Heritage Language Programs - Chinese
Chinese / Hockessin, DE
Download this profile as a pdf file
Levels: Grades 9-12
Languages/Dialects taught: Chinese (Mandarin)
Program name: Chinese School of Delaware
Address: P.O. Box 849
Hockessin, DE 19707
Contact: Tommy Lu / Vice Principal
Email: lu@dtcc.edu
Telephone: (302) 573-5475
Fax: (302) 577-2548
Purposes and goals of the program:
• Maintain heritage
• Provide opportunities to learn Chinese language and culture
• Provide facilities and an environment for second generation families and adopting families
• Provide an environment for students of similar age groups to get together regularly to prevent identity crisis
• Provide support for the community about culture and language
Type of program
• Chinese language program
• Content-based
• Exploratory
• Saturday academy
The program was founded in 1971 by a group of Chinese immigrants.
Parents' expectations for the program: to be able to do minimum listening, reading, speaking, and writing in Chinese and to be aware of the important Chinese cultures.
Staff expectations for the program: to be able to provide a stable learning environment for our students and some assistance to the community
Students
• Second generation immigrants: 70%
• Third generation immigrants: 10%
• Children of interethnic marriages: 10%
• Children of interethnic adoption: 5%
• Non-ethnic background: 5%
Countries of origin:
• Taiwan
• Republic of China (ROC)
• United States
• Malaysia
Total student enrollment: 106
The program identifies heritage speakers of Chinese by registration and teacher’s evaluation. The majority of students are placed by teacher's evaluation and a small portion by parent's input.
Percentage of students who complete the program: 90%
Percentage of students who continue to study the heritage language after completing the program: 85% (estimate)
Possible reasons for students to withdraw from the program:
• Too many weekend activities
• Lack of interest
Students' attitudes toward the language varieties they speak: medium to high levels of interest in learning the language.
Instructors and Staff
Number of staff in program: 16
Languages in which staff are proficient: Chinese (Mandarin)
Credentials:
• High credentials
• BA , varied credentials
• MA, varied credentials
• Doctorate: varies
Professional development opportunities for teachers:
• Heritage school system seminars, workshops, teacher training programs
• Local university or college professional development programs
• Web-based training programs by OCAC (Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, Taiwan, ROC)
Professional development opportunities that teachers need:
• Classroom management
• Innovative teaching style.
• Assessment
• Understanding how to apply for teacher certification
Hours of instruction per week: 2.5 hours
Students are grouped from Pre-K to 10th grade
Heritage skills
Listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation.
Levels of language proficiency students reach by the end of the program:
• Intermediate (level II)
Culture taught
• Geography
• History
• Festivals
• Customs
• Traditions/beliefs
• Folktales
• Arts and crafts
• Dances
• Songs
• Rhymes
• Social and cultural norms
• Cultural appropriateness
• Literature
Methodologies and instructional strategies used in the program:
• Traditional classroom style
• Utilize videos and audios
• Culture events
Textbook used: New version of Chinese textbook by OCAC (Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, Taiwan, ROC)
Other materials used for instruction: videos, audios, posters, flash cards, computers, Internet, and maps
Technology used in the program: low usage
Kinds of assessment:
• Mid-term tests
• Final exams
• Teacher's observations
Our students continue their study at various universities and colleges. The program develops connections with universities and parents by promoting parent involvement in the parent co-op program and in providing financial support . The school also has local and state government financial support as well as home government financial support, tuition, and help from the local community.
Financial support is solicited by
• Principal
• School board
Other kinds of assistance the program would like to receive from other entities:
• Financial support for improving culture activities
• More communication with second generation families, adopt families, and non-Chinese speaking families about their needs.
• Teacher training
• Administration/management training and funding
• How to write grants and proposals to obtain resources
The program does not grant credits upon completion.
The program monitors students' academic achievement in school with:
• Speech contest
• Poster contest
• Chinese brush painting contest
• Program performances such as Chinese New Year
Examples of challenges that the program has experienced:
• Limited funding
• Reduced enrollment due to decreased first generation immigrants in the area
• Shortage of qualified teachers
• Reduced parents' interest in getting involved
• "Fighting" between different pronunciation systems and "traditional" and “simplified" characters
Back to the list of program profiles.
