About the Program
Barnard Elementary School
Mandarin Chinese Magnet Program
Barnard's Mandarin Chinese Magnet Program offers students the unique opportunity to learn the Mandarin Chinese language. All students are immersed in Mandarin Chinese during language lessons each day. Students experience the Mandarin Chinese language through art, music, drama and physical education activities. The core subject, which will be taught in English, will be enriched with units of study on Chinese literature, social studies, culture and festivals.
Program Goals
Barnard Elementary will prepare students to meet the goals of the National Standards for Chinese Language Learning:
- To help students communicate in Mandarin Chinese
- To help students gain knowledge and understanding of the cultures of the Chinese-speaking world.
- To help students connect with other disciplines and acquire information
- To help students make comparisons to develop insight into the nature of language and culture
- to help student participate in multicultural communities at home and around the world
High Quality Instruction
Rigorous Curriculum
Mandarin Chinese classes will begin in Kindergarten and continue through 4th grade. Students will spend 45 minutes daily with a Mandarin Chinese teacher in a self-contained classroom.
Content-based Mandarin curriculum will be developed to reinforce concepts that students are learning or have learned it their regular classes. Teachers will integrate content learning with language development through activities in which the main topics come from the core curriculum content areas, such as, science, math, social studies, so that language is acquired in a meaningful context. In addition, the Mandarin Chinese curriculum will also include lessons about Chinese culture, traditions, important holidays, and festivals. Furthermore, major magnet projects will be incorporated to support student learning. These educational activities will include, but not limited to, field trips, guest speakers, Chinese New Year Celebration, Career Day, Cultural Discovery Day, research projects, etc.
Instructional Techniques
Physical activity and concrete experiences will play an important role in the instructional techniques implemented. Visuals, manipulatives, and realia (materials that are highly visual, contextualized, and culturally authentic) will be a crucial part of the FLES classroom. The typical lesson plan will include songs, rhymes, games, role-play, and other physical activities that appeal to the younger child. Enrichment activities will be incorporated to support student learning.
