|
|
Frequently Asked Questions |
 |
What is the vision of Center for Chinese Learning at Stony Brook (CCLSB) by the Principal? |
|
Who are the Founders of Center for Chinese