Chinese as a Second Language (CSL)

With the global economic integration, the demand of learning Chinese among non-Chinese speaking population is increasing year by year. Cary Chinese school Chinese as a second language program (CSL), presents a thriving status with the most comprehensive curriculum in the community, offering classes from Prek to Adult classes, totally 10 levels
altogether.
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CSL students are given the most exposure to the language environment and the most flexible curriculum in each class. In our view, the CSL program aims not only to teach the students the language, but more importantly is to open the door to understand the mystery of China and the Chinese culture. 

CSL program has integrated into a large number of "description" element, such as listening to music, watching movies, eating food, listening to historical story or the popular news in order to give each student the opportunity to fully understand the Chinese culture. Multimedia in each classroom greatly increases the amount of information as well to meet the requirements of classroom teaching. CSL teachers try their best to make each child feel the joy of learning Chinese and to enhance students’ interests for learning Chinese. 

​CSL provides a platform for students to learn Chinese and understand China and culture, from pre-k to high school, we arrange different levels of Chinese classes based on the student’s age and experience. There are two types of textbooks used in our classrooms. For younger students, the book set of 36 picture books of better Chinese are very good teaching materials. We advocate first understanding the language of Chinese and cultivating students’ interest and motivation to learn. Aside with I Chinese reader, which is a program that promotes reading and listening comprehension, our students will be get the comprehensive learning of Chinese language. After that, students started to learn from the first set of Meizhou Chinese textbooks. The textbook is designed for children born in the United States, which involves scenes in daily life and is closer to the lives of students. Based on the structure of Meizhou Chinese textbooks, we will also add supplementary materials to strengthen dialogue and the use of Chinese in daily life. In addition, we will focus on learning the words of each level in the Chinese Proficiency Test structure.

In the Pre-K class for younger children, the teacher combines the cognition and experience into teaching to give students the most intuitive feelings. For example, when talking about fruit, the teacher brings different kinds of fruits on market as visual aids for students to recognize, read and tell; in lesson of colors, the teacher brings colorful play dough for students to play and learn. To deal with the short attention span of younger children, Pre-K and K teachers will intersperse a variety of activities such as singing or dancing or playing games among teaching contents, which makes learning more effective.

At CCS, CSL faculty not only includes experienced founding members since the school opened but also new generation
of professional teachers. Teaching methods and practical experience are endless, adding bright colors to CSL education. Language experience approach is not only used in younger children classes at CCS. In order to let students to appreciate the art form first invented in China , CSL first grade teacher Mrs. Chen specifically brought the marionette to the classroom for students to play and experience. 

CSL Sixth grade teacher Ms. Zhao improves the traditional summative assessment, applying formative assessment into teaching so that the classroom is vivid and "acting" up. This evaluation method not only improves students' interest in learning, but also guarantees the quality of teaching, so that non-Chinese speaking students in learning Chinese is constantly on the road ahead with enthusiasm. She also organized a Chinese “Jeopardy” competition at the end of the semester to let the students to apply the knowledge learned in practice by playing the game. 

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Practical and interesting “open” classroom in learning Chinese as a Second Language:

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To improve the quality of teaching, CSL teachers are constantly enriching their knowledge in teaching. Last year CCS hosted the overseas Chinese teacher training activities. CSL teacher represented overseas Chinese teachers to communicate with other teachers on teaching method evoking warm and positive repercussions.
CSL teachers also share teaching experiences regularly and watch online lectures for overseas Chinese education as well as 
attend training seminar of Confucius Institute at North Carolina State University to enhance their teaching quality and qualification.

Enhance students' interest, assure the quality of teaching has been the Cary Chinese School’s goal. And these two aspects are the key to the success of overseas Chinese education. In 2017, Cary Chinese school CSL program will continue its success and spread its wings to fly forward as a pioneer in promoting and developing Chinese culture.

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凯瑞中文学校的中文第二语言教学项目(CSL，Chinese as a Second Language) 面向社区对中文感兴趣的非华裔，任何 对中文感兴趣的“外国”人，不论小孩还是成人，在CSL中 都能找到与其中文水平相匹配的班级。 CSL的课程设置从小班 (4-5岁) 到成人班，不仅仅实现 语言教学的功能，还为学生打开了解中国和中国文化的大 门。老师在教学课程中融入大量的“中国”元素，听音乐看 电影吃美食，听历史文俗故事解读当今社会新闻，给每位学 生正面全面了解中国文化的机会。

为了让每个孩子感受到学习中文的乐趣，提高学生学 习中文的热情，CSL的老师可谓倾尽全力。在小班的课程 中，老师将学习认知和体验结合在一起，给学生以最直观的 感受。例如讲水果的时候，老师亲自带来了各类水果让学生 认读；讲颜色的时候老师带来了五颜六色的橡皮泥等等。正 所谓玩中学、学中玩，极大地提高了学生的学习兴趣。

在CSL的师资力量中，不仅有建校以来的元老级教师， 更有新生代专业人才。教学方法和实践经验更是层出不穷， 为CSL增添亮丽的色彩。体验教学不仅仅被应用在小班中， CSL一年级的Michelle Sun老师为了让学生体会中国首先发明 的艺术形式，专门把提线木偶带到课堂上让学生实践练习。 六年级的赵碧霄老师改进传统总结性评估方法，突破传统课 堂学习的“读写记背考”五字心诀，将形成性评估应用到教 学当中，让课堂“动”起来。这种评估方法既提高了学生学 习兴趣，又保障教学的质量，令“老外”学生在学习中文的 道路上充满热情，不断前行。

为提高教学质量，老师们更在不断地完善和充实自 己。在2016年的华文教育名师巡讲团来到北卡地区时，CSL 的Joyce Wang老师代表海外华文教师进行了交流。针对海外 学生学习中文的难点特点，王老师对自己的教学方法进行了 生动的阐述和介绍，在北卡地区中文学校中引起热烈反响。 CSL的老师们还经常一起分享教学经验，学习中国面向海外 教学的直播课程，并且参加北卡州立大学孔子学院的专业讲座，提升教学水平。

​提高学生学习兴趣，保障教学质量一直是凯瑞中文学 校的宗旨。凯瑞中文学校的CSL课程将继续展开成功的双 翼，不断飞翔不断前进，为传播和弘扬中华文化而不懈努 力。