1. LAUNCHING, SUSTAINING AND EXPANDING
CHINESE LANGUAGE PROGRAMS IN URBAN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS: PANEL DISCUSSION
Harvin Moore: Board of Trustee HISD
Scott Barnett: Board of Trustee SDUSD
Dr. Lily Cheng: Executive Director CI SDSU
Bryan Bordelon: Principal HISD Mandarin
Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School
Edward Park: Principal Barnard Mandarin
Chinese Magnet School

2. IMPLEMENTING A MANDARIN
IMMERSION PROGRAM
TRANSLATING PLANS INTO ACTION
IN HOUSTON ISD

3. 3 MAJOR CONCERNS
 1. Curriculum
 2. Staffing
 3. Marketing and Recruiting

4. CURRICULUM
 Reinventing the wheel
 Learn from colleagues
 Site visits: Mandarin immersion schools; high-
performing elementary schools.
 Avoid old mistakes … make new ones.

5. STAFFING
 First priority: Securing strong elementary school
teachers
 Secondary priority: Chinese language certification
 Partnership with local university
 Streamlining HR process – multiple interviews before
meeting with principal and hiring committee.

6. MARKETING
 Defining our market – who is our school meant for?
 Ensure our market understands what makes us
unique.
 Our end goal is NOT Chinese language fluency
It is a byproduct of instruction through Mandarin.
 Branding the school
 Web presence and access to information.

7. BARNARD MANDARIN CHINESE MAGNET SCHOOL 2012

8. BARNARD MANDARIN CHINESE MAGNET
SCHOOL 2012

9. STATE OF BARNARD 2012
 K-2 Full Immersion Program
 3rd-6th FLES Mandarin Chinese Language and
Culture
 By 2017, all grade levels will be fully immersed
 Partnership forged with sister schools in China,
Korea, and Taiwan
 First CC in San Diego County
 California Distinguished School
 Title 1 Academic Achievement Award
 California Business Education Excellence Honor
Roll School

10. STATE OF BARNARD 2012
 BOE passed resolution recognizing Barnard’s
excellent program
 Current site slated to close and move location to
expand Barnard’s Program.
 200 plus on waiting list
http://www.barnardelementary.com

12. 12
满足多元化汉语的学习要求
MEETING THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE CHINESE
LEARNERS
刘丽容博士（圣地亚哥州立大学孔子学院院长）
Dr. Lilly Cheng
(Managing Director of Confucius Institute San Diego State University)
Email: lcheng@mail.sdsu.edu

13. 13
PARTNERSHIP
 First Confucius Classroom
 Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School
 Point Loma Cluster

14. 14
SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
 Sister schools-exchange, visits
 Visiting scholars
 Performing groups
 Teachers
 Classes for parents
 Distance learning
 Summer camps/summer schools

15. 15
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
 Chinese Bridge Competition
 Observers
 Study abroad in China
 Hanban program
 CCTV program

16. 16
TEACHER TRAINING
 Confucius Classroom Forum
 Summer program at Xiamen University
 Chinese Bridge Programs
 Local/area training programs

17. 17
OPTIMAL LANGUAGE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENT
Creating an OLLE is critical (Cheng, 2009)
1. Engage children in meaningful discourse
2. Read stories to children
3. Ask critical questions
4. Ask hypothetical questions
5. Provide a variety of reading materials
6. Create a language-rich environment
7. Create collective stories
8. Engage in multicultural literacy