Dual-Language Classes

     Many of the articles I've read this week focused on new dual-language classes in different cities of the United States. In Seattle, the Beacon Hill International School teaches science and math classes in Mandarin. Since Beacon Hills started this program a wait list had to be implemented because of the popularity of this program. The dual-language program is probably one of the best ways to teach second languages. Research shows that children exposed to a second language early on almost always gain better fluency and comprehension of the acquired language than adults who learned later. Beacon Hills and other dual-language schools, especially in Modesto, hope to further the research that suggests that dual-language students preform better over all. So far the evidence points that way. The Seattle Times states that "On the state's fourth-grade test, the children in the Spanish-English program scored about 20 percentile points higher in reading and math." Not only will the children reap the rewards of knowing a second language in an ever expanding global community but they also are immediately rewarded with better performance on state tests. Hopefully, I will get a chance to look into the effects that the dual-language program has on children more deeply later.

     What really sparked my interest in the dual-language classes actually was the article posted in the Los Angeles Times that had a rather controversial focus. While the previous articles acclaim the benefits of the dual-language programs, this article focuses on who funds a specific program. As it turns out the Chinese language program at Cederlane Middle School is called the Confucius Classroom and is funded by Hanban, the Chinese Language Council International. This program has many supporters but there are some people that feel that Confucius Classroom is "a way for Chinese people to brainwash our students." It was this outlandish claim that prompted me to look up Hanban. In the General Principles portion of their website, Hanban states, "Adhering to the principle of mutual respect, friendly negotiations, and mutual benefit, the Confucius Institutes shall develop and facilitate the the teaching of the Chinese language overseas and promote education and cultural exchange and cooperation between China and other international communities." No where in there does it say brainwash. The goal of Hanban is very admirable. Due to the rapid expansion of China as a power in the global community, it become more important everyday for their culture to be understood. The Chinese language programs set up in the elementary education systems and on the university level are present in countries around the world. This clearly shows how important it is for people to understand language in order to understand a different culture. There are many benefits of a dual language program but understanding another culture is a crucial aspect. Hopefully more schools will take advantage of this program and not let outdated fears about other culture scare them away from wonderful dual-language programs like Confucius.