CELIN Connection
Monthly News and Updates from the Directors of the Chinese Early Learning and Immersion Network (CELIN)
December 2021
Happy Holidays from everyone at CELIN — Shuhan Wang, Joy Peyton, and Ting Shen! We wish you a beautiful, restful, festive holiday season and a peaceful start to 2022.
CELIN Program Profile
East Voyager Academy (EVA), a tuition-free public charter school founded in Charlotte in 2018, is the first Chinese immersion charter school in North Carolina. EVA serves approximately 150 students from Pre-K to Grade 8. EVA provides a 50/50 immersion model, with instruction in Chinese in Math, Science, and some related arts, and in English in English Language Arts and Social Studies. EVA is committed to educational equity for every student, so that every student has opportunities not only to learn Chinese language and culture but also to achieve academic success in a safe and healthy environment.
CELIN Briefs
New CELIN Briefs focused on Chinese language learning in the early years/preschool are now available on our website.
"An Emerging Field: Chinese Immersion Preschool Education," by Shuhan Wang, Robin Harvey, & Joy Kreeft Peyton, gives a definition and a review of the research on the benefits of Chinese immersion preschool education, describes the landscape of Chinese immersion education in the United States at this time, and makes recommendations for how we can work together to build the field.
"Surveying Chinese Immersion Preschool Programs and Teachers in the United States: 2020-2021," by Shuhan Wang & Kevin Wong, reports the design and results of two national surveys of Chinese immersion preschools and of teachers and administrators who work in these schools. It describes the methodology regarding their design, implementation, data collection, and analysis; reports their findings; and discusses the implications of the findings, with directions for future research.
Recent CELIN Webinar
"Chinese Immersion Preschool Education Initiatives: What We Have Learned and How We Can Do to Grow the Field," held December 11, 2021 by Shuhan Wang, CELIN; Robin Harvey, New York University; Kevin Wang, Pepperdine University; & Joy Kreeft Peyton, CELIN.
Presenters describe the development of and initiatives in Chinese immersion preschool education in the United States, list policy implications for this emerging field, and make recommendations for ways that we can move forward as a field to promote high-quality Chinese immersion preschool education. Participants asked wonderful questions! This recording and all past webinars can be found here.
Update Your Student and Teacher Program
Please update or enter your data on the CELIN Student and Teacher Programs pages.
Student Programs – PreK–Grade 8
Please add or update your school!
Find or Document a Chinese Teacher Program
November 2021
We hope that you have had a lovely, peaceful, restful Thanksgiving holiday.
Upcoming CELIN Webinar
"Chinese Immersion Preschool Education Initiatives: What We Have Learned and How We Can Do to Grow the Field"
Saturday, December 11, 10:30 AM–12 PM ET
Shuhan Wang with Robin Harvey, New York University; Kevin Wang, Pepperdine University; Joy Peyton, CELIN
This webinar will describe the development of and initiatives in Chinese immersion preschool education in the United States, list policy implications for this emerging field, and make recommendations for ways we can move forward as a field to promote high-quality Chinese immersion preschool education. The presenters will engage in discussions with the audience and seek their suggestions for ways that we can move the field forward together.
Update Your Student and Teacher Program
Please update or enter your data on the CELIN Student and Teacher Programs pages.
Student Programs – PreK–Grade 8
Please add or update your school!
Find or Document a Chinese Teacher Program
October 2021
We hope that your school year is going well, with a strong program both on site and online.
CELIN Program Profile
Frontiers Academy is a private, independent school in Orange County, California, designed to meet the growing domestic and international demand for well-educated, multilingual global citizens. It provides an innovative language immersion program and an advanced academic program. Faculty are a team of passionate, committed, and open-minded educators who share the same vision and mission of cultivating world citizens. Their focused, close-knit environment currently serves 80 students and allows and encourages each child to receive exceptional levels of individual attention and support and to reach advanced levels of language proficiency.
Canvass of Dual Language and Immersion Programs
The American Councils Research Center recently published the results of a systematic national canvass of Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs in the United States. DLI programs use instruction in both English and another language spoken by students to expand learning opportunities for all students. Learn here about the number of these programs and the languages taught.
CELIN Webinar Recording & Resources Available Online
In "Creating Curious and Passionate Learners from 3 Years Old to Grade 3," Allen Zhong, Kindergarten Teacher and Team Lead, Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School; and Jing-Tyng (Teresa) Shyu, First Grade Chinese Teacher, Chinese American International School (CAIS) talked about ways that educators can help young children flourish in a fun, stimulating, and engaging Chinese language learning environment, where they can freely explore and interact with the teacher, peers, and the world around them. The PowerPoint slides and recording of this and all past webinars can be found here.
CELIN Briefs – Executive Summaries Now Available
Each CELIN Brief now has an executive summary. PowerPoint slides from presentations of the Briefs at conferences are now also posted with them on the website.
Resources for Parents and Families
The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) at the University of Minnesota gave a webinar, "Educating, Engaging, and Empowering DLI Parents and Families: Materials and Resources for Families and Parent Educators" on October 13, 2021. The recording of the presentation is on the CARLA Presentation Recordings webpage. Educators and parents are invited to explore the free resources available on their Dual Language and Immersion Family Education website. In addition, check out the large collection of resources specific to immersion education that is housed on the CARLA Immersion Education and Research website.
Update Your Student and Teacher Program
Please update or enter your data on the CELIN Student and Teacher Programs pages.
Student Programs – PreK–Grade 8
Please add or update your school!
Find or Document a Chinese Teacher Program
September 2021
The school year is well underway! We hope that things are going well for you, your students, and their parents, whether you are teaching on site, online, or both.
CELIN Webinars
"Connecting with NCSSFL: World-Class Resources for Chinese Language Teachers, September 11, 2021"
Ryan Wertz (World Languages and Global Education, Ohio Department of Education), Ann Marie Gunter (World Language Consultant, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction), and Michele Braud (World Language Specialist, Louisiana Department of Education) represented the National Council of State Supervisors for Languages (NCSSFL) and provided a webinar as part of the CELIN Master Teacher Series. They explained the role and function of NCSSFL and how it can be a useful resource for Chinese language teachers. Throughout the webinar, they showed teachers where and how to seek for information about state teacher licensing and certificates, the state Seals of Biliteracy, and policy information from various states. They also discussed the NCSSFL/ACTFL Can-Do Statements and LinguaGrow© (formerly known as LinguaFolio®). Specifically, they showed teachers the importance of communication and how to engage in advocacy within communities where Chinese programs are flourishing.
The PowerPoint slides and recordings of the Webinars can be found here.
Upcoming:
"Creating Curious and Passionate Learners from 3 Years Old to Grade 3"
Saturday, October 2, 10:30 AM – 12 PM ET
Allen Zhong, Kindergarten Teacher and Team Lead, Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School; and Jing-Tyng (Teresa) Shyu, First Grade Chinese Teacher, Chinese American International School (CAIS) will talk about ways that educators can help young children flourish in a fun, stimulating, and engaging Chinese language learning environment, where they can freely explore and interact with the teacher, peers, and the world around them. Register here.
CELIN Program Profile
East Point Academy is a free language immersion public charter school within the South Carolina Public Charter School District. Opening its doors in 2011, East Point serves nearly 800 students in PreK to Grade 8. Students at the Elementary School Campus are taught core subjects of Math and Science in Mandarin in addition to specific Mandarin language instruction. Every student from PreK to Grade 5 also takes Art, Drama, Music, and Dance in Mandarin. At the Middle School Campus, students receive intense language instruction focused on improving their language fluency and excellence in core content classes. In addition to an academic pathway for advanced Mandarin learners, there is a novice track in Mandarin and Spanish for new middle school students.
