insight to China By Amy Salvagno GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Inside a third-floor classroom, students are wrapping up an assignment that’s teaching them how to write out dates — in Chinese. The Grosse Pointe North High School upper- and underclassmen are the first — along with those in a course at Grosse Pointe South High School and at Parcells Middle School — to experience something the district has never before offered. “I thought it would be an interesting experience,” said sophomore Jamie Jankiewicz. “It’s a pretty good class — it’s easier than people think. The hardest part is learning the symbols.” Last March, the Grosse Pointe Board of Education approved Mandarin Chinese instruction and its curriculum, following a months-long look by the Educational Programs Leadership Council Chinese Language Study Group — comprising teachers, administrators, parents and students — at the feasibility of offering the new language course. Information gathered over time included a study of existing programs in like districts and a survey of students and parents in grades six-10 to gauge their interest in Chinese study. More than 13 percent of middle school respondents and 8 percent of high school students — nearly 1,200 at each level — indicated they were certain they would participate if Chinese were it offered as a language option. Currently, there are 29 students enrolled in the course at North, 40 enrolled at South, and 25 at both Parcells and Pierce middle schools. The Pierce class begins next semester. Each weekday, Shanyi Chen goes from school to school, focusing on introducing students to the sounds and symbols of the language. Currently, they are learning greetings — kinship terms, the number of people in their families and what their parents’ occupations are — and how to invite people to dinner, which includes writing the date and time of the event. Middle school students are about two weeks behind the high schoolers. “They’re doing pretty well. I thought because these students have no background with language that they would have a difficult time, but I was very surprised,” said Chen. The classroom setting is a far cry from her initial occupation. More than 10 years ago, the native of Canton — called Guangzhou in China, which is about 120 miles northwest of Hong Kong— was delivering babies as an obstetrics and gynecology doctor. She also trained medical students at the hospital, and twice a month, taught middle school students at a local school about hygiene. While she was an intern, Chen met her husband, also a doctor. Shortly after the birth of their daughter, the couple left China and moved to Ohio, where Chen received her master’s in biomedical science. Seven years ago, they moved to Maryland, and Chen began a neuroscience research position at the National Eye Institute. The family moved to the Pointes in late summer after Chen’s husband landed a faculty member position at Wayne State University. Observing Chen’s skilled English, their Realtor mentioned to her the district’s need for a Chinese teacher — and just three days before the school year began, she had a new job. “It was very challenging. I wasn’t prepared. But I was so excited to teach my modern language,” she said, noting that the Chinese sound system is very much like the English system, so students are able to catch on pretty quickly. But she admits that the workbook that accompanies the textbook is quite challenging. “In the beginning, they said, ‘It’s so hard.’ But now it’s fun. They like it.” Chen says she follows the textbook to plan the course’s schedule. High school students have the class for the full year and then can move on to Level II. Currently, Parcells middle schoolers have the course for one semester. Then Chen moves on to Pierce for the second half of the school year. “My goal is to teach them this language skill. I prefer they take this as a tool and use it for the future,” she said. “I will teach them basic language structure and expression, and then later in Level II, I would like to ask them to write paragraphs.” Chen is also incorporating elements of the Chinese culture: At a Halloween party, she brought chopsticks and taught the students how to use them; and there will be celebrations for the Chinese New Year and Christmas. “When I see the students get what I mean and are able to answer the challenging questions, I feel very happy about that. I’m very excited about it.” You can reach Staff Writer Amy Salvagno at asalvagno@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1037. |
