I wish I had this program as a kid! A Mandarin Chinese and English dual-language immersion program is being offered this school year at Burbank Elementary School. It’s part of a pilot program launched by the Pasadena Unified School District this fall. Burbank’s dual-language immersion program is for kindergarten and first-grade students, with very few open spaces left. After the first few days of setting the ground rules in English, the teachers will integrate Chinese into daily lessons. Eventually, the class will be taught 90 percent in Chinese and 10 percent in English.

The dual language immersion programs are being offered at both Burbank Elementary School and San Rafael Elementary School.  The programs have academic, cognitive and practical benefits to students and families, and increase appreciation for other cultures. Principle Kelly Lawson told Pasadena Star News that her staff embraced the idea of implementing the dual language program at the school.

“Everyone was excited, especially the parents,” Lawson said.

In Tina Chan’s kindergarten class, the walls are covered with posters of numbers in Chinese. A poster of animals gives English and Chinese translations.

“I’m giving everything in English now, but when I use a Chinese word, I always translate for the students so they can understand,” Chan said.

Once her class of 15 students gets comfortable with the class rules, she said she will assign each student a Chinese name, which they will print next to their American names on assignments.

Five-year-old Mia Von Haam attended a Chinese summer camp. She is proud that she’s already knows a few words.

“I know how to say `mom,’ `dad,’ and `hi,”‘ she said.

To read the full article, click here.

Is that adorable or what? I’ve always been jealous of the fact that kids are able to learn new languages faster than adults. I would have loved this kind of a program as kid. What a great opportunity to learn about new cultures and become fluent in a second language. Look out, future children of mine, I might need to enroll you in a similar program and live vicariously through you.

Parents interested in enrolling in the dual immersion program may obtain more information on the Elementary Education page.

Photo Courtesy of Pasadena Star News

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