School Community - About the Mandarin Immersion Program.
- What skills will my child learn?
- Who can apply?
- When can I apply for 2008?
- What steps must I take to apply?
- Can I tour the school?
- What is the cost?
- How is the program funded?
- Program goals and objectives.
- By the end of the 5th grade, a child in the Mandarin Immersion Program will..
- 8th Grade School China Research Residency.
- Flagship Grant for Mandarin Lanuage Instruction recieved in August of 2005.
- Have further Questions?
About the Mandarin Immersion Program
Most students in this program are native English speakers, while some are native Mandarin or Cantonese speakers. The program's Mandarin language
teachers are native speakers who have been educated in China and the United States.
What skills will my child learn?
Kindergartners will learn simple words and phrases, greetings and courtesies, rhymes, songs, and how to write basic Chinese characters. As students progress through the grades they will learn more characters and develop correct form and stroke order in the pictorial Mandarin language. Students will become more aware of Chinese culture, both present and past, including holidays, folklore, occupations, and traditional crafts such as origami, paper cutting and watercolor. Mandarin and English-language teachers work together to integrate lessons in science, math, art and other subjects so that students
begin thinking in and using both languages.
The goal of this program is to create a high mastery of the language, close to fluency, by the time they graduate. To do this students are taught in chinese using their normal academic studies. There is a need to avoid translating into english or using pinyin especially in the early years. This is to mold their minds into thinking and conceptualizing IN Chinese. If pinyin is always printed with the Chinese characters a child who's native language using alpha characters will not read the chinese but the pinyin instead, same if a translation is made available. This often requires some accomidation by parents to understand the need for this and the school tries to provide ways to help parents who don't know Mandarin via the Shu Ren website and providing pinyin with new vocabulary taken home as homework.
What steps must I take to apply?
Portland Public School's newest language immersion program, the Mandarin Immersion Program, started in 1998. Woodstock Elementary School, Hosford
Middle School, and Cleveland High School (all in southeast Portland) host the program. At Woodstock, students spend a half day learning in the Mandarin language and a half day
learning in English. In middle and high school, students have two 45-minute periods learning in Mandarin and the rest of their day is spent learning in English.
Second language learning enhances a child's overall cognitive development and problem-solving skills. There is no better way to achieve fluency in a
second language than to begin learning at a young age.
OR
Tuesday, March 4, 2008, 9:00-10:00 am, Woodstock School Cafeteria
You will also need to:
- Provide proof of residency in the Portland Public School District with 2 documents such as utility bills or a rental agreement.
- Provide a copy of your child's birth certificate or Baptismal certificate.
- Sign the "Woodstock Statement of Understanding"
Once the lottery closes, there will be a mandatory language assessment for all students who have applied. Students must be fluent in English or in Mandarin to enter the program. Details of the screening will be announced closer to the date.
Tours of the building will begin in January. You are welcome to come ask questions, receive an information packet, and observe our Mandarin teachers conduct class. The tours will take place on Wednesday mornings from 9:00a-9:45a. Since school is in session during this time, we request that only adults participate in the tour. In order to help us accommodate everyone, please call Tara at the school ahead of time to schedule a tour (503-916-6380). The dates are:
February 5, 12, 19
March 5
Like all public school programs, the immersion program is supported through tax dollars. Shu Ren, the Mandarin immersion parent support group, also does fund raising to build the program. Private donations to Shu Ren are tax deductible and gratefully accepted.
- Achieving high academic standards
- Offering a strong curriculum
- Developing independence in learning and critical thinking abilities
- Acquiring a love of learning
- Promoting a high level of parental involvement
By the end of the 5th grade, a child in the Mandarin Immersion Program will:
- Be able to carry on a conversation in Mandarin Chinese
- Be familiar with aspects of Chinese culture, history and geography
- Be able to demonstrate an awareness of him or herself as a citizen of the world
- Email Tara the MIP Coordinator for Woodstock.