Call for Participation In a Survey
Three bilingual researchers and teacher educators––Zhongfeng Tian (Assistant Professor, University of Texas, San Antonio), Becky Huang (Associate Professor, University of Texas, San Antonio), and Marsha Liaw (Education Director, Pioneer Valley Immersion Charter School)––are launching a national survey to examine U.S. Chinese and Taiwanese parents' perceptions of Mandarin-English bilingual programs. If you know of Chinese/Taiwanese parents living in the U.S., who have a child or children between the ages of 2–15, please invite them to participate in the survey in English, Simplified Chinese, or Traditional Chinese. This research is approved by the University of Texas at San Antonio (IRB Protocol #: FY20-21-120). If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
A School Is Reborn
In 2008, the Northwest Chinese Academy (NWCA) opened in Beaverton, a western suburb of Portland, Oregon. The private school offered Preschool through Grade 5 Mandarin immersion and had grown to more than 70 students by 2016, when it purchased a large new space and moved in 2018. It also got a new head, Martha Ortiz, a Mandarin speaker who been the founding head of Wahaha International School, a bilingual international school in Hangzhou, China. Unfortunately, in the midst of shifting to a new school building and a new head, NWCA began to grapple with lower than expected enrollment numbers for the coming year. Then, the Covid-19 hit. To learn how the school has transformed itself with a new life and a new accent, read on!
Updated Lists of Chinese Programs – for Students and Teachers
As the new school year begins, please update or enter your data on the CELIN Student and Teacher Programs pages.
Student Programs – PreK–Grade 8
Please add or update your school!
Find or Document a Chinese Teacher Program
Mandarin Immersion Schools
Elizabeth Weise, one of the CELIN advisors, has shared with us her updated list of Mandarin immersion schools for the 2021–22 school year.
August 2021
Welcome back to school! Regardless of what your school opening policy is, we hope that you had a wonderful summer break. Although one never feels completely prepared for the new school year, the prospect of meeting new students is exciting.
CELIN Program Profile
Adobe Bluffs Elementary School is a public school in the Poway Unified School District in San Diego, California, and serves students in Transitional Kindergarten to Grade 5. Founded in 1992, the school now has Mandarin Foreign in Elementary School (FLES) and Mandarin immersion programs. The Mandarin immersion program, with 130 students, follows a 50/50 model.
CELIN Webinars
"Chinese Language Programs Respond"
Over the past two years, Chinese language programs, educators, and parents have found themselves in a difficult situation when confronted with the need to prove the value of their program. Jeff Bissell, Marty Chen, Bob Davis, Chris Livaccari, Eddie Park, Frank Tang, and Cleopatra Wise, all leaders in the Chinese language field, discussed challenges; analyzed factors influencing our work in the current socio-political-cultural context; and offered insights, strategies, and resources about how to thrive in this critical time. The conversation was rigorous and rich. Watch the recording and read a full synopsis of the webinar here.
Upcoming:
"Connecting with NCSSFL: World-Class Resources for Chinese Language Teachers"
Saturday, September 11, 10:30 AM–12 PM ET
Chinese language educators can learn about a variety of resources and information from the National Council of State Supervisors for Languages (NCSSFL), a dynamic organization that supports language educators across the United States to empower learners, implement policy, and provide professional development. Three veteran NCSSFL members will share details from the NCSSFL website, where policy information like teacher licensing and the Seals of Biliteracy from different states can be analyzed. They will also discuss the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements and LinguaGrow© (formerly known as LinguaFolio®), as well as the importance of communication and advocacy within communities where Chinese programs are flourishing. A flyer and registration information will be coming soon.
Chinese Language Programs in the News
"Mandarin Exploding in Popularity Among Language Learners"
At the same time that Chinese language schools are addressing significant challenges, they are gaining in popularity, as described in this article.
"Reengaging the World to Make the United States Stronger at Home: A Renewed U.S. Commitment to International Education"
Joint Statement – U.S. Department of State and Department of Education
Resources for Educators
In this recent publication, "Student Voices: High Schoolers’ Insights into World Language Learning," high school students describe why and how world language learning is of value to them and what engages them in this enterprise.
Updated Lists of Chinese Programs – for Students and Teachers
As the new school year begins, please update or enter your data on the CELIN Student and Teacher Programs pages.
Student Programs – PreK–Grade 8
Please add or update your school!
Find or Document a Chinese Teacher Program
Mandarin Immersion Schools
Elizabeth Weise, one of the CELIN advisors, has shared with us her updated list of Mandarin immersion schools for the 2021–22 school year.
June 2021
We hope that you are entering into a healthy, peaceful, productive summer and that you are looking forward to interesting and engaging endeavors.
CELIN Program Profile
Tarwater Elementary School, in Chandler, Arizona, has the only Mandarin Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program in the Chandler Unified School District. Started in 2014, the program serves more than 250 students in grades K–6. At the start of the 2021–22 school year, two full-sized, Pre-K Mandarin classes will be added to the program. The program uses a 50/50 immersion model from Kindergarten to Grade 6.
The American Academy of International Culture and Education (AAICE) Summer Scholarships
Four collaborative online summer programs with quality universities in China offer scholarships for students in Immersion Program, AP program, Novice-level program, and College program. Meet native speakers as your mentor during instructional time, and experience China virtually with your instructors through authentic materials. Space is limited; apply today.
Michigan State University Online Course: Effective Design for Online Teaching and Learning
The College of Education at Michigan State University is offering a 3-week (15 hours) online course, July 19–August 6, 2021, for Chinese speaking K–16 educators worldwide who teach any content area. The course addresses online course design and technology tools; pedagogical frameworks in online teaching; disciplinary learning and subject-specific course design; assessment, evaluation, and quality assurance. Materials will be available in both English and Chinese, and the course facilitators are bilingual. Learn more, register, or email your questions to [email protected].
Upcoming CELIN Webinars
"Chinese Language Programs Respond"
Saturday, July 31, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM Eastern Time
Plans are underway for an important panel of education leaders to discuss how Chinese language programs should respond to different discourses on a wide variety of topics related to China, Chinese language and culture learning, Chinese language programming, and international relations. Save the date, as more information is forthcoming in July.
Updated Lists of Chinese Programs – for Students and Teachers
Many parents and educators have found the CELIN student and teacher program directories useful when they are in search of programs for reasons such as family relocation, summer learning, or job change. So far, there are 626 schools/programs and 79 teacher programs listed. If you have not checked into these directories, now is a good time to make connections.
We also welcome your input to enter more program data, as we continuously update our directories. Please feel free to add a program if you don’t find it!
Student Programs – PreK–Grade 8
Please add or update your school!
Find or Document a Chinese Teacher Program
Mandarin Immersion Schools
Elizabeth Weise, one of the CELIN advisors, has shared with us her updated list of Mandarin immersion schools for the 2021–22 school year.
May 2021
We hope that you have a smooth, enriching time as the school year winds down. What a year this has been––and we are learning so much!
CELIN Program Profile
Little Tiger Chinese Immersion School, in Austin, Texas, serves 85 students in PreK through Grade 5 and is the only full Chinese immersion school in the Austin area. Founded in 2015, the school follows a full-immersion model, with 100% of instruction in Chinese in Toddler/PreK, 90% in Kindergarten, 75–80% in grades 1–3, 65% in grade 4, and 50% in grade 5. As you will see in the videos, students in all grade levels have many opportunities to use and learn Chinese in the context of academic coursework and creative projects.
