Focus onFriends February 2011 Special Issue: New Chinese Language Program at Friends A newsletter for families and friends of
Wilmington Friends School
101 School Rd. Wilmington DE 19803
February 2011 Special Issue
In November 2010, Head of School Bryan Garman announced that Wilmington Friends would add Mandarin to its language curriculum, with courses for grades 6-12 to be phased in starting in 2011-2012. “This important decision strengthens and expands our commitment to offering an outstanding program in international education,” Bryan said. “Twenty percent of the world’s population speaks Mandarin, and we believe that knowledge of Chinese language and culture will prepare our students to engage in conversations crucial to the political, economic, and environmental sustainability of the planet.” The school’s Board of Trustees finalized the decision to add Mandarin at its fall retreat in September 2010. Board Chair David Singleton said, “We had been talking about and researching this possibility since the development of our 2008 Strategic Plan. There was a strong sense of agreeement that we need to teach a nonWestern language as part of a global education program. And of course, there is a strong sense of agreement far beyond our campus on the growing importance of learning about Chinese language and culture ~ it’s not an educational fashion; it’s a 21st century skill.”(See page 2.) Friends launched an online pilot program in Mandarin in the fall of 2010, with five seniors and one junior participating. That experience helped to secure support for offering a full Mandarin curriculum. The Language Department, chaired by Bradey Bulk, has worked on implementation plans throughout the year. (See page 4.) The interdivisional Mandarin program, supported by cultural and history study, joins the International Baccalaureate (IB) and School Year Abroad (SYA) as signature global learning programs at Friends.
友朋 Friends
学校 School Thanks to Renee Dong, Instructor of Chinese at the University of Delaware, for our translations and for her time and valued counsel. All photos are from the Friends Lower School Chinese New Year celebration, wonderfully organized by Spanish teacher Jennifer Cheung.