GLOBAL students
Laura
Salinger is a
freelance
writer based
in Madison,
Wis.
Salinger is a
freelance
writer based
in Madison,
Wis.
language and is investing millions into critical language learning.
Whatever the language, however, Mueller stresses the benefits of a dual language school. School organizers have certainly done
their research. They cite a number of studies which have concluded that immersion language learning is beneficial to children on many
levels. Research has shown greater cognitive flexibility and better nonverbal problem-solving abilities among language immersion
students. And contrary to what some naysayers may say, there is no evidence that there is a detriment to English language learning
among language immersion students. In fact, research has shown that these students test at or above their non-immersion peers on
standardized tests.
“The studies show that early foreign language learning has benefits other than developing fluency in that language,” Mueller says.
“Studies show that it also enhances skills in their own languages.”
Not to mention, she adds, the simple one-up that these children will have should they develop fluency in a second language at an age
when it is the easiest to learn.
“You are giving children a gift by giving them a second language,” she says. “It helps them communicate better with people from
other cultures, it also helps them enjoy and understand other cultures. We are not just teaching them a language but to be global citizens.”
As the school prepares to open next fall, there is still a lot of work to do. Organizers did just recently get approval, after all. But Mueller is
confident that it can be done.
“It will be a lot of work but we are prepared,” she says.
Mueller, whose husband travels frequently to China, says she doesn’t currently know any Chinese. But she plans to learn. Maybe her son,
who will attend the new Chinese immersion school, can help her.
Whatever the language, however, Mueller stresses the benefits of a dual language school. School organizers have certainly done
their research. They cite a number of studies which have concluded that immersion language learning is beneficial to children on many
levels. Research has shown greater cognitive flexibility and better nonverbal problem-solving abilities among language immersion
students. And contrary to what some naysayers may say, there is no evidence that there is a detriment to English language learning
among language immersion students. In fact, research has shown that these students test at or above their non-immersion peers on
standardized tests.
“The studies show that early foreign language learning has benefits other than developing fluency in that language,” Mueller says.
“Studies show that it also enhances skills in their own languages.”
Not to mention, she adds, the simple one-up that these children will have should they develop fluency in a second language at an age
when it is the easiest to learn.
“You are giving children a gift by giving them a second language,” she says. “It helps them communicate better with people from
other cultures, it also helps them enjoy and understand other cultures. We are not just teaching them a language but to be global citizens.”
As the school prepares to open next fall, there is still a lot of work to do. Organizers did just recently get approval, after all. But Mueller is
confident that it can be done.
“It will be a lot of work but we are prepared,” she says.
Mueller, whose husband travels frequently to China, says she doesn’t currently know any Chinese. But she plans to learn. Maybe her son,
who will attend the new Chinese immersion school, can help her.
By Laura Salinger
As dynamo China emerges as one of the world’s new superpowers, the
popularity of Chinese language learning is on the rise. Yet, there remains
somewhat of an underlying stereotype that the language is especially hard to
learn. A group of Verona area parents, however, are embarking on a large
project to prove that the Chinese language is not harder to learn than other
languages and, in fact, exposing young children to the Chinese language and
culture will only enhance their school experience and success. Not to mention
that fluency in the Chinese language will improve their marketability when it
comes time for them to launch careers.
Next fall, Wisconsin’s first ever Chinese immersion charter school will open
its doors to a group of 22 kindergartners and first graders. The Verona School
Board recently voted in support (4-3) of the school which will set up shop in
Stoner Prairie Elementary School in Fitchburg. Organizers have named it the
Verona Area International School, and the motto is “Preparing global citizens for
tomorrow’s world.”
Teresa Mueller is one of four New Century parents who spearheaded the
concept of a Chinese immersion school and she will serve on the governance
council of the new school. Mueller-along with Patricia Codde, Janet Lalor and
Carrie Sandstrom, spent countless hours developing the concept for Verona
Area International School. The school — whose mission is to prepare children for
the demands and responsibilities of Global Citizenship by providing the
knowledge, skills and experience needed to move naturally between different
languages and cultures — will be based on a 50-50 immersion model. That is,
students will learn in Chinese half the time and in English the other half.
Essentially, the school will be divided into Eastern and Western classrooms.
“The vision for the school is that students will become part of a global learning
community that exemplifies the best educational practices of two cultures, the
East and the West, in terms of language, culture, and pedagogy,” Mueller says.
“This blending will allow children to move fluidly between different cultures,
languages, customs and educational philosophies as part of their school
experience. In Western classrooms, students will learn in the English language
with a child-centered Western approach. In Eastern classrooms, students will
learn in the Mandarin Chinese language with methodologies adapted and
purposefully chosen from the best knowledge- centered instructional practices of
the East.”
School organizers cite very practical reasons for choosing Chinese.
According to organizers, Mandarin Chinese is the world’s most widely spoken
language and is currently the most marketable language for job seekers in global
business. The U.S. Department of Defense has dubbed Chinese a critical
As dynamo China emerges as one of the world’s new superpowers, the
popularity of Chinese language learning is on the rise. Yet, there remains
somewhat of an underlying stereotype that the language is especially hard to
learn. A group of Verona area parents, however, are embarking on a large
project to prove that the Chinese language is not harder to learn than other
languages and, in fact, exposing young children to the Chinese language and
culture will only enhance their school experience and success. Not to mention
that fluency in the Chinese language will improve their marketability when it
comes time for them to launch careers.
Next fall, Wisconsin’s first ever Chinese immersion charter school will open
its doors to a group of 22 kindergartners and first graders. The Verona School
Board recently voted in support (4-3) of the school which will set up shop in
Stoner Prairie Elementary School in Fitchburg. Organizers have named it the
Verona Area International School, and the motto is “Preparing global citizens for
tomorrow’s world.”
Teresa Mueller is one of four New Century parents who spearheaded the
concept of a Chinese immersion school and she will serve on the governance
council of the new school. Mueller-along with Patricia Codde, Janet Lalor and
Carrie Sandstrom, spent countless hours developing the concept for Verona
Area International School. The school — whose mission is to prepare children for
the demands and responsibilities of Global Citizenship by providing the
knowledge, skills and experience needed to move naturally between different
languages and cultures — will be based on a 50-50 immersion model. That is,
students will learn in Chinese half the time and in English the other half.
Essentially, the school will be divided into Eastern and Western classrooms.
“The vision for the school is that students will become part of a global learning
community that exemplifies the best educational practices of two cultures, the
East and the West, in terms of language, culture, and pedagogy,” Mueller says.
“This blending will allow children to move fluidly between different cultures,
languages, customs and educational philosophies as part of their school
experience. In Western classrooms, students will learn in the English language
with a child-centered Western approach. In Eastern classrooms, students will
learn in the Mandarin Chinese language with methodologies adapted and
purposefully chosen from the best knowledge- centered instructional practices of
the East.”
School organizers cite very practical reasons for choosing Chinese.
According to organizers, Mandarin Chinese is the world’s most widely spoken
language and is currently the most marketable language for job seekers in global
business. The U.S. Department of Defense has dubbed Chinese a critical
Organizing parents (clockwise from back) Janet Lalor,
Patricia Codde, Carrie Sanstrom, Teresa Mueller. Not in
photo-Teresa Kohler-Burke.
Patricia Codde, Carrie Sanstrom, Teresa Mueller. Not in
photo-Teresa Kohler-Burke.