Online Course: "Effective Design for Online Teaching and Learning"
The College of Education at Michigan State University is offering a 3-week online course for Chinese speaking K–16 educators worldwide who teach any content area. "Effective Design for Online Teaching and Learning" is part of the university’s Global Education Engagement initiative. It addresses topics such as online course design and technology tools; pedagogical frameworks in online teaching; disciplinary learning and subject-specific course design; assessment, evaluation, and quality assurance. Participants will earn a certificate by completing an annotated outline of a series of lessons they would normally teach face to face, but revised for an online platform. This course is highly interactive, featuring weekly sessions with course instructors, additional discussion sections with the course facilitator, and small-group and individual asynchronous work. Course materials will be available in both English and Chinese, and the course facilitators are bilingual. For more details, see their flyer in Chinese or English. Please feel free to email your questions to [email protected]. Register here.
Updated Lists of Chinese Programs – for Students and Teachers
Many parents and educators have found the CELIN student and teacher program directories useful when they are in search of programs for reasons such as family relocation, summer learning, or job change. So far, there are 626 schools/programs and 79 teacher programs listed. If you have not checked into these directories, now is a good time to make connections.
We also welcome your input to enter more program data, as we continuously update our directories. Please feel free to add a program if you don’t find it!
Student Programs – PreK–Grade 8
Please add or update your school!
Find or Document a Chinese Teacher Program
Mandarin Immersion Schools
Elizabeth Weise, one of the CELIN advisors, has shared with us her updated list of Mandarin immersion schools for the 2021–22 school year.
April 2021
Wow! What a rich and busy month this is, with conferences and other gatherings. We hope you were able to participate in NCLC 2021 and learned a lot from it.
CELIN Program Profile
The Chinese World Language Programs in Fayette County Public Schools, in Lexington, Kentucky, teach Mandarin from elementary school to high school. Students have many rich and interesting opportunities to use and learn Chinese.
NCLC 2021
CELIN staff and colleagues presented at many sessions, with fabulous opportunities for sharing and learning. You can find these presentations under Resources for Educators, Conference Presentations.
Stanley Wang and Abbotsford Primary School in Australia
The Chinese immersion program at Abbotsford Primary School (亚博斯福特小学) started in 1984. Principal Stanley Wang was recently interviewed by SBS Mandarin.
Webinar: Confronting and Combating Anti-Asian Sentiment
Rutgers University recently held a webinar on "Confronting and Combating Anti-Asian Sentiment in K–12 Education." The resources referenced are here and the recording is here. Follow the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity, and Justice on social media to learn about upcoming events.
March 2021
It is spring! We hope that you are enjoying beautiful weather and smooth transitions into the second half of the school year.
CELIN Program Profile
Maryknoll School is a Catholic, parochial school in Honolulu, Hawaii. The school has the only Mandarin immersion program in Hawaii that takes place during the school day. Currently, the program is offered in grades K–3, with 150 students. The program started at the Kindergarten level, and each year a new grade level is added.
Early Childhood Chinese Immersion Forum (ECCIF) – March 20, 2021
In partnership with a group of peer schools in the Bay Area in California, Chinese American International School (CAIS) hosted the fourth annual Early Childhood Chinese Immersion Forum (ECCIF) for educators in Chinese immersion preschool and Kindergarten programs to network and learn from one another. CELIN staff and colleagues presented a plenary panel on "Chinese Immersion Preschool Education: An Emerging Field and National Survey Results." View the recording and comments in the chat and the PowerPoint slides; see the keynote presentation by Darcy Campbell (Cow Hollow School Executive Director), breakout sessions, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities all here.
NCLC 2021 – April 15–17, 2021
CELIN staff and colleagues have several wonderful opportunities for everyone to share and learn during this virtual NCLC.
CELIN Roundtable, Thursday, April 15, 8:15–9:00 PM ET
"Chinese Immersion Preschool Education in the United States: Initiatives, Strategies, and Resources"
Presenters: Shuhan Wang, Robin Harvey, Sharon Huang, Britta Pells, Amy Quinn, Kevin Wong, Joy Peyton, & Ting Shen
CELIN Pre-Conference Workshop, Friday, April 16, 10 AM–12 noon, ET
"Developing a Toolbox of Innovative Practices for the Post-COVID Era"
Presenters: CELIN staff and a team of national experts: Maquita Alexander, Sue Berg, Lorraine Chao, Luyi Lien, Chris Livaccari, Stacy Lyon, Becky Rosenberg, Madeline Spring, Juan Sun, Sinan Wang, & Yiqing Xu
CELIN & Chicago Public Schools, Friday, April 16, 7:15–8:00 PM ET
"An Innovative Systemic Approach to Redesign a District-Wide K–12 Curriculum"
Presenters: Jane Lu, Shuhan Wang, & Wenmei Zha
CELIN and Yu Ming Charter School, Saturday, April 17, 12:15–1:00 PM ET
"How to Find and Keep Effective Teachers in Your Chinese Immersion School"
Presenters: Sue Park, Shuhan Wang, & Xinyi Xu
February 2021
Happy Lunar Chinese New Year. May the Year of the Ox bring you and your community health, energy, fortune, happiness, and prosperity!
CELIN Program Profile
West County Mandarin School is a public Mandarin immersion school in Richmond, California. WCMS was founded in 2017 with three kindergarten classes, and each year an additional grade level is added, so that it will become a grade K–8 school by 2025 (currently K–3). The school follows a 50/50 immersion model in all grades, with 50% of student instruction in Mandarin and 50% in English.
CELIN Blog
Chris Livaccari, Head of School at Presidio Knolls School in San Francisco, California, and former Senior Advisor for China Learning Initiatives at Asia Society, has written a new blog post: "Why Mandarin Immersion Students Are Uniquely Prepared to Address Issues of Diversity and Social and Racial Justice."
Recent and Upcoming Webinars
Leaders in Yu Ming Charter School presented a webinar on "Guided Reading – Deepening the Love of Reading While Creating Independent Readers." We welcome your suggestions for future webinar topics; contact us at [email protected].
Early Childhood Chinese Immersion Forum (ECCIF) – March 20, 2021
CELIN is proud to be a co-sponsor of this event, which includes keynote presentations, workshops, and other sessions. CELIN staff and colleagues will give a plenary panel, "An Overview of an Emerging Field and National Survey Results," from 1–2:00 PM Eastern time. Take advantage of this opportunity to participate, free of charge.
Virtual NCLC 2021 – April 15–17, 2021
CELIN staff and colleagues are planning a variety of sessions and workshops. Check it out and register today!
New Books for Parents and Teachers
America’s Bilingual Century: How Americans Are Giving the Gift of Bilingualism to Themselves, Their Loved Ones, and Their Country, by Steve Leveen, is a mix of deep research and lively storytelling and provides arguments for Americans to embrace bilingualism and give this important advantage to their children.
The Gift of Languages: Paradigm Shift in U.S. Foreign Language Education, by Fabrice Jaumont and Kathleen Stein-Smith, explores the many advantages of multilingual education and sets the stage for a new paradigm in our approach to teaching and learning languages. The book describes the world language deficit in the United States and the changes needed to better serve our children and language communities.
January 2021
We hope that 2021 is a year of peace, safety, collaboration, and productivity for you, the schools and communities you are working with, and this country. We look forward to our continuing work together.
CELIN Program Profile
Logansport Community School Corporation is located in Logansport, Indiana, and serves a diverse student population of approximately 4,200 students in Kindergarten through grade 12. The corporation offers a world language program in junior high, both dual credit and non-dual credit world language classes at Logansport High School, and a strong Chinese sister school program.
