The Oshkosh West Index - Chinese class helps to diversify curriculum

Volume 106, Issue 1

Online Features

Chinese class helps to diversify curriculum

By S. Moritz and E. Mylrea
posted September 26, 2009

A walk down the E-wing near the end of the day can be a captivating experience. Familiar sounds can range anywhere from the collective mutterings of English teachers spouting on about "paradigm shifts" to the clank of clicking pens as students struggle to decipher their latest math quizzes. But towards the end of the hall, a not so familiar sound is beginning to find its place. The sound is of a classroom speaking Mandarin Chinese, the newest language class offered at West.

"This is the first year we are running the program," said Chinese teacher Wen Ding. "There is one class at West as well as one class at North. Chinese is such a major language; it's an important addition to the school."

While Chinese has been offered for many years during scheduling, it has always been dropped due to lack of interest or other difficulties.

"For three or four years the class has been cancelled, which made others wary to sign up for the class," said Ding. "Luckily this year interest was high enough that we were able to implement the new program. Now students will be more eager to take the class, knowing it won't be cancelled like in the past. It's very exciting to know that more students will begin to experience the Chinese language and culture."

The new Chinese classes at both North and West have had an excellent start. Students have already begun to study the Chinese characters, and are beginning to communicate in the new tongue.

"Like every other class we learn from the beginning. First the abc's and pronunciation, then we work towards really being able to understand and express thoughts with the language. We also bring in Chinese culture and we try to build an understanding of where the language began," said Ding. "The students have been enthusiastic to learn so far."

The class is part of a larger national trend to teach Chinese and other eastern languages. As China connects more with America, there is a more influential push to teach the Chinese language.

"When I came here two years ago, Chinese classes were pretty confined to big cities. However, the Chinese language is beginning to transcend out of China's borders, especially with the business connections between countries. Now the classes are becoming more popular throughout the state," said Ding. "For example, the college board created the AP Chinese test two years ago. The language is really starting to get integrated into our secondary schools."

Students at West agree that providing the language opens new doors, and also helps to enrich the curriculum.

"I think it's great that West is globalizing," said senior Rebecca Liu, who took the AP Chinese test last year. "Chinese is spoken by so many people; it's a really useful language to know."

Along with teaching the new Chinese class, Ding is also taking on the challenge of leading the new English Language Learner [ELL] program. The program, which is designed to ease the transition for non-English speaking students. The new program will accommodate students who speak languages varying from Spanish to Hmong.

"There are 30 ELL students from levels one through five," said Ding.

Students are placed in levels; one being the students most in need of help and five being the least. Along with taking the regular classes, students in the program also receive individual assistance from either Ding, or the two other assistants. The difference in culture and the language barrier can be intimidating for most students.

"It is important to respect the students in the program," said Principal Peter Cernohous. "Imagine if you were to go to a different country and not knowing the language', you'd easily feel the language barrier."

Cernohous appreciates the advantages of having the program at the school.

"With the new program here at West, it has made it easier for students in need it has made it easier for students in need of taking the ELL program to come to West, instead of having the only option to go to North, which was the only school in the district to offer ELL," he said.

Ding has high hopes for both the ELL program and the Chinese class. In the future she hopes to add more levels on to the Chinese language program, similar to the current progression of other languages in the department.

"Now that we have the groundwork laid, students will become more interested and we will develop the program more," said Ding. "We have great expectations for the future."

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