__________
Curriculum
Ding Hao Chinese School
Radnor, PA
for English-speaking families
who wish to learn Chinese
Ding Hao Main Line Chinese School
Over the years as the Chinese population in the Delaware Valley has grown and changed, so has the demand for Chinese cultural education, especially among three specific groups. These include second- and third-generation Chinese-American parents, adoptive American parents of Chinese children and American families interested in China. All of these groups wished to pass along the Chinese heritage to their children but lacked the language or cultural fluency to do so themselves. Their desire prompted the creation of the Ding Hao classes, born in 1997 under the auspices of the prestigious Main Line Chinese School.
DING HAO--"THE BEST" FOR YOUR CHILD
Ding Hao means "the best." Our school's name was chosen to represent our commitment to your child. We are committed to educating him or her in the language, arts, traditions, history and foods of China. Most important, we are committed to creating a sense of pride in this ancient culture.
WHY CHOOSE THE DING HAO MAIN LINE CHINESE SCHOOL?
The dedicated instructors and administrators of the Ding Hao Main Line Chinese School are uniquely qualified to teach your child. The entire curriculum is geared for children whose parents are not fluent in Chinese, and the staff is highly sensitive to all the needs that arise in learning a culture and language with the complexity of Chinese. In addition, the Ding Hao classes provide the children with an opportunity to meet and learn with children from families like theirs in a fun and nurturing environment.
WHAT IS THE METHOD?
The Ding Hao classes offer children an opportunity to learn introductory Chinese language and culture in an engaging and interactive environment.
Mandarin is taught using the Pin-Yin system of romanization. Culture is emphasized through arts and crafts, games, music, festival celebrations, calligraphy, history and geography. Multiple levels of classes are offered. American teaching methods and small class size (averaging 8-12 children) facilitate student participation and creativity. Our goal is to make the experience fun for your child, not to teach through rote memorization and repetition.
Regarding character recognition, for instance, the method is to show the origins of the characters and how they evolved from pictographs to characters. Ultimately, the Chinese language skill is taught through the following sensory progression: 1) listening; 2) speaking; 3) reading ; 4) writing the character.
Our curriculum is a "spiral curriculum," in which your child continually builds upon what he or she has already learned. The teacher will revisit the curriculum in the form of review by teaching the same content in different ways each subsequent year.The Ding Hao Chinese School utilizes a spiral curriculum, with the first semester each year including a review of the past classes, and the 2nd semester introducing new vocabulary and characters. During the spring 2002 semester, Ding Hao established a Standards & Assessment process to evaluate progress. A description of these standards is available here. Simplified vs. Complicated (or Traditional) Chinese characters: Simplified characters are used in Mainland China while Complicated are used in Taiwan. Ding Hao teaches both complicated and simplified characters, and that is what makes our school so unique.
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WHO ATTENDS?
Ding Hao classes are open to children who are two and a half years old as of September 1. Classes offer children--most of whom have non-Chinese speaking parents--an opportunity to learn about the Chinese language and culture in a fun environment.
WHEN AND WHERE ARE CLASSES HELD?
Fifteen-week courses are offered during the fall and spring semesters. Classes are held on Saturday mornings from 9:30 to 11:00, at Radnor High School at King of Prussia and Lancaster Roads in Radnor, Pennsylvania. Radnor High School is located near Exit 13 off Route 476.
AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
The Ding Hao Main Line Chinese School also offers activities on
Saturdays, immediately after class. Among the offerings are Chinese folk dance, musical instruments, yo-yo and martial arts. These optional activities offer the students yet another opportunity to socialize and learn with other children who share their interest in the Chinese heritage.
WHAT CAN I DO WHILE MY CHILD ATTENDS CLASS?
We encourage you to accompany your preschool child in class so you can assist and learn along with him or her. You may wish to attend the special homework help classes. These classes, designed to mirror your child's curriculum, solidly reinforce the entire educational process for your family and help you help your child. Most important, we encourage you to get involved with the School. We have an active parents' association (PTO), and the numerous festivals and events that are celebrated over the course of the year offer families countless opportunities to participate.
WHERE DO I TURN FOR MORE INFORMATION?
If you are interested in registering your child or have questions about the Ding Hao program, please phone Betty Foo at (610) 527-2548, or contact Barbara Yuan via email at Barbara.yuan@gmail.com.