Oriental Fusion: DC Begins a New Chinese Language Class

相信嘛,所有的美國人;在這個世界上我們每天所說的這個語言,英文並不是最多人使用做卓越的語言. 中文,有超過850萬人使用的語言在這個世界上,他是目前最廣泛使用的語言,中文更是這個世界上最重要的商業語言之一.DC野在近幾年注意到中文的重要性,所以DC的學生,家長,老師們決定將要在這個學校了增加一們中文課,所以DC學生可以有機會再學校學到中文.

在過去的五年內,家長和老師們不時的在會議中提起增加中文課這個議題.很多的家長認為這是一個非常好的想法,因為中文是一個最被廣泛使用的語言,尤其是在商業經融場上.又加上在學校修德文課學生的不足,所以大部分的家長都支持學校廢除德文課增加一們中文課當碩學生的第二語言.在一個座談中DC的校長Andy Alford提及的更多細節原因為什麼以中文課程取代德文課程.
為什麼DC選擇增加中文課？這會有什麼幫助？

“（老師和家長們）從今年的九月和十月就有一直在討論這個議題. 自從選擇修德問課的學生不停的在減少,他們必須想辦法來停止解決這個問題.我們做了一份意見調查,針對一年級到芭年級的學生家長,最受喜愛的語言是西班牙文,居於第二的是中文.我們也當然參考了我們附近的學校的政策,我們徵詢了他們的意見,大部分的學校都在他們的刻上以增加中文課來取代德文課. 所以我們認為中將會成為一個更加有用對於學生未來更加有幫助的第二語言.”
為什麼廢除德文課？

“（我們）沒有特別反對這個決定.學生人數的減少,不足.我們需要一個更實用更有幫助的第二語言.”
這個心課程將會帶給學生哪些幫助？學校？

“(這節課將會)將會給學生更多的選擇,一個他們比較想要的選擇.另一個主要的好處是中文將會是一個更為恰當的語言如果拿它相比於德文,又加上我們有更多人說中文比起德文,我們認為中文將會幫助我們宣揚我們基督徒的好到世界的角落.”

這個新的課程的增加並沒有得到大部分DC學生的熱烈反應.很多學生了解中文將會對他們的未來有很大的幫助.但是他們並沒有很強烈的興趣來修這門課.我們訪問了一個DC的九年及學生,Yangzi Jiang他說”這聽起來非常的有趣ㄝ但這不是一個我會想修的一門課.我步想要浪費我的時間在意門我已經精通的課程上.但我認為這個將會是一個非常的好的選擇給其他非中文為第一語言的學生,因為中文是一個很有幫助的工具.”

有些學生不認同Yangzi的想法.例如, 十年級的Drew Darby,一個非常專長於德文的學生表達了他對這個決定的想法”如果要流暢的跟人用另一個語言溝通對父母而言非常重要的話,那個這門課將不會是一個好的選擇.中文需要很長時間的經讀努力更需要非常有技巧的老師,這些都是學校無法對這門課保證的.”

Drew 點出了一些非常重要的重點.中文被列為第五等級的語言,換句話說如果要一個完全不會中文的人能夠用中文跟另一個人有簡單的對話這會需要1300小時的研讀.中文不只要會溝通,寫出中文更是難上加難.其他學生更說他們了解中文是一個好的選擇給那些想學第二語言的人如果他們想進去商業環境,但是大部分的中國人或這些商人他們都已經精通於英文.

新的中文課將開始實行於明年的六年級跟七年級生.幸運的那些正在學德文的學生,並且想繼續學習的學生可以繼續的完成他們的德文課程.雖然我們也還不知道這個新的中文課程是否會成功,但是學校的老師和行政人員卻有信心這門課將會是一門很有幫助的課程.Alford先生接著解釋他的想法在建立這個中文課程”Jury堅信這門課將會成功,我也還在懷疑他的可行性,但我們有一個很好的新的計畫.我們大概不會百分之百的確定在未來的幾年內會有什麼影響.”

(Translation)

Believe it or not, English speaking Americans, but the language you use in your everyday life is not the most prominent dialect in the world. Mandarin, with over 850 million speakers, currently holds the title as the most widely spoken language, and is also one of the most important business languages in the world.

The DC community in recent years has recognized this, and with a great inclusion of new Chinese students, parents and teachers alike have decided to take action in providing a way for students at DC to learn Mandarin.

For the past five years, the idea of adding a Mandarin language class had been discussed between teachers and parents, and many parents were in favor of the addition of a Mandarin class due to its wide usage in the business field.

Also, because of the decreasing numbers of German students, many parents supported the idea of getting rid of German as a second language in exchange for Mandarin.

In an interview with DC principal Andy Alford, Mr. Alford went explained, in detail, the reasons behind the new Mandarin class and the booting of the German classes.

Why is DC adopting a Mandarin class? How did this come about?

“[Teachers and parents] had been talking since September and October. Since the numbers of German students had been dwindling, we needed to address the issue. We surveyed parents of 1^st-8^th grade students, and the most popular language was Spanish, followed by Chinese. We also looked at dozens of schools [around us] were doing, we talked to them, and others were dropping German and adding Chinese. We felt that Mandarin/Chinese would be a viable 2^nd language.”

Why are we getting rid of German classes?

“[We have] nothing against the program. Numbers were dwindling, and just weren’t there. We needed a more viable second language.”

What advantages will this new class bring to the students? To the school itself?

“[This class will] offer a choice that more students [may want to take]. Another advantage is that Chinese is a more relevant language than German, and since more people speak Chinese, it will help in our Christian impact on the world.”

The new idea of incorporating Mandarin into the curriculum has been met with lukewarm reception by DC students. Many students believe that the program would be able to teach a useful future skill, however, the same students, both Asian and American, show little interest in taking a class on Mandarin.

When asked if he would consider taking a Mandarin class, Freshman Yangzi Jiang stated, “It’s interesting, but [it’s] not something I [would want to take]. I don’t want to waste my time in [a class where I already know the language]. I do think this will be a good edition to the curriculum because Chinese is a very useful language.”

Other students would disagree with Yangzi. For example, sophomore Drew Darby, an exceptional German student, expressed his discontent with the new class. “If being fluent or competent in a language is important to parents, then this choice will not benefit that goal at all. Mandarin requires many hours of work with quality teachers, neither of which are guaranteed.”

Drew reveals some key points. Mandarin has been classified as a level 5 language, meaning that 1300 hours of instruction are required in order for someone to carry a basic conversation. Not only is gaining knowledge of how to speak the language a challenge, but learning how to write in Mandarin is even more difficult.

Mandarin is a good language for students to know if they want to go into business, but on the other hand, many Chinese people, in business and in general, already speak English.

The new Mandarin classes will begin in next years’ 6^th and 7^th grade classes. Fortunately for those who want to continue to take German, anyone who is presently in 7^th grade or above will be able to finish their courses in the German language.

Although it is still unsure whether this will be a successful new class, the teachers and school faculty have a good idea of what they are going to do in order to help this class prosper. Mr. Alford continued to explain his thoughts on the development of the Mandarin class by saying, “Jury is still out on how successful this will be. I’m still a bit skeptical, but we have a good, brand new plan. We probably won’t be 100% sure how this will turn out for a few years.”