CAIS

A Real-World Approach: Context-Learning

Decades of experience enable CAIS to maximize children’s natural ability to learn Chinese. Our graduated approach and continually evolving curriculum produce truly bilingual students.

CAIS offers a “one-way,” English/Mandarin, partial immersion program. Our faculty consists of native speakers of Chinese and of English. Through our teaching assistant (TA) training program, experienced Chinese elementary school teachers provide American students with Chinese language skills through content-based instruction. Context-based learning enables students learn the language as they study a variety of subjects.

Lower School: 50-50 Partial Immersion Program

Students spend half of the day learning in English and half learning in Mandarin Chinese. From Kindergarten through third grade, our read-first-and-write-later approach emphasizes sight-reading at the beginning. Students later learn writing by practicing brush strokes. At the same time, we focus on listening and speaking skills. In the latter part of first grade, we introduce the hanyu pinyin phonetic systems.

Subjects taught in English and Mandarin include:

• Language arts
• Social studies
• Math
• Health
• Science

Middle School: Two Main Courses for Learning Chinese

Sixth- to eighth-graders, with a sound foundation in Chinese, spend 35% of the day in Mandarin classes (language arts and social studies) and 65% in classes taught in English. Students also select from electives taught in Chinese, such as:

• Chinese music (instrumental)
• Chinese dance
• Chinese brush painting
• Technology (bilingual)
• Chinese gymnastics
• Martial arts (PE department)

Demanding standards

CAIS adheres to the standards set by the American Council on Teaching Foreign Language. For more information:

• Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century
• ACTFL Performance Guidelines for K-12 Learners

The Five C's

CAIS’ comprehensive approach draws on five basic principles known as the Five Cs.

Technology

The CAIS Chinese program integrates digital media (web-based learning, CD’s, DVD’s, Chinese-language software) into the curriculum. Emphasizing technology in the Chinese program reiterates CAIS’ differentiated instructional approach while keeping students engaged and motivated.

Chinese Language Support Program

The Chinese Language Support (CLS) program helps to identify the unique learning processes of each student, and enables us to tailor curriculum for that student's particular needs. This provides a smooth transition so that the student now feels comfortable and is able to work independently in the classroom. Typically, the student in the CLS program meets with his/her CLS instructor two or three times a week for one-on-one learning sessions. The instructor takes the student through the school curriculum while strengthening the language skills that have been identified. The purpose of this program is to provide alternative ways of learning to ensure the success of the student.

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