Upcoming Webinar
On February 6, 2021, leaders from Yu Ming Charter School will present, "Guided Reading – Deepening the Love of Reading While Creating Independent Readers."
New Book for Parents
A new book is available from Multilingual Matters: Bilingual Families: A Practical Language Planning Guide, which combines academic research with practical advice to help parents understand and implement successful bilingual and multilingual development of their children. **There is a 25% discount until the end of January, using this code: BFEC25.
Is your program included in our PreK–Grade 12 and the Chinese language teacher directories?
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
December 2020
Season’s Greetings from Shuhan Wang, Joy Peyton, and Ting Shen––the CELIN Team. We wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday season.
Program Profile
This month, we’re pleased to present you the only Chinese immersion program in the state of Indiana. The Batesville Community School Corporation, in Batesville, began in 2016 with kindergarten classes. It has now expanded to offering 50/50 Mandarin immersion through Grade 4, with plans to add one grade each year until classes are offered through Grade 12.
Upcoming Webinars
We are now making plans for the 2021 CELIN Master Teacher Series Webinars. If you have any topics that you would like us to address, please send us an email to let us know. More information about the webinars will be available soon.
CELIN Presentations at the 2020 Global C.R.E.D. Conference, December 2 and 3
"Let's Communicate, through Language and Music"
Professors Xiang Gao (Trustee, Distinguished Professor of Music, University of Delaware) and Alan Goodson (a playwright, translator of plays, lyricist, actor, and director) talked with Shuhan Wang and the audience about their work that incorporates language, literature, and music into concerts and musical theatre. They shared their newest creation, Shanghai Sonatas, that shows how language, history, and music can be a unifying force.
"Why and How to Study Chinese NOW: Networking, Opportunities, Worlds"
Robert Davis (College Board), Shuhan Wang (CELIN at Asia Society), Cleopatra Wise (Asia Society), and Xinyi Wu (University of Pennsylvania) addressed the frequently asked questions of “why” and “how” to study Chinese, particularly in the current domestic context that is increasingly inward-looking.
"Community-based Heritage Language Schools: The Hidden Treasure in our Neighborhoods"
Maria Carreira (National Heritage Language Resource Center, UCLA), Joy Peyton (Coalition of Community-Based Heritage Language Schools and CELIN), and Tommy Lu (Coalition and Chinese School of Delaware) discussed community-based heritage language schools, which include Chinese schools, about their place in and contributions to the national language education landscape.
In this new report, The Importance of Languages in Global Context, An International Call to Action, five international academies recommend that the nations represented in the report should invest educational resources to support the diversity of languages spoken within their borders, including indigenous languages, and provide greater access to education in a range of languages, even as they strive to improve literacy in English.
A new book, The Acquisition of Chinese as a First and Second Language (edited by Xiaohong Wen and freely accessible), contains a collection of helpful articles that were first published in a special issue of Languages, 2020.
Is your program included in our PreK–Grade 12 and the Chinese language teacher directories?
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
November 2020
We hope that you had a lovely, peaceful, healthy Thanksgiving weekend despite the threat of Covid-19. In this unusual time, we also hope you are able to find solutions in your context as you work with your stakeholders, students, teachers, administrators, and parents.
CELIN Webinars
CELIN has successfully conducted four webinars by renowned educators experienced in Chinese as a world language and immersion education. We hope that you have enjoyed participating in these CELIN webinars this fall. If you have suggestions for any topics in the coming year, please send them to [email protected]!
All of the webinars are listed below, and the recordings and slides for each webinar are accessible until February 8, 2021.
- "A BMW Model for Lesson Planning and Implementation"
- "Language Immersion and Project-based Learning Developing Effective Writers"
- "Creating and Moving A Dragon of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment"
- "Developing Effective Writers by Teaching Writing Skills with Intentionality"
Is your program included in our PreK–Grade 12 and the Chinese language teacher directories?
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
October 2020
We hope that the school year is going well and that decisions you have made about online and on-site learning are underway. Although the situation is less than ideal, we know that all of the stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, and administrators) are doing their best to cope and maximize learning.
Program Profile
HudsonWay Immersion School is a preschool through Grade 7 Mandarin and Spanish immersion program, in Stirling, New Jersey and Midtown West, NYC. The school now serves more than 200 students and plans to expand to Grade 8 in 2021. Beginning at age 2, students spend 100% of the time in Mandarin; 80% in early elementary grades, moving to 50% by Grades 4–5 and 40% in 6–8.
CELIN Webinars
Since August, CELIN has successfully conducted three webinars by renowned educators experienced in Chinese as a world language and immersion education. The recordings and PowerPoint slides are accessible for a limited time. One more webinar is coming:
November 7: "Developing Effective Writers by Teaching Writing Skills with Intentionality"
Registration »
This webinar will be held at 10:30 AM–12:00 PM ET / 9:30–11:00 CT / 8:30–10:00 AM MT / 7:30–9:00 AM PT. We hope to see you there, virtually!
Is your program included in our PreK–Grade 12 and the Chinese language teacher directories?
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
September 2020
We know that the reopening of this new academic year has been challenging for everyone. It must have been wrenching to come to a decision about how to ensure the safety of everyone involved. We are also thinking of all of the schools and communities in areas that are under the threat of wildfires. Please know that you are not alone in this difficult time, and stay connected.
Program Profile
Pine Street School is a Green Ivy School, along with Battery Park Montessori School, in New York City. It serves 170 students from nursery school (age 2) to grade 8 in an International Baccalaureate program. Instruction is 50–60% Mandarin immersion.
CELIN Blog
Scott McGinnis, Senior Academic Advisor for the Washington Office of the Defense Language Institute (DLI-W), and Shuhan Wang describe how the Japanese language field has been able to deal with challenges and retain steady enrollment in the K–16 pipeline over the past several decades. They offer lessons learned for the Chinese language field to develop and sustain programs.
CELIN Webinars
Since August, CELIN has successfully conducted two webinars by renowned educators experienced in Chinese as a world language and immersion education. The recordings and PowerPoint slides are accessible for a limited time. Due to the fires in California, Oregon, and Washington, we have changed the dates of the following two webinars:
October 10: "Creating and Moving a Dragon of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment"
Registration »November 7: "Developing Effective Writers by Teaching Writing Skills with Intentionality"
Registration »
All webinars are held at 10:30 AM–12:00 PM ET / 9:30–11:00 CT / 8:30–10:00 AM MT / 7:30–9:00 AM PT. We hope to see you there, virtually.
Is your program included in our PreK–Grade 12 and the Chinese language teacher directories?
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
July–August 2020
We hope that you are having a nice summer, with some rest and relaxation, albeit an unusual one due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Program Profile
Shu Ren International School is an independent school in Berkeley, California. It is the first Mandarin immersion, International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) school in the state, serving 110+ students per year, from 2 years old to Grade 6, with a teacher/student ratio of 1 to 8. The Early Childhood program is 100% Mandarin immersion; Kindergarten and Grade 1, 80/20 (Mandarin/English); Grade 2, 60/40; Grades 3–6, 50/50.
CELIN Webinars
To welcome the advent of the new school year, CELIN is offering a series of webinars by renowned educators experienced in Chinese as a world language and immersion education. All upcoming webinars will be held at the following times; registration is required per webinar:
10:30 AM–12:00 PM ET / 9:30–11:00 CT / 8:30–10:00 AM MT / 7:30–9:00 AM PT
August 29 –– Language Immersion and Project-based Learning
September 19 –– Developing Effective Writers by Teaching Writing Skills with Intentionality
October 10 –– Creating and Moving a Dragon of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
The recording and PowerPoint slides from the first webinar, "A BMW Model for Lesson Planning and Implementation," are now available.
