Mandarin Chinese is the number one spoken language in the world. Through a special Congressional grant, Chesterbrook's 1st through 5th grade students are enrolled in Mandarin Chinese FLES classes. Read on to learn more about this exciting program. 
 

 Photos: Left--Ms. Peggy Leung; Right --Ms. Beesha Hung

What is Chesterbrook's Chinese FLES Program?
 

Foreign Language in the Elementary School, or FLES, is an approach to language learning that allows students to develop basic communicative skills in a language while reinforcing and enriching content in other disciplines. At Chesterbrook, our students are taught by Ms. Peggy Leung and part-time teacher, Beesha Hung. Fairfax County Public Schools offer the FLES program because research studies have indicated that the early study of a second language results in cognitive benefits, gains in academic achievement, and increases in self-esteem, creativity, and positive attitudes toward diversity.
 

What does the FCPS FLES model look like?

Ms. Leung and Ms. Hung meet with students twice a week for thirty minutes in their language arts class. The teaching is all done in Chinese. Students start to appreciate learning Chinese and try to understand the instructions. The teachers will work to incorporate math skills/concepts as well as language arts and social studies vocabulary into the lessons.

Ms. Leung and Ms. Hung shared with us their thoughts on what children can do to benefit from the Chinese program.

In class: 

• Watch carefully what the teacher is doing and showing.
• Participate.
• Listen to students who are helping to tell the class what has been said.
• In oral practice, observe the teacher's mouth movement, sound it out, listen to your own pronunciation and keep practicing until you get it right
• In writing practice, observe the writing stroke order, pay attention to each stroke's position, length, and shape.  Compare your handwriting with the character, make corrections and then practice a few more times.

Outside of the class:

• Keep a folder of the materials that are sent home. Make copies of last year's folder if you can. The teachers will review what students have already learned and then build on that. Students can always refer to what we have learned by looking back at the pages for reminders.
• Check Blackboard for new postings and monthly news on what we've learned in Chinese class.
• Find a language partner to practice with you. He or she can be your classmate, sibling, or even parent. Bring home the completed Chinese worksheet and teach someone.

Parents can help by:

• Encouraging your children. Believe your kids can learn Chinese.
• Remind your children to keep trying. Never give up!
• Showing interest in the learning. Have fun with Chinese!
• Find Chinese books/videos in the libraries or purchase supplementary materials
• Go to Chinese restaurants, Chinese/Asian shops and museums that feature Chinese artifacts. Ask your children to speak Chinese at home. Communicate with Chinese people you meet. Even plan a trip to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore or places where Chinese is commonly spoken.

What materials are available to parents to help their child with Chinese studies?
 

Ms. Leung uses www.betterchinese.com  for her lessons and materials for the second, third and fourth grade students. Parents can sign up for a free trial account to access online lessons and to view and purchase publications. Additional resources include:
 

MDBG Chinese-English Dictionary:
http://www.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php
  

Confucius Institute Online (for Children): http://kid.chinese.cn/reading/index.html

Chinese Numbers Game: http://www.digitaldialects.com/Chinese/numbers_3.htm

The Chesterbrook Book Fair will also be selling some Chinese learning materials. If you have questions about the Chinese FLES program or www.betterchinese.com  site, please email Ms. Leung at pik.leung@fcps.edu

Our new Chinese Teachers also shared some the following interesting background facts with us:

How did you get interested in becoming a teacher?

Ms. Leung: "I love children and longed to be a teacher when I was young. I'm glad that now I can use my language and culture to teach!

Ms. Hung: "In order to encourage my sons to learn Chinese, I enrolled them to a local Chinese school when we first moved here. I began teaching in the Chinese school four years ago and since then my interest in teaching and the desire of doing a better job have continually grown. I enjoy teaching and I enjoy teaching Chinese. It has helped me to appreciate my heritage and to promote friendship between Chinese people and American people."

Are you new to Northern Virginia? If so, where did you live before you moved here?

Ms. Leung: "I lived in Minnesota for eight years before moving here. I'm excited to live in Northern Virginia."
 

Ms. Hung: "I have been living in Virginia since 2006. Prior to moving here, I lived in New York City and Japan with my family."

What are your favorite foods?

Ms. Hung: "I love hot soups. A hot bowl of white turnip, shiitake (winter) mushroom with meat soup makes me warm in the cold weather!"
 
Ms. Leung: "All kinds of noodles!"

Rick Barnard of the PTA's Health & Gardens Committee and PTA President Beth Mahood show off the healthy and delicious apples given to students on Friday, October 14th to help promote Healthy Snack Week.