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SPOTLIGHT: Denver Language School teacher shares pride in Chinese language immersion program
Denver Language School Teacher Shares Her Pride For the School’s Chinese Programs
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1. What are the strengths of the Chinese program at Denver Language School (DLS)? How does DLS compare to other language immersion schools? 2. What are some things you might see in a classroom at DLS that you wouldn’t see in other schools?
The vision of Denver Language School is to cultivate students with academic excellence and intercultural literacy. Denver Language School’s Chinese immersion program builds on this ambition and professionally builds a curriculum that is tailored to students’ cognitive and language development, as well as cultural backgrounds. The Chinese program integrates the subject matter proficiency indicators from the State Department of Education and the language proficiency indicators of the American Society for the Teaching of Foreign Languages. High standards require high educational standards, so that students can conduct academic learning and discussions through a second language. The school’s curriculum attaches great importance to multicultural perspectives, so that students with different languages and cultural backgrounds can understand the diversity of multiculturalism through curriculum design and maintain the value of multiculturalism. Such learning opportunities are rare in Colorado.
Teachers are closely tied to the educational quality of a school. Denver Language School teachers have systematic long-term training, including on-campus training, off-campus immersion education, expert customized training, and teacher-themed discussions in the same grade to support efficient student learning. The parent-teacher cooperation in Denver Language School is very close. In addition to communicating and cooperating with each other in academic study, teachers and parents also cooperate in school class activities and cultural festivals. The cross-cultural learning experience is not only implemented with students, but also with parents. It’s important to work together!
Whether I look back at my more than ten years of Q&A teaching experience, or look at language learning through research publications, it’s clear that the length of time immersed in the target language is the key to language learning efficiency. Immersion language education is booming across the United States, but immersion programs with a high ratio like DLS are still quite rare. DLS also boasts two teachers in every K-4 classroom. When you come to the DLS classroom, you will be pleasantly surprised to see that the students demonstrate fluency in academic vocabulary, speaking, and writing. The mastery of the target language is quite high and natural. This is the program I am most proud of out of the three immersive Chinese programs I have taught for over the past 14 years.
YU-HSIN LIEN 3. As a DLS parent and staff member, what about DLS appeals to you? Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Mandarin Program As a part of the leadership team at DLS, I have had a wonderful environment, allowing me to most closely integrate my love of language teaching and multicultural values. As a parent of a DLS student, I am very grateful to the school for giving my child an opportunity for a bright future. I see that people from different cultural backgrounds can learn through language, understand each other’s culture, and learn and grow closely together for a common goal. Through natural daily life, we can cultivate the life values of respect, appreciation, reflection, tolerance and communication. From my children coming home every day to share the big and small things about school life, I can clearly hear that when children state their views on things, they can share and discuss from at least two different points of view. Denver Language School Two campuses | denverlanguageschool.org