Is your program included in our PreK–Grade 12 and the Chinese language teacher directories?
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
June 2020
We hope that you are moving into the summer with peace and calm, and that you have a chance to do some things that bring you joy.
Program Profile
We have a new profile of a Chinese language program that focuses on young children.
The Early Learning Center (ELC) at Avenues New York starts at age 2 and supports almost 400 students, up to age 5, when students move into Kindergarten. Students follow a 50/50 Chinese/English immersion model in the ELC throughout their time in the lower division.
CELIN at Virtual NCLC 2020
The first-ever Virtual National Chinese Language Conference, held online this year on June 24 and 25, was a huge success. More than 4,000 people registered. Shuhan Wang moderated a plenary panel on "Innovation During a Time of Change: Teaching Strategies and Instruction," and CELIN staff conducted a session titled "Connections and Resources for Teachers, Programs, and Parents." The presentation slides are available on our website under Resources for Educators > Conference Presentations.
We would love to know what CELIN can do for you and how we can collaborate!
Surveys of Teachers and Programs
We are conducting two online surveys on Chinese early childhood education: one is for teachers and program staff, and the other is for programs that offer Chinese either in an immersion model or as a foreign language. Both surveys are easy to complete, and your collaboration is needed in helping us study the state and needs of Chinese early childhood education in the United States. Please also help us disseminate the surveys to any teachers or programs that you know of. We would love to have the survey responses by July 15.
Making Connections
The Chinese American International School hosts an Early Childhood Chinese Edu WeChat Group (formerly ECCIF), which is a platform for preschool and kindergarten Chinese educators to network and support one another. Please send your request to join to Henry Ye at [email protected].
Is your program included in our PreK–Grade 12 and the Chinese language teacher directories?
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
May 2020
As we continue to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, we salute all educators, students, and schools for your efforts to stay focused on teaching and learning in an online environment. Please continue to practice safe measures as we go through this ordeal.
Program Profiles
We have posted profiles of two Chinese early childhood programs serving children in Nursery, PreK, and Kindergarten.
Science, Language & Arts International School (SLA) is an independent Nursery (age 2) to Grade 1 school in Downtown Brooklyn, New York, focused on hands-on science, arts, and math and committed to providing children with a rich and rigorous multilingual education in Mandarin and French. The school plans to serve students from Nursery school to Grade 8 in 2024.
The Chinese American International School (CAIS) preschool is part of CAIS, a private, independent school in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood. The preschool supports 72 students and is staffed by 4 lead teachers and 4 teaching associates. It will adopt a full Chinese immersion model at the start of the 2021–22 school year.
CELIN Blog *new*
Jade Chan, a parent and coordinator of a tutoring program at Portland Public Schools in Oregon, describes how high school students tutor elementary schools students in Mandarin to the benefit and enjoyment of both groups. Read on and think about how this might work in your own summer and regular school programs!
Surveys of Early Childhood Education
Pepperdine University and CELIN join hands to conduct two national surveys that study the landscape and needs of Chinese early childhood education in the United States: one is for teachers and program administrators, and the other is for programs that offer Chinese either in an immersion model or as a foreign language. The teacher/administrator survey is bilingual in English and Chinese. Please help us by completing the surveys and disseminating them within your spheres of influence.
April 2020
We hope that you are doing well during these challenging times in taking care of yourselves, families, classes, schools, and communities. While many of you are looking for information about virtual learning and teaching and ideas for home activities, please check out resources from CELIN, Asia Society, College Board, and others!
We are happy to report that we are launching a new initiative that focuses on PreK Chinese language and immersion programs. This is a response to the desires of many parents and programs that recognize the importance and benefits of early childhood bilingualism. As we move forward, we will continue to share more research and best practices in the field.
One important feature out of this initiative is the profiling of preschool Chinese immersion programs in the CELIN program profiles. If you would like to be included, or you know of any program that should be profiled, please contact us at [email protected].
Two other related projects also require your participation and collaboration: One is a preschool teacher survey, and the other is a preschool program survey. You will hear more about these soon.
We are also adding PreK programs to the CELIN school database–see the link below.
Help Us Document Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers!
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
March 2020
During this challenging time due to the coronavirus situation, we hope that you and your loved ones are staying healthy and safe. It is unfortunate that the 2020 NCLC was canceled. We hope that next year we will be able to engage in professional development together.
Due to the coronavirus, many K–16 programs have transformed their instruction from face-to-face to online teaching. This presents a great challenge for teachers who are not familiar with teaching online.
CELIN is delighted to share a great opportunity: the Confucius Institute at Michigan State University (CI-MSU) will offer a series of four professional development sessions for Chinese language teachers. The series begins on April 4, 2020, for four consecutive Saturdays. Led and designed by Dr. Jiahang Li, associate director of the CI-MSU, and a group of visiting scholars, topics include Introduction to Learning Management Systems and Digital Tools, Design Principles and Pedagogical Frameworks, Accessibility and Quality Control, and Assessments. All sessions are free of charge, but registration is required per session and limited to 300 participants. Please see the flyer for registration and details for the first session.
On Saturday, March 7, CELIN collaborated with the University of Washington to bring educators, researchers, parents, and community members in the Greater Seattle area together for a whole-day early childhood immersion forum, Raising Multilingual Citizens of the World. While the afternoon workshops were canceled, the morning portion of the forum was conducted online, and you can access the video presentation by Shuhan Wang as well as scholars and researchers from the University of Washington and parents of students who are enrolled in immersion programs in the Seattle area. There is a time stamp under the introduction which allows you to jump directly from talk to talk.
The Chinese preschool language education meeting at Asia Society on February 21 was a success, with a number of new initiatives underway to build this area of our work. Here are photos of the group that met. If you are interested in being part of the conversation, please let us know. If you work in a Chinese preschool program, please enter your data on our program database (see the link below).
Help Us Document Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers!
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
February 2020
CELIN is moving into a new focal area, preschool/PreK Chinese language education. Asia Society and CELIN staff held a meeting at Asia Society Friday, February 21, with a powerful group of leaders in this arena. Meeting notes will be shared with meeting participants and others who are involved, and CELIN will begin to publish profiles of preschool/PreK Chinese programs. If you know of strong programs in this arena, please let us know.
Early Childhood Immersion Forum in Seattle
On Saturday, March 7, CELIN will collaborate with the University of Washington to bring educators, researchers, parents, and community members in the Greater Seattle area together for a whole-day early childhood immersion forum, "Raising Multilingual Citizens of the World." We invite you to attend this forum to share and learn about successful early language experiences in schools, discuss challenges, and explore paths forward in raising a new generation of multilingual citizens of the world.
Chinese Language Educators' Conference in Delaware
On Saturday, March 14, Taoli Chinese Language Educators in the Mid-Atlantic will hold a one-day spring conference at the University of Delaware, "A K–16 Chinese Language Educators' Conference: Building and Sustaining Effective Chinese Language Programs." Linda Egnatz, Executive Director of the Global Seal of Biliteracy and 2014 ACTFL Teacher of the Year, is the keynote speaker. The conference is free for all Taoli members. Participants will take away useful strategies from a rich array of presentations and workshops!
CELIN at the 2020 National Chinese Language Conference
CELIN will hold pre-conference workshops at the National Chinese Language Conference (NCLC), in Orlando, Florida, Thursday, May 7, in the afternoon and Friday, May 8, in the morning. Check out the conference schedule and registration information.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Help Us Document Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers!
