In the upcoming 2012 – 2013 academic year, St. Louis Language Immersions Schools (SLLIS) will open The Chinese School (TCS) at their location at 4011 Papin Street. Students at TCS will learn their entire curriculum in the Mandarin language.
Recently SLLIS President Rhonda Broussard appointed Lydia Chen as the pioneering Head of TCS. The rest of the TCS team includes two Kindergarten lead teachers, two Kindergarten teacher assistants, one first grade lead teacher, a Title 1 teacher, a PE teacher, a music teacher and an Art, Reading and Library teacher.
All of SLLIS’ TCS teachers are native Mandarin speakers and are excited to impart the Chinese language and culture on their students.
“Learning a foreign language, especially Chinese, is challenging, but I believe that immersion teaching is the most effective way of learning foreign languages,” says TCS lead Kindergarten teacher Yueping Zhang.
“I am looking forward to introducing my students and their families to China through its language with its history and culture. A new language means a new horizon. To understand others is to know oneself better and to respect and tolerate differences.”
TCS is the third of SLLIS’ schools to open. SLLIS’ Spanish and French schools have been in operation for 3 years, expanding one grade level each year. TCS will also expand one grade level each year. Future plans for SLLIS expansion include a Japanese, Russian, German, Arabic and Farsi school, eventually extending from elementary to high school.
“I chose The Chinese School because I wanted to give my son an opportunity to explore and interact with the world around him,” says Tishaura Jones about why she chose TCS for her son.
“Knowing other languages and understanding other cultures is a 21st Century skill set for American students as they prepare to live and work in a global society.”
SLLIS is committed to carrying out their mission to position all children for success in local and global economies through holistic, intellectually-inspiring language immersion programs. TCS is another important step toward fulfilling SLLIS’ mission. The SLLIS team recognizes the unique role an education in Mandarin can play in our children’s futures.
Parents such as Carmen Hornberger, mother of a TCS student, recognize its importance as well.
“Over 90 percent of all U.S. debt is now owned by the Asian market! When I look at the advantages of how this can impact my son’s education, employment path and social development I cannot even stay in my seat from enthusiasm,” she says.
“This exciting new advantage in education is going to set the stage for more bilingual leaders in the nation. I’m just so thankful for the creation of the St. Louis Language Immersion School and all of its supporters.”
