Chinese!

Chinese Language School of Connecticut Introduces Musical Mandarin

-- Non-Profit School offers 2.5 hour Weekday Preschool Class --

“So many of our parents have asked for an expanded preschool class utilizing music, and we’re pleased to help introduce even more children to Chinese through Musical Mandarin,” noted CLSC Board Co-Chair, Greenwich resident Cynthia Chang Scanlan.

Riverside, CT, June 1, 2009 – The Chinese Language School of Connecticut (www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org), the fully-accredited, non-profit Riverside, CT-based provider of Chinese language programs to students, schools and corporations, is pleased to announce Musical Mandarin, an expanded, 2.5 hour preschool class developed to introduce Chinese to children through activities and music.

CLSC Principal, Daisy Chen Laone, explained, “Young children learn best through music and song. We are extremely fortunate to have some exceptionally talented teachers with wonderful musical ability. With the start this fall of our new Musical Mandarin program, we hope to engage even more preschoolers in learning Chinese.”

“Musical Mandarin is available to children ages three through five, Wednesdays, 9:30-12:00, starting October 14, 2009, at our weekday program offices at the Greenwich Family Y, 50 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT. Registration is open now; early registration rates apply until July 15.

“We are offering our summer preschool Chopstix programs in Greenwich, as well, for any students who can’t wait until the fall to begin learning Chinese!” she continued. “The registration deadline is June 15.”

CLSC parent Robyn Wasserman explained, "Our family’s experience at the Chinese Language School of Connecticut has been wonderful. The teachers are knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and highly educated. They have challenged our daughter to learn Mandarin and have made her experience quite enjoyable. We would definitely recommend the Chinese Language School of Connecticut."

For information on any of the Chinese Language School of Connecticut’s programs, including summer, weekend or weekday language programs for children or adults, Before– and After- School programs, special workshops, private tutoring or corporate language programs, please visit www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org or email them at info@ChineseLanguageSchool.org.

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