Wall Street Journal "Big Innovation" Program Picks Chinese Language School of Connecticut as a Finalist

http://blogs.wsj.com/biginnovation/

Chinese Language School of

Connecticut

http://blogs.wsj.com/biginnovation/2011/08/15/chinese-language-school-of-connecticut/

Business: Chinese Language School of Connecticut
Headquarters: Riverside, Conn.
Industry: Education
Product/service: Mandarin Chinese as a Second Language
Number of full-time employees: 6
Year begun: 2002

What was the challenge your business was facing as a result of the economy?

Our company, the Chinese Language School of Connecticut, had lost about 15% of its revenue each year from 2008 through the first half of fiscal year 2011 from regular programs, and both corporate and individual fundraising were down dramatically.

What was the innovative idea you put in place?

We launched iVuChinese, our online distance-learning program, in July, 2011. iVuChineseused disruptive, simple-to-download and widely-available technology to access our online Chinese learning tools while students are online with a native speaking, fully trained, CLSC instructor.

What significant milestone has this innovative idea lead to since Jan. 1, 2009?

iVuChinese has hit goals in several ways: by increasing projected tutoring revenue by 25% this year alone; by expanding our programs and allowing anyone across the globe who has a personal computer and a set of headphones to learn Chinese using our award-winning, fully accredited curriculum; and by promoting all of our programs since iVuChinese has been picked up by many different media sites, schools, and forwarded to hundreds of individuals.

Please explain your innovation at greater length.

We adopted our two daughters from China in 1996 and 2000. Our older daughter, Emily, started asking, “How do I say ‘dog’ in Chinese? How do I say ‘flower’?” I realized how important it was to allow her to understand her native language and culture, so I worked with a native Chinese-speaking friend to start Chopstix, in 1999. Chopstix was a volunteer-run preschool Chinese program that donated all net proceeds to U.S. nonprofits working with children in Chinese orphanages.

When Emily was 5, I enrolled her in a traditional, “cultural” Chinese school, where we were the only non-Chinese speakers. She still loved learning Chinese, but this experience gave me the opportunity to work with some of the professional, highly dedicated colleagues I met there to form the nonprofit, dual-accredited Chinese Language School of Connecticut, in 2002. CLSC teaches Mandarin Chinese using U.S.-based immersion techniques and age-appropriate, interactive activities to students ages 18 months to adult via various programs.

CLSC hummed along from 2002 through 2008. We started to see a slowdown early in 2008, but it really wasn’t until 2009 that many of our programs began to be undersubscribed. At the same time, China’s emergence as a global powerhouse, with economic growth far surpassing the rest of the world, was becoming clear to most educated people, so our tutoring program began to expand dramatically. This continued through 2010, but in early 2011 we realized that our current, “local school” business model was not sustainable in the current business environment.

So, in spring of 2011, we started to develop and test our iVuChinese online distance-learning program. iVuChinese offers students (ages 7 to adult) the opportunity to learn Chinese using only a personal computer and a set of headphones. They may work with a custom-designed program, or can access our online Chinese programs, but are working one on one with a native speaking Chinese CLSC faculty member the whole time. iVuChinese allows students to practice speaking, reading, writing and listening to Chinese, all while online with their instructor.

We launched iVuChinese in July 2011, and results so far have been terrific. iVuChinese will allow CLSC to meet our objectives this year of both hitting our financial goals, but also by allowing even more students to explore the exciting challenge of learning Chinese.

iVuChinese Online Learning Program Launch!

Photo caption: Jackson Dapuzzo, Greenwich, prepares to log in to learn Chinese online with his instructor


Chinese Language School of Connecticut Announces New Online Learning Program, iVuChinese

--iVuChinese distance learning program allows students to learn Chinese online, with locally-based, native speaking teachers --


“As CLSC enters our 10th year, we’re pleased to announce our new online learning program, iVuChinese. iVuChinese allows students the opportunity to learn or practice Chinese nearly any time, from any place,” New Canaan resident, CLSC president and Board member, Susan Serven.

RIVERSIDE, CT, July 1, 2011 – The Chinese Language School of Connecticut (www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org), the non-profit Riverside, CT-based provider of Chinese language programs to students, schools and corporations, has announced the launch of their new online learning service, iVuChinese. iVuChinese is an online tutoring program, developed by CLSC’s education professionals, which allows students to connect with a native-speaking instructor remotely, using only their laptop or PC, and a standard application download.

iVuChinese allows students to work with native-speaking teachers to design a personal, customized curriculum, and learn remotely, at their own pace. The teacher will link to CLSC online learning tools and documents, while guiding the student’s learning process, correcting their pronunciation, and assisting them with reading and writing Chinese characters if necessary.

The student will be learning and practicing directly with the teacher, almost exactly as if she were sitting next to him.

CLSC parent of 3 sons, Pelham, NY resident and Board of Directors co-Chair Jeffay Chang noted, “CLSC’s faculty undergo regular, rigorous training to make sure they’re able to communicate at a level that is both comfortable and consistent for our non-native speaking audience. Most other online sites do not have teachers who are both trained in on-line teaching methods, and who also have classroom experience, so can understand and appreciate the differences in working with students of varying ages.

New Canaan resident, CLSC co-founder and president, Susan Serven, concurred. “One of CLSC’s key benefits is that we recruit native Chinese speakers, who have been rigorously trained in U.S. teaching methods, and are often parents, themselves. When we started the organization, back in 2002, we realized that no matter where each of us was born, our children were all learning in U.S. school systems, so we needed to be aware that they’d be most familiar with U.S. teaching methods. iVuChinese is an extension of CLSC’s dually-accredited programs which allow all students to have access learning Chinese as a second language.”

Darwei Kung, co-Chair and Harrison, NY resident, noted, “Many of our students have come from as far away as New Jersey and Chester, CT. Over the last couple of years, many people have said they wanted their children to learn Chinese, but needed to send them to an accredited program with instructors fully trained in how to best engage and motivate children who usually don’t speak Chinese at home. We are very pleased to offer this new program in response to the need for a quality, consistent, interactive Chinese program which uses various milestones to measure students’ progress.”

CLSC’s principal, Daisy Chen Laone, explained, “Key to students’ learning and retaining a language is usage and practice. Online learning allows students an easier way to practice Chinese. CLSC’s approach is unique because we stress interactive usage over rote memorization. Lessons are age-appropriate and are organized around themes such as family, food, travel, and games so that children can quickly gain useful communication skills. We’ve done considerable research to determine which learning methods and interactive, online support materials work best for American students learning Chinese as a second language, and it seems to be working; many parents say their children love learning Chinese!”

CLSC program director, Harrison resident Terri Kung, noted “Generally, younger children acquire a second language better than older children or adults, especially if their learning uses interactive methods and they are allowed plenty of time to practice, in order to build retention and understanding. Early introduction to Chinese exposes each child to a wider variety of its contexts. These contexts foster language proficiency and help develop insights into the nature of the language. With time and practice, each child will gain a deeper understanding and better command of the Chinese language and will ultimately develop a life-long interest of Chinese language and culture. “

To learn more about iVuChinese or CLSC’s other Chinese language programs for children or adults, please visit them at www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org or contact them at info@ChineseLanguageSchool.org.

For interesting articles on Chinese language learning and Chinese culture, please visit http://GreenTeaPop.blogspot.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/ChineseLanguageSchoolofConnecticut


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