British Columbia set for K-3 Mandarin classes in 2010

Mandarin classes set for 2010
Despite initial rejection of the idea, district now moving ahead, thanks to strong support in city

Christina Myers
Burnaby Now

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Some of Burnaby's youngest students will have the chance to learn the world's most widely spoken language come fall 2010.

District assistant superintendent Gina Niccoli-Moen presented board members with an update on a proposed Mandarin language program this week - which would run in kindergarten to Grade 3 classes - noting that it would be one of very few such programs anywhere in the country.

"There are not many programs of its kind," she said.

Staff visited a Vancouver school that offers a Mandarin bilingual program with entry at Grade 4 and looked at several other immersion or second-language programs at schools across Canada.

Mandarin - which by some estimates is spoken by more than one billion people worldwide - is already available in Burnaby high schools, but this would be the first time that younger students would be able to learn the language.

Niccoli-Moen was quick to point out that children entering the program would be expected to be fluent in English and that Mandarin would be used exclusively for the language arts component.

"English, math, gym (and other classes) would be in English ... and then there would be time each day to learn Mandarin," she said.

Students would have about 30 minutes of class time each day geared towards learning the language and culture.

The classrooms would follow the B.C. Ministry of Education's curriculum.

The idea to offer Mandarin to younger students was sparked by an e-mail sent to the board in March 2007.

Staff initially recommended against the program, leading the district's education committee to reject the idea.

But then-trustee Richard Lee, who is no longer with the school board, brought a motion to have a committee look at the feasibility of the idea.

A district-wide survey put out by the committee showed a majority of parents were very supportive of the idea, and the board OK'd a plan to develop the program.

"There was a clear interest," from the community, Niccoli-Moen told the board, noting that parents had indicated an interest in a Mandarin program with a language arts focus, versus full immersion or bilingual programs.

The district is currently looking at curriculum development and resources for the program and will soon be considering sites and consulting with schools before moving on to formal registration.

Niccoli-Moen said they are hoping to have the program offered at several locations in the district so that students from all areas will be able to access a nearby site if they want to.

Though initial plans pointed to the program being available in September 2009, the district is now eyeing September 2010 to allow time to develop the program, talk to parents and have teachers and resources in place.

cmyers@burnabynow.com
© Burnaby Now 2009