Latin’s Chinese Program
中
文
Latin’s Chinese program is an innovative one focused on proficiency in all aspects of
the language: listening, reading, and writing, but most importantly, speaking.
Latin’s Chinese teachers work together closely to create a customized curriculum so
students learn to communicate clearly and effectively in the language. Instead of
using a textbook, teachers create all the materials and assessments. We also meet
frequently to assess our curriculum and constantly make improvements.
Teachers use authentic materials in the classroom. We also incorporate language,
culture, and current affairs so students learn to talk about modern and traditional
topics through language study.
We assess and place students using proficiency standards as defined by the
American Council of Teaching Foreign Languages.
We take field trips to Chinatown and celebrate Chinese festivals. Teachers also try
to create opportunities for students to study abroad during Project Week or summer
break.
Why study Chinese?
Chinese is spoken by over 1 billion people.
Mandarin Chinese, spoken by over 1 billion people, is the #1 spoken
language in the world.
Chinese does wonders for your brain.
Chinese is quite different from English, partly because it uses tones and
characters. It is precisely these differences that train the brain to process
information in new ways. (See Further Reading next page.)
Chinese helps you stand out.
While Chinese is increasingly popular in American schools, it is still not as
common as European languages. Becoming fluent in Chinese while exploring
Chinese culture and community can help students stand out amongst their
peers.
Opportunities abound for scholarships and employment.
Fluency in Chinese is a valuable skill in many industries and professions.
The U.S. government funds many scholarships and immersion programs to
support Chinese education in K-12 schools and universities.
The Chinese-speaking world is a fun place to explore.
The Chinese-speaking world is a dynamic and diverse one built on a
civilization over 5000 years old. Chinese students get a chance to explore
China’s rich history, literature, philosophy, and contemporary arts and
customs through the language.
#1 myth about learning
Chinese:
It is harder than other languages.
It is true that Chinese is less similar to English than the languages that share its
roots. Chinese writing uses characters instead of the alphabet. In Chinese, you
must distinguish between different tones, which can signify different meanings.
However, Chinese grammar is much simpler than that of English and many other
languages. There are no plurals in Chinese. There are no tenses in Chinese.
Instead, we use context words to provide information about when an action takes
place.
Furthermore, you do not need to conjugate verbs in Chinese. In Italian, the verb
“to eat” (mangiare) varies depending on context. You must memorize mangia,
mangio, mangiamo, mangiate, mangiano, and many other variations to use the
verb correctly. In Chinese, the verb “to eat” is 吃 (chī) and always remains the
same.
It is true, however, that it takes more time for an English speaker to get to the
same level of proficiency in Chinese as one would in Spanish, French, or Italian,
because of the different writing script and tones. At Latin, our grading rubrics
take this into consideration, with a focus on speaking as well as listening,
reading, and writing. We often use authentic materials in the classroom, and
provide opportunities for students to use Chinese in the community outside of
Latin.
We welcome any inquiries about the Chinese program at Latin School of Chicago.
Middle school
Upper school
Mr. Baurle
Ms. Dzieweczynski
Ms. Chang
gbauerle@latinschool.org
jdzieweczynski@latinschool.o
rg
jchang@latinschool.o
rg
312-582-6365
312-582-6369
312-582-6364
Further reading
Learning Chinese Pays Dividends: Of Characters and Cognition (Zheng &
Livacarri)
http://asiasociety.org/education/chinese-language-initiatives/learning-chinese-pays-dividendscharacters-and-cognition
Rice Paddies and Math Tests (Malcolm Gladwell)
http://gladwell.com/rice-paddies-and-math-tests/
Chinese 'takes more brainpower' (BBC News)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3025796.stm
The Language Flagship: Critical Languages
http://www.thelanguageflagship.org/students-a-parents/critical-languages
The National Security Language Initiative for Youth
http://www.nsliforyouth.org/