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
January 2020
Happy Chinese New Year! Rats are known to be smart and resourceful. CELIN will continue to bring you lots of information, connections, and resources during this Year of Rats.
CELIN Briefs
"Making Middle and High School Mandarin Immersion Work," co-authored by Michael Bacon (Director of Department of Dual Language at Portland Public Schools, Oregon) and Eric Schneider (Associate Superintendent, Minnetonka Public Schools, Minnesota), is now available in Chinese: 促使初高中的中文沉浸学习成功
Raising Multilingual Citizens of the World
On March 7, CELIN collaborates with the University of Washington to bring educators, researchers, parents, and community members in the Greater Seattle area an education forum. Raising Multilingual Citizens of the World is a whole day event, and will earn K–12 participants professional clock hours. We invite you to attend this forum to share and learn about successful early language experiences in school, discuss challenges, and explore paths forward in raising a new generation of multilingual citizens of the world.
TAOLI Chinese Language Educators Workshop
TAOLI Chinese Language Educators in the Mid-Atlantic invites you to join their spring conference on March 14 at the University of Delaware: "A K–16 Chinese Language Educators' Conference: Building and Sustaining Effective Chinese Language Programs." Linda Egnatz, Executive Director of Global Seal of Biliteracy and 2014 ACTFL Teacher of the Year, is the keynote speaker. The conference is free for all TAOLI members. Participants will take away useful strategies from a rich array of presentations and workshops!
December 2019
ACTFL Presentation
Shuhan and Joy presented a session on Identifying and Meeting the Needs of Chinese Immersion Teachers at the annual conference of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), which was held November 22–24 in Washington, DC. View slides from the presentation, which include the results of group discussions and information that the groups developed.
CELIN Briefs
"Cultivating Teacher Leaders to Advance the Field of Chinese Language and Culture Education," by Robin Harvey and Duarte Silva, is now available in Chinese.
You Are Invited to the Early Childhood Chinese Immersion Forum (ECCIF) 2020
This forum will be held Saturday, March 7, 2020 at CAIS Middle School. Forum proposal and registration information can be found here and in this flyer.
We Continue to Document Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
November 2019
This Thanksgiving time, we would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our audience for your readership and support. We wish you and your loved ones a Happy Holiday!
CELIN Briefs
We are delighted to present to you the Chinese versions of the following two CELIN Briefs:
沉浸式教育: 创建整体化的学校文化 accompanies its English counterpart, "Immersion Education: Creating an Integrated School Culture."
家长为中文沉浸式教育的伙伴：作出决定并提供支持 accompanies its English counterpart, "Parents as Partners in Their Children’s Chinese Immersion Education: Making Decisions and Providing Support."
Both Briefs provide extremely helpful insights and practical suggestions for school administrators, teachers, and parents. We hope you will find them useful for your work.
Our Documentation Continues!
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
October 2019
We hope that the school year is moving along well and that students, teachers, and school administrators are engaged, learning, and growing.
We are delighted to announce that Yu Ming Charter School in Alamada County, California, has been recognized as a 2019 U.S. National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. “Yu Ming” means “Education for a Bright Future” in Mandarin. Students work hard to reach the highest goals, and teachers and staff work tirelessly to ensure that every Yu Ming scholar is known and supported, and succeeds on every measure.
Please come to the CELIN Session at ACTFL 2019 on "Identifying and Meeting the Needs of Chinese Immersion Teachers"
ACTFL will take place November 22–24, in Washington, DC. We would love for you to come to our session on Saturday, November 23, at 5:30pm. Together with other participants, we will discuss teachers’ needs for relevant resources in a number of areas. You will have the opportunity to share resources that you know about, and we will brainstorm a list of additional resources and supports that are needed in the field.
We Continue to Document Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
September 2019
We hope that the school year has started off well and that you have a rich, productive year ahead! This month we are happy to feature a profile of Verona Area International School (VAIS) in Wisconsin. We also want to let you know that a Chinese version of a CELIN Brief is available, and to invite you to come and participate in our CELIN session at ACTFL 2019 and in a TAOLI workshop in October.
A New CELIN Program Profile
VAIS, located within the Verona Area School District, is the only public Chinese immersion charter school in the state of Wisconsin. Founded in 2010, VAIS serves students in Kindergarten through grade 5. Students spend half of the day learning Chinese and half of the day learning English.
Access more than 30 CELIN Program Profiles.
CELIN Briefs
The Chinese version of "Recruiting and Supporting International Chinese Language Teachers in U.S. K–12 Programs" is now available.
ACTFL 2019: CELIN Session on "Identifying and Meeting the Needs of Chinese Immersion Teachers"
ACTFL will take place this year November 22–24, in Washington, DC. We would love for you to come to our session on Saturday, November 23, at 5:30pm. Together with other participants, we will discuss teachers’ needs for relevant resources in a number of areas. You will have the opportunity to share resources that you know about, and we will brainstorm a list of additional resources that are needed in the field.
TAOLI Chinese Language Educators Workshop
CELIN collaborates with the Association of TAOLI Chinese Language Educators in the Mid-Atlantic to hold a workshop on October 12 for K–16 Chinese teachers, sponsored by the Center for East Asian Studies and the Chinese Language Program at the University of Pennsylvania. Space is limited. Please view the flyer and register early. We hope to see you at the workshop in Philadelphia!
We Continue to Document Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
August 2019
We hope that you are having a peaceful and productive summer and that you are prepared for a new school year. This month we invited Ying Jin (金璎), 2018 ACTFL Teacher of the year, to reflect on the tremendous opportunities of teaching Chinese in the United States at this time. In addition to publishing the Chinese version of a CELIN Brief, we are happy to feature a profile of Virtual Virginia, which offers a rich array of online Chinese language programs.
Lessons Learned and Reflections by the 2018 ACTFL Teacher of the Year, Ying Jin (金璎)
Ying Jin reflects on the tremendous honor of being selected as 2018 ACTFL Teacher of the Year and the many opportunities that she has had to visit Congressional offices and connect with teachers across the country. She also reflects on the opportunities available to Chinese teachers to prepare students for effective participation in the 21st century.
A New CELIN Program Profile
Virtual Virginia is a program of the Virginia Department of Education, with Advanced Placement (AP®), world language, core academic, and elective courses available to students across Virginia and the United States. Virtual Virginia serves more than 7,800 students each year, across all content areas, through online instruction.
Access more than 30 CELIN Program Profiles.
CELIN Briefs
The Chinese version of "Learning Chinese in the Digital Age" is now available.
One of the brief's authors, Adam Ross, also wrote a blog post for Education Week. Together, these resources are useful for Chinese language teachers to adopt or advance their skills in using digital tools in their classrooms.
We Continue to Document Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
June 2019
We hope that you have embarked on an exciting, adventurous, and productive summer! We are pleased to provide you with some valuable information and resources.
A New CELIN Program Profile
The Cupertino Language Immersion Program is a Grades K–8, two-way Mandarin immersion program in the Cupertino Union School District of Santa Clara County, California. The school opened in 1998, and now serves nearly 600 students.
Access more than 30 CELIN Program Profiles.
"The State of Mandarin Immersion in the United States: June 2019"
In this new report, Elizabeth Weise gives a comprehensive overview of the growth and maturity of Mandarin immersion schools in the United States, with descriptions of specific programs.
