STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – February 2017
Age: 10
Chinese Zodiac: dog
School: Columbus School for Girls
Grade: 5
Hobbies: reading, ballet, piano, biking
When she started studying at CSC: 2012
Why she is studying Chinese: Because a lot of my family is Chinese, so I should learn the language.
Chinese study goals: To learn to speak fluently.
The Columbus School of Chinese (CSC) is pleased to announce dates for our Summer 2017 Flushing Chinese Immersion Weekend program: July 21-23, 2017. This three-day program is an immersive Chinese language and culture experience for students ages 6+ who have completed Beginner I and above. (Students under age 18 will require a chaperon.)
The Flushing neighborhood in Queens, New York, boasts one of the largest Chinese communities outside of China. Flushing provides learners with authentic opportunities to apply language skills and cultural knowledge outside of the classroom and to become more comfortable with life in a Chinese environment.
Over the course of this program, CSC China experts will guide students through real-life scenarios and cultural experiences that will increase learners’ confidence in their language ability and deepen their practical understanding of Chinese culture and society.
Participants will interact with native Chinese speakers in a variety of settings:
Hotel check-in;
Interact with cab drivers;
Purchase items through bartering;
Ask for directions;
Order food, interact with restaurant staff;
Experience a Chinese banquet;
Participate in authentic Chinese recreational activities, and more.
Dates: July 21-23, 2017
Cost: Approximately $1,000 per student, depending on student number and other factors. Program cost includes airfare, lodging, ground transportation and instructional fees. Past programs have run between $800-1,200.
Past Student Testimonials:
“I enjoyed our immersion trip to Flushing, NY. I was forced to use Chinese in order to communicate. This trip has strengthened my excitement for learning Chinese.”—Raju, Flushing Trip Participant
“Take it from someone who’s been there. You don’t want to miss out on this unique opportunity to improve your Chinese!” —Brian, Flushing Trip Participant
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – February 2017
Name: Sarah Tsung
Chinese Zodiac: Snake
Work: 5th Grade Language Arts teacher at Liberty Elementary School
Hobbies: Trying new things with family and friends, reading, watching TV shows, working out, and trying new recipes
When you started studying at CSC: I started at CSC in November 2016.
Why you are studying Chinese: I am studying Chinese because my husband is Chinese and his family speaks Chinese in their home.
Chinese study goals: I would like to be able to understand and carry on some conversations with my in-laws.
Name: Natalie Fei
Chinese Zodiac: Snake
Work: School Counselor
Hobbies: Reading, Traveling, & Yoga
When you started studying at CSC: Fall of 2016
Why you are studying Chinese: My husband’s family speaks fluent Chinese
Chinese study goals: To successfully be able to order a cup of coffee when in China… AND to communicate a little with my husband’s family in Chinese!
Student Spotlight – January 2017
Name: Jeenee Hines
Chinese Zodiac: Rooster
Work: VHA in Columbus (Veterans Health Administration) as a Clinical Social Worker
Hobbies: cooking/baking, listening to music, NFL football (Go Steelers!), spending time with my rescue dogs
When you started studying at CSC: October 2016
Why you are studying Chinese: Taking a vacation to China in September
Chinese study goals: To be able to communicate with people I encounter while on vacation
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – January 2017
Doug
Age 11
Chinese Zodiac – Rooster
School – Canaan Middle School
Grade 6
Hobbies: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Running and Legos
Greg
Age 9
Chinese Zodiac – Pig
School – Plain City Elementary
Grade 4
Hobbies: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Running and Video Games
Lainey
Age 5
Chinese Zodiac – Rabbit
School – Plain City Elementary
Grade: Kindergarten
Hobbies: Swimming, Crafting, Baking and Cheerleading
Boys started Feb 2013 – Lainey started Spring 2013
They are studying Chinese because they want to learn Lainey’s birth language and to understand Chinese cultures and traditions.
Goals – They want to be able to translate for their parents when we go to Flushing, NY with CSC and on our next trip to China.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – December 2016
CSC is excited to announce our new Student Spotlight program. Every month, CSC will feature two outstanding students — one youth and one adult — on our Facebook page and in our office. Our first spotlighted youth student is Althea Chan (Chen Lixiu)!
Name: Althea Chan
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
School: Thomas Worthington High School
Grade: 10
Hobbies: I enjoy skiing, field hockey, studying, and hanging out with my friends.
