Oregon Chinese Flagship Program at the Portland Public Schools

Mandarin Immersion at Woodstock Elementary School

Vision

Portland Public Schools encourages diversity, and endorses a multicultural approach based on the belief that mutual understanding is the first step in any communication process. The goal of the Mandarin Immersion Program is to provide children with positive cognitive and social development skills.

By experiencing this unique educational experience, students will develop high levels of language and culture proficiency not found in regular foreign language programs. In addition, the students' curriculum will help to enhance global attitudes, academic, cognitive and communication skills. By participating in the Immersion Program, our students develop a better understanding of another culture, as well as their own.

Why immersion?
This unique educational experience allows students to develop high levels of language and culture proficiency not found in regular foreign language programs. Students develop a lifelong ability to approach problem solving from a variety of perspectives. This experience provides immersion students with a competitive advantage in future education and career choices. Immersion students also receive special recognition at graduation.

Woodstock Elementary Immersion
The elementary school portion of the K-12 Mandarin Immersion Program sets a solid foundation for the long-term goal of students becoming bilingual and bi-literate. Students spend half their day learning in English and the other half learning in Mandarin. Through age-appropriate curriculum and instruction, students develop strong academic and language skills (targeted to Novice High to Intermediate Low by the end of 5th grade).

Video Clips

"Learning a second language is vital."

"Teaching Chinese through everyday learning"

"Flagship grant opportunity"

What skills will my children learn?

Kindergarteners will learn:

Simple words and phrases
Courtesy greetings
Up to 90 basic Chinese characters
Basic songs

As students progress, the goal for them is to become biliterate and bilingual. They will continue to learn:

To read and write more characters
Correct form and stroke order when writing the pictorial Mandarin language (Hanzi)
Chinese culture (past and present) including holidays, folklore, occupations, traditional crafts, etc.
How to hold simple conversations in Mandarin

Concepts and Program Goals

Immersion language is used to learn subject matter content.

Language learning occurs in the context of real life situations and helps students interact in social situations.

Age appropriate instructional strategies and activities are used as key instructional components.

Language and content curriculum are articulated using materials at an age-appropriate content level.

Expressive and receptive language development is emphasized at all stages of the program.

The program provides motivation for learning a second language. It encourages language and cultural enrichment activities such a summer programs, exchanges, and travel.

A 50/50 immersion model is used in our program. This means that students spend half of the day learning in English and the other half learning in Mandarin.