The 5th International Conference for Chinese Heritage Education will be held in Baltimore, MD, August 3–4, 2019. Sponsored by the National Council of Associations of Chinese Language Schools (NCACLS), this conference for K–16 educational leaders focuses on effective instruction aligned with research-based practices and World-Readiness Standards. Access the conference flyer and conference agenda »
Help Us Document Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
May 2019
It was wonderful to see many of you at the National Chinese Language Conference in San Diego, participating in the CELIN Forum and many conference sessions! This month we're sharing brief descriptions of our CELIN sessions with links to photos and PowerPoint slides. We are also happy to share a blog post by Adam Ross in Education Week about using technology in language classes, and an open position for a division director at CAIS in San Francisco.
CELIN Forum at the 2019 National Chinese Language Conference (NCLC)
At the one-day pre-conference CELIN Educator Forum on Deep Learning on Selected Topics in Chinese Dual Language/Immersion Education, teachers, school founders and administrators, teacher developers, policy makers, and researchers came together to share information and strategies for increasing collaborations in the field and the quality of Chinese language programs. Panels were held on the following topics, followed by in-depth group discussions of each topic.
- Program effectiveness and articulation, grades K–12
- Education for and assessment of young learners, PreK-grade 3
- K–12 and teacher program collaboration
- Assessing learners, grades K–12
- Decisions and practices about teaching languages, content, and cultures
- Recruiting, employing, and developing teachers
We are grateful to all of the panelists and facilitators of group discussions for making the Forum a success. Access the Forum Agenda »
CELIN Sessions at NCLC
CELIN collaborated with leaders in the field to present 7 conference sessions on the following topics. Access presentation slides »
- Expanding the Space and Practice for Chinese Literacy through Immersion
- The Unique Challenges (and Joys!) of Early Childhood Mandarin Immersion
- Instructional Strategies You Can Use in Your Elementary School Classroom
- Creating an Integrated Language Immersion School Culture
- Making Secondary School Mandarin Immersion Programs Work
- Fostering Leadership Development in the Chinese Teaching Field
- Strategies and Resources: Recruiting and Supporting International Chinese Language Teachers
How Tech Tools Can Engage Foreign Language Students
In a new Education Week blog post, Adam Ross (Chinese Content and Technology Specialist at the Chinese American School (CAIS) in San Francisco) describes how the SAMR model can be used to integrate technology into language instruction and engage students in learning.
This CELIN Brief, "Learning Chinese in the Digital Age," gives more information and examples.
Director Position at CAIS
The Chinese American International School (CAIS), in San Francisco, CA, is looking for an Interim Director of their Early Childhood Division, for 2019–20, with the intention to name a permanent ECD Director for 2020–21.
April 2019
As many of you are making plans to attend the 2019 National Chinese Language Conference in San Diego, May 9–11, you may find the descriptions of the CELIN pre-conference Forum and CELIN-organized sessions helpful. We look forward to seeing you at these events!
A New CELIN Program Profile
The International School of Denver is a private, multicultural, multilingual school, which serves 700 students (190 in the Chinese program), from age 3 to grade 8 in an inclusive, globally minded community. The school, started by a group of parents, opened in 1977, and combines immersion education with an interdisciplinary International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme in middle school. Access more than 25 CELIN Program Profiles.
CELIN Forum at the National Chinese Language Conference (NCLC) on May 9, 2019
CELIN will host a six-hour forum, "Deep Learning on Selected Topics in Chinese Dual Language/Immersion Education," which will include panel presentations and workshops on six topics: Program effectiveness and articulation, grades K–12; education for and assessment of young learners, PreK–grade 3; K–12 and teacher program collaboration; assessing learners, grades K–12; eecisions and practices about teaching languages, content, and cultures; recruiting, employing, and developing teachers. Participants will learn and share about issues, innovative practices, strategies, and successes in these areas and be able to become part of the CELIN network to continue to seek information and resources to improve their practice. We look forward to seeing you at the forum.
There is still time to register! »
Look for other CELIN-organized sessions at this year's NCLC »
The TAOLI Pedagogy Forum: Enhancing the Learning and Teaching of Chinese Language, Grades K–16 was held at Swarthmore College, PA, March 16. This forum brought together 70 Chinese language educators from the Mid-Atlantic region and Ohio, Michigan, and New York. It included a keynote address, a panel discussion, and hands-on workshops conducted by experts and teachers on the topics of contextualized and effective instructional strategies, language proficiency and assessments, and technological tools for use in the classroom. See more details about the Forum »
The Second Annual Early Childhood Chinese Immersion Forum (ECCIF) was held at Chinese American International School (CAIS) in San Francisco, CA, March 30. More than 100 early childhood Chinese immersion educators gathered to learn and share. This event was born out of a desire for preschool and kindergarten Chinese immersion teachers to explore current thinking and best practices around topics such as early literacy instruction; social and emotional learning; play-based learning; inquiry-based learning; and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Keynote speaker, Dr. Shuhan Wang, pointed out that in this field, practice outpaces research and the experts are truly those in the classroom. In breakout sessions and a resource sharing session, participants explored topics including implementing Reading Workshop, fostering scientific inquiry in Chinese, gender equity in a Chinese Kindergarten classroom, design thinking, and new approaches to emergent writing in Chinese. The forum was a resounding success, and the planning committee is looking forward to ECCIF 2020.
March 2019
Spring is almost here! We hope you can take some time to notice new buds, flowers, and trees in your neighborhood or places you will go for spring break. We at CELIN have some fresh offerings as well.
A New CELIN Program Profile
Denver Language School is the only K–8 early total immersion public charter school in Colorado that offers Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. The school opened in 2010 and has more than 830 students. Its mission is academic excellence and intercultural competence through language immersion. Access more than 25 CELIN Program Profiles.
Early Childhood Chinese Immersion Forum in San Francisco, CA on March 30, 2019
This forum is designed by and for educators in Early Childhood Chinese Immersion schools. Preschool and kindergarten teachers will engage in a rich day of learning. The forum features a keynote address by Dr. Shuhan Wang, breakout sessions led by conference participants, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities. More information »
CELIN Forum at the National Chinese Language Conference (NCLC) on May 9, 2019
CELIN will host a six-hour forum, "Deep Learning on Selected Topics in Chinese Dual Language/Immersion Education," which will include panel presentations and workshops on six topics: Program effectiveness and articulation, grades K–12; education for and assessment of young learners, PreK–grade 3; K–12 and teacher program collaboration; assessing learners, grades K–12; eecisions and practices about teaching languages, content, and cultures; recruiting, employing, and developing teachers. Participants will learn and share about issues, innovative practices, strategies, and successes in these areas and be able to become part of the CELIN network to continue to seek information and resources to improve their practice. We look forward to seeing you at the forum. To register »
Washington Yu Ying–CELIN Workshop held on January 18, 2019
More than 50 participants attended and felt energized by this Immersion Teacher Workshop at Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School in the District of Columbia. The day was packed with teacher-led labs, observations of classes, interactions with one another, and discussions of ways to improve immersion curriculum, instruction, and assessment. To learn more about organizing similar collaborative workshops in your area, contact us at [email protected].
Help Us Document Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
February 2019
Happy Chinese New Year! CELIN brings you a lot of information, resources, and opportunities as we celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Pig.
A New CELIN Program Profile
The Georgia Department of Education oversees Chinese language schools in 57 school districts, in grades K–12. In the 2017–18 school year, 7,107 students were enrolled in Chinese language courses. This profile describes the key features and accomplishments of three schools. Access more than 25 CELIN Program Profiles.
CELIN Briefs
The Chinese version of "Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for Elementary Chinese and Immersion Programs" is now available.