When you started studying at CSC:
3 years ago
Why you are studying Chinese:
I am studying Chinese to be able to communicate more effectively with my relatives who speak Chinese. Also, I find Chinese to be very interesting and fun to learn. Learning a new language has proved very beneficial!
Chinese study goals:
My goal in studying Chinese is to be able to converse with native speakers with ease.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT – December 2016
CSC is excited to announce our new Student Spotlight program. Every month, CSC will feature two outstanding students — one youth and one adult — on our Facebook page and in our office. Our first spotlighted student is Kong Bai’en (Brian Conrad)!
Name: Brian Conrad
Chinese Zodiac: Pig
Work: Fahlgren Mortine
Hobbies: I most like to play tennis, go out to eat, go out to the movies, travel and make Chinese friends.
When you started studying at CSC:
Since January 2012. I have studied Chinese for four years, more or less.
Why you are studying Chinese:
I love studying Chinese because it has opened a whole new world to me. It’s exciting to learn a language that for so much of my life has seemed a mystery. Plus, it has brought me closer to Chinese friends through a better understanding of culture, food and history. It’s a fun challenge that gets more rewarding the further I go.
Chinese study goals:
Ultimately, I want to visit China and feel confident interacting with the people there. But what’s more important to me is to keep learning and progressing every day. For me, the journey is just as exciting as the destination.
Thank you everyone who came to our presentation, “Effective Strategies for Non-native Instructors,” at the 2016 National Chinese Language Conference, held April 28-30 in Chicago! We were honored to present to such a large and energetic crowd of native and non-native instructors and administrators.
During the presentation, CSC President Chris Stellato and VP Donny Newman, alongside Director of the Confucius Institute at East Central Ohio ESC, Michele Carlisle, detailed how the strengths of native and non-native instructors could be utilized to provide the best student outcomes.
In terms of classroom management, we discussed how use of a strategic set of classroom expressions could help instructors and students remain in the target language as much as possible.
Here is a list of 20 of the most useful classroom expressions that are sure to help any Chinese class remain in the target language:
The Columbus School of Chinese (CSC), in partnership with the Confucius Institute at East Central Ohio ESC, is pleased to announce Summer 2016 dates for our Flushing Chinese Immersion Weekend programs: June 3-5, 2016 (Adults); June 10-12, 2016 (Youth ages 12+). This three-day program is an immersive Chinese language and culture experience for students who have completed Beginner I and above.
The Flushing area of Queens, New York, boasts one of the largest Chinese communities outside of China. Flushing provides learners with authentic opportunities to apply language skills and cultural knowledge outside of the classroom and become comfortable with life in a Chinese environment.
Over the course of this program, CSC China experts will guide students through real-life scenarios and cultural experiences that will increase learners’ confidence in their language ability and deepen their practical understanding of Chinese culture and society.
Participants will interact with native Chinese speakers in a variety of settings:
Hotel check-in;
Interact with cab drivers;
Purchase items through bartering;
Ask for directions;
Order food, interact with restaurant staff;
Experience a Chinese banquet;
Participate in authentic Chinese recreational activities, and more.
Dates: June 3-5, 2016 (Adults); June 10-12, 2016 (Youth ages 12+)
Cost: Approximately $1,000 per student, depending on student number and other factors. Program cost includes airfare, lodging, ground transportation and instructional fees. Past programs have cost between $800-1,200.
Past Student Testimonials:
“I enjoyed our immersion trip to Flushing, NY. I was forced to use Chinese in order to communicate. This trip has strengthened my excitement for learning Chinese.”—Raju, Flushing Trip Participant 2012
“Take it from someone who’s been there. You don’t want to miss out on this unique opportunity to improve your Chinese!” —Brian, Flushing Trip Participant 2013
With the help of Chris Stellato and the Columbus School of Chinese, we were able to successfully add Mandarin Chinese to our foreign language offerings at Saint Ignatius High School. Prior to our discovery of the Columbus School of Chinese, the difficulty in finding an instructor that understood the needs of American adolescents and had a passionate love for teaching had been problematic for us. With the help of Chris Stellato, we were not only successful in acquiring an expert instructor, but we also established long-term stability through curriculum development, teacher evaluation, and consultation—essentials that were unavailable elsewhere. If you want to build a successful Chinese program at your school, look no further than the Columbus School of Chinese.
Dan Bradesca, Principal
Saint Ignatius High School