Heritage Language Programs - Chinese
Atlanta Contemporary Chinese Academy
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Institution: Atlanta Contemporary Chinese Academy
Program address: 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322
Telephone: 404-451-9876
Web address: www.acca-web.org
Contact person
Name: Baoming Jiang
Title: Principal
Email: bxj4@cdc.gov
Languages/dialects taught: Mandarin Chinese
Program Description
Purposes and goals of the program: To promote Chinese culture and language as well as academic excellence
Type of program: Immersion, bilingual program, foreign language program, content-based, Saturday academy, and extracurricular club
Program origin: The program was founded in 1992 by a group of Asian American parents who believe that children should maintain their heritage language and culture.
Parents
Parents’ expectations for the program: Parents expect their children to learn Chinese language and culture.
Staff
Instructors’ and administration’s expectations for the program: Instructors expect excellence in achieving bilingual and bicultural mastery.
Students
Students:
1) Students are from the United States and China. Total student
enrollment is 1,400
2) 85% are second generation immigrants, 10% are third generation
immigrants, 1% are children of interethnic marriages, 1% are children
of interethnic adoption, and 1% are children of non-ethnic background
Possible reasons for student withdrawal: Students withdraw due to their getting busy with the regular high school curriculum.
Instructors
Number of instructors in the program: 65
Languages in which instructors are proficient: Chinese and English
Proficiency level: Excellent and communicative
Credentials: 2% of the teachers have a B.A. in Chinese, math, computer science, and law. Teachers have masters and above degrees in different areas of study.
Instruction
Total contact hours per week: 3-6 hours per week (North campus – 6 hours; South campus – 4 hours; West campus – 3 hours)
Student grouping: The students are grouped according to age.
Language skills
Skills developed by the program: Students become proficient in reading, writing, and speaking Chinese.
Heritage language skills: Listening, speaking, reading, writing, art, and calligraphy
English skills: Listening, speaking, reading, and writing
Culture
Aspects of culture taught: History, festivals, customs, traditions/beliefs, religion, folktales, arts and crafts, dances, songs, rhymes, social and cultural norms, cultural appropriateness, and literature
Kind of student identity program fosters: Bilingual Asian Americans
Methodologies
Methodologies and instructional strategies used in the program: Direct instruction
Materials
Materials used for instruction: The textbook we use is Yes! Han Yu.
Technology used for instruction: Projector, TV, and audio
Assessment
Assessments used to evaluate students’ progress: Weekly quizzes, chapter tests, mid-term tests, mid-term tests, final exams, school/district developed tests, teachers observations, performance-based tasks or assessments, portfolios, and program exit tests
Articulation
How the program develops home/school connections or promotes parent involvement: We develop connections with local schools, colleges, and other heritage language programs.
Opportunities for using the heritage language and developing cultural knowledge outside the program: The students have the chance to use their heritage language and develop cultural knowledge at home.
What the program has in place
Financial support the program receives: Financial support comes from parents and other business entities.
Solicitation of funding: The principal solicits funding for the program.
Assistance or funding the program would like to receive: All kinds of funding would be appreciated.
Special challenges
Challenges the program has experienced: Getting funding and finding space for classrooms