TAOLI Pedagogy Forum at Swarthmore College on March 16, 2019
This full-day program—"Enhancing the Learning and Teaching of Chinese Language, Grades K–16"— includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, and three hands-on workshops. Thanks to the funding support of Swarthmore College, breakfast, and lunch are included in the registration fee. TAOLI members also enjoy free registration. Register soon »
Early Childhood Chinese Immersion Forum in San Francisco, CA on March 30, 2019
This forum is designed by and for educators in Early Childhood Chinese Immersion schools. Preschool and kindergarten teachers will engage in a rich day of learning. The forum features a keynote address by Dr. Shuhan Wang, breakout sessions led by conference participants, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities. More information »
A New Video from Global Ambassadors Language Academy (GALA)
In this 3-minute video, GALA students share their excitement about learning in Mandarin and Spanish. Read more about the GALA program »
January 2019
We hope that the transition to 2019 has been smooth and that you are looking forward to a creative, productive year. We are excited to bring you valuable information and opportunities for professional development and engagement.
A New CELIN Program Profile
Presidio Knolls School, in San Francisco, California, is an independent pre–K through 8th grade school. Their mission is to nurture young hearts and minds in a joyful learning environment, where the convergence of progressive education and Mandarin immersion ignites curiosity, connectedness, and engagement in the world. Access more than 25 CELIN Program Profiles.
Early Childhood Chinese Immersion Forum in San Francisco, CA on March 30, 2019
In this forum, designed for and by educators in Early Childhood Chinese Immersion, teachers in preschool and kindergarten Chinese immersion will engage in a rich day of learning. It features a keynote address by Shuhan Wang, breakout sessions led by conference participants, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities. More information »
Call for Papers: 5th International Conference for Chinese Heritage Education in Baltimore, MD
Sponsored by the National Council of Associations of Chinese Language Schools (NCACLS), this conference offers opportunities for professional networking with K–16 educational leaders and advocating for effective instruction in alignment with research-endorsed practices and World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. Session proposals due February 28 »
Help Us Document Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
December 2018
We hope that you are enjoying December and having a lovely holiday season. We have profiled another set of Chinese immersion schools in Michigan, and we are looking forward to co-sponsoring two professional development events for teachers, in January and March 2019. We would love to see you there! Details are below.
A New CELIN Program Profile
Greenville Public Schools, in Western Michigan, has offered Mandarin immersion since 2012, with more than 300 students enrolled in grades K–8. The goal is that immersion students will meet the same learning goals as their non-immersion peers and develop high levels of Chinese language proficiency. As of Spring 2018, immersion students remain on pace with their non-immersion peers on standardized English Language tests and consistently score ahead of them on standardized math tests. Access more than 25 CELIN Program Profiles.
A Workshop for Chinese Immersion Teachers on January 18, 2019
CELIN and Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School in Washington, DC, are collaborating to offer an Immersion Teacher Workshop on January 18. During a full day of teacher-led immersion labs, participants will observe immersion classes and interact with experienced immersion teachers; connect with other immersion teachers to set up professional exchanges; learn how to plan lessons, gather resources, and implement them with effective instructional strategies; and engage in performance-based assessments. More information and registration »
Early Childhood Chinese Immersion Forum in San Francisco on March 30, 2019
In this forum, designed for and by educators in Early Childhood Chinese Immersion, teachers in preschool and kindergarten Chinese immersion will engage in a rich day of learning. The forum features a keynote address by Shuhan Wang, breakout sessions led by conference participants, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities. More information »
November 2018
It was wonderful to see many of you at the ACTFL Convention in New Orleans. During the convention, we made a presentation on the CELIN Brief, Key Features of Effective Chinese Language Programs: A CELIN Checklist, which was well received. Participants commented on the usefulness of the checklist as a tool for programs to engage in self-analysis. You can also access the Brief in Chinese.
A New CELIN Program Profile
The Mandarin Immersion program in Michigan's Forest Hills Public School District began in 2008, and now nearly 400 students are enrolled. Students in grades K–4 experience a 50/50 one-way immersion model, and in grade 5 shift to an intensive Mandarin language and literacy block. Access more than 25 CELIN Program Profiles.
A Workshop for Chinese Immersion Teachers in the Greater Washington, DC Area
Responding to popular demand, CELIN and Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School in Washington, DC, are collaborating to offer a special Immersion Teacher Workshop at the school on January 18, 2019. During a full day of teacher-led immersion labs, participants will observe immersion classes and interact with experienced immersion teachers; connect with other immersion teachers to set up professional exchanges; learn how to plan lessons, gather resources, and implement them with effective instructional strategies; and engage in performance-based assessments. Space is limited, so please register early to ensure that you have a place at this special event. More information »
Help Us Document Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers
Find or document Student Programs; submit or update your student program information; and find or document Teacher Programs.
October 2018
This is a busy month, and we have plenty of information to share with you. We hope you will find it useful.
A New CELIN Brief
As Chinese immersion programs have increased in number and grown in maturity, more Mandarin immersion students are moving into the secondary school grades (6–12).This new Brief, Making Middle and High School Mandarin Immersion Work, is written by two leaders in the field, Eric Schneider, Associate Superintendent, Minnetonka Public Schools, and Michael Bacon, Director, Department of Dual Language, Portland Public Schools. It presents two case studies, describing the accomplishments and the challenges of Mandarin immersion education in the middle and high school years in their respective school districts.
A New CELIN Program Profile
Post Oak Academy is a PreK through grade 6 International Baccalaureate Chinese Immersion public school in Lansing, Michigan, which uses a schoolwide 50/50 Chinese immersion model. Supported by a unique array of community partners, the school delivers extraordinary learning outcomes for all students.
Access more than 25 CELIN Program Profiles!
Resources for Parents
We have posted two new articles on the CELIN Resources for Parents page:
Media Report: Challenges of Having Enough Chinese Language Teachers in Schools
This article describes the need in schools for qualified Chinese language teachers, the challenges that U.S. immigration policies present, and ways that schools are addressing the challenge.
Find Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers
CELIN continues to collect information about Chinese programs for students and for prospective teachers. Find or document Student Programs; find or document Teacher Programs.
September 2018
We hope you have had a smooth transition to the new school year, and we hope you enjoy the rich content presented here.
A New CELIN Brief
Immersion Education: Creating an Integrated School Culture by Jeffrey Bissell and Sue Berg
We are happy to announce the publication of another CELIN Brief, focused on creating an integrated school culture, in which the learning of language and content in Chinese and English is coordinated and leveraged through meaningful and intentional collaboration.
A New CELIN Program Profile
College Park Elementary School is a grade K–5 school in San Mateo, California.
When Mandarin Immersion was added to the Talented and Gifted Magnet program, the student population grew significantly. The number of Chinese teachers doubled, a ‘can-do’ attitude was adopted by administrators and teachers, and differentiated instruction became a signature piece of the school.
Online Course for Students Learning Chinese is Open for Registration
An online Chinese language course is open to heritage language and immersion students of Chinese with Intermediate High proficiency levels. It is free to students and will be delivered online by a teacher with K–12 certification and a teaching assistant from the National Flagship program. More information »
A Media Report: Growth of Mandarin Immersion Programs in the United States
“The American grass-roots school movement immersing children in Mandarin,” Published September 16 in the South China Morning Post, this article describes the recent flourishing of Mandarin Immersion programs, which have expanded from a handful of schools in the 1990s to over 300 this year.
Find Chinese Language Programs for Students and Teachers
CELIN continues to collect information about Chinese programs for students and for prospective teachers. Find or document Student Programs; find or document Teacher Programs.