Comments on: Chinese school

By: American Family » Chinese School San Sui (year three?)

American Family » Chinese School San Sui (year three?) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:11:27 +0000

[...] my similar posts plugin, but if you are interested here they are: Chinese school year one posts: one, two, three, four, five and six. Chinese school year two posts: one, [...]

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 23:28:22 +0000

This is probably an unpopular opinion but if M finds it too stressful, how about dropping the classes? My bio kids are Spanish/Portuguese and I don’t ever plan to enroll them in language classes. When I was growing up, my neigbors were from Spain and they forced their kids to go to Spanish class every Saturday. I was never forced to do that and I speak better Spanish than those kids ever did. I take a fun approach at home and teach my 3-year-old Spanish words here and there, but I don’t put undue pressure on him. He’s an individual and I don’t think because his grandparents happen to be Spanish/Colombian/Portuguese that he absolutely NEEDS to go to school to learn the language or about the culture.

I know, I know, this is not a popular opinion (judging by the other comments here). I just thought I’d throw it out there. I know because you are Caucasian you feel very driven to have your daughter embrace her Chinese background. I used to be embarassed as a kid when my parents made me speak Spanish to them in public. A kid just wants to fit in with his/her peers. You can always teach them at home and make it more fun.

By: jenn

jenn — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 21:42:22 +0000

shriek! giggle. Wow, who would have thought that everyone in the country was milling around trying to register for Chinese school all at the same time in the same way? Our school started last Satruday as well and it was just as described: line? whas’ that? No lines just craziness. But this is my fifth registration so now I know the drill: push shove and go for it!!!!!

Interesting comment about the lack of hapa kids. My kids have always had several in their classes–indeed my daughter’s best friends in c-school are both hapa with Chinese moms and white dads. I think attendance all depends on how strongly the Chinese partner wants the kids to speak Chinese and it also depends on whether the Chinese partner is the MOM!!!! In most language school families specifically Asian Americans, its the mom who gets stuck dealing with homework and all the rest. So if Dad is the Chinese speaker but leaves it to Mom who doesn’t speak Chinese, then no Chinese school.

This summer my daughter took Chinese dance. One Chinese american mom there was married to a Japanese American. He wants the kid to be learning Japanese. Mom says “fine, then you do the homework and take her to school” dad says “uhhhhh.” result: kid is learning Chinese.

Similarly, I have friend with adopted daughter from China, bio son and husband from Peru. Husband wants kids to attend Argentinian spanish language school, wife wants daughter to attend Chinese school, son could attend Chinese school but really just wants to sleep in. Wife says “fine, you take kids to school on Saturday and I’ll pick them up.” Husband says “uhhhhhhhh.” result: one kid learning chinese and one kid sleeping late.

I think M will do fine. And if you don’t like that school, look around. There’s probably another rival school out there somewhere!

Last thought if you are wanting M to speak more Chinese, in addition to Chinese school, we are also using “better Chinese” on-line. I think its a really good program and our Chinese school is actually using the written materials for the little kids now.

have fun!