Chinese students visit Anthem

MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR~8/24/2011

Diamond Canyon and Gavilan Peak Schools are now beginning their third year of offering Mandarin Chinese as part of their curriculum.
The schools, which earned a $664,474 federal grant, offers students in kindergarten – sixth grade instruction in Mandarin once a week, while seventh and eight graders can sign up to receive daily instruction. Students interested in continuing to improve their language
skills have the opportunity to take classes at Boulder Creek High School.
In addition to teaching Mandarin the Anthem schools have established relationships with sister schools in China with students at the schools forming pen pals with their counterparts.
During the course of the last two summers Anthem teachers and administrators have travelled to China in efforts to further the relationship between the schools and learn more about the culture.
Dina Pawling, an eight grade math teacher, was one of six Diamond Canyon teachers to travel to China in July. During their visit they taught classes to Chinese students in English about a variety of academic subjects and also offered lessons about American music, sports and holidays.
“When it came to English they understand it very well. It’s harder for them to speak it,
but they try.”
Last week the relationship took another step as students from China, ranging in age from 8 – 14, spent a week in Anthem, going to classes, attending a Diamondbacks game and going to the Grand Canyon.
Principal Tara LeCount said students were eager to meet their counterparts from China.
“The kids were very excited,” she said. “They were counting down the hours. They were very curious to get the opportunity to interact with each other.”
This year Gavilan Peak, for the first time, is offering two first grade classes and two second grade classes in which students are taught 50 percent in English and 50 percent in Chinese.
Robin Tu, who taught Chinese at Diamond Canyon last year, returned for this year’s visit and said he was impressed with how much the Anthem students he worked with have retained.
“I’ve talked to some of them and they’re anxious to use what they learned,” he said.
While there aren’t immediate plans in place the hope is that Anthem students will some day be able to make a trip to China.
For information on the Mandarin Chinese program at Gavilan Peak and Diamond Canyon go to dvmandarin.org.