Naselle to host teacher from China
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July 25, 2013
In April 2013, the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District received the news that they had been selected out of many schools competing nationwide to receive two grants for two guest teachers from China. As a result, they are the fifth school district in Washington to implement an Elementary Dual Immersion Program in Mandarin.
Dual immersion goes beyond simply learning words in another language. The goal is for elementary students to attain true bi-literacy. This means they will learn to listen, read, write, speak and think in two languages.
Lin Li from China has been awarded a fellowship from the U.S. Department of State to participate in the 2013 Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP).
Ms. Lin is one of a total of 16 teachers who have been selected from China and Egypt for participation. She will teach Chinese for a full academic year at Naselle Elementary School.
Currently, approximately half of the incoming Kindergarten and first grade students have registered to “opt-in” to this new program. The deadline for registering is August 12.
Students will be allowed to revert back to an English only curriculum in the unlikely event that becomes necessary; however, students will only be allowed to join the program after the start of the school year if they can “test-in” at the current Mandarin class level.
The school district anticipates increased demand for this program. Preschool children may be placed on next year’s waitlist for the 2014-15 school year by contacting Principal Karen Wirkkala at 360-484-7121.
In the first year, the cost of the program to the district will not exceed $24,000. An annual tuition rate of $5,000 will be charged for out-of-state students.
TCLP is funded by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which promotes international mutual understanding through a wide range of academic, cultural, private-sector, professional and sports exchange programs. These exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes and emerging leaders in the United States and in more than 160 countries. Alumni of ECA exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and more than 350 current or former heads of state and government.
Edited 7/26/13: Additional information added about district funding.
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