Heritage Language Programs - Chinese
Xilin NU Chinese School
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Address: 3125 Melrose Ct. Wilmette, Illinois 60091
Web address: http://www.xilinNUchinese.org
Contact person:
Name: Jian Cao
Title: Principal
Email: principal@xilinNUchinese.org
Levels: Pre-K-12
Languages/dialects taught: Chinese/Mandarin
Program Description
Purposes and goals of the program: The mission of the Xilin NU Chinese School is for all students to enjoy the encouraging environment of learning Chinese language and culture, for enhancing students' academic competitiveness and social skills, and for stimulating parents' active involvement in school's operation and supervision
Type of program: Bilingual program; Foreign language program; Content-based; Sunday academy
Program origin: 1995, funded by tuition and donations
Parents
Parents’ expectations for the program: Learning Chinese, experiencing Chinese culture and enhancing childrens' academic competitiveness
Staff
Instructors’ and administration’s expectations for the program: Increase students' interest in learning Chinese, solid support and active participation from parents, and a well-run organization
Students
Students:
• First-generation immigrants
• Second-generation immigrants
• Third-generation immigrants
• Children of interethnic marriages
• Children of interethnic adoption
• Non-ethnic background
Total student enrollment: 130
How the program determines the language background and language proficiency of students: Oral interview –students read from a textbook; parent guidance
Percentage of students who complete the program: 99%
Possible reasons for student withdrawal: Transfer out of the area; too busy with their regular school work
Students’ attitudes toward the language varieties they speak: Good
Instructors
Number of instructors in the program: 20
Languages in which instructors are proficient: Chinese and English
Proficiency level: 100%
Credentials: Teaching experiences. In many cases, our teachers have a B.A. degree or higher.
Professional development opportunities instructors have: Seminar, open class
Professional development opportunities instructors need: Same
Instruction
Total contact hours per week: Two hours
Times per week: One time per week
Student grouping: A combination of age and language background
Hours devoted to language teaching: Two
Language skills
Heritage language skills (in Chinese classes):
• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing
English skills (in enrichment classes):
• Reading
• Writing
Levels of language proficiency reached by the end of the program: Over 1,500 Chinese characters; good writing skills
Culture
Aspects of culture taught:
• Festivals
• Arts and crafts
• Dances
• Chinese New Year celebration
Kind of student identity program fosters: Respect and responsibility
Methodologies
Methodologies and instructional strategies used in the program: Multimedia
Materials
Textbooks: Chinese, JiNan University Chinese, MaLiPing, Stanford University
Technology used for instruction: Multimedia: Computer projector
Assessment
Assessments used to evaluate students’ progress: Final exams
Articulation
How the program develops home/school connections or promotes parent involvement: Newsletters; Volunteer work: The program seeks to stimulate active parent involvement in the school’s operation and supervision.
Opportunities for using the heritage language and developing cultural knowledge outside the program: Home
What the program has in place
Financial support the program receives:
• Tuition
• Parents
• Donation
Solicitation of funding: Board members with help from parents
Assistance or funding the program would like to receive: Teaching materials; Opportunity to exchange teaching experience with other teachers
How students graduate and/or how they receive credit: Exams
Monitoring of overall achievement in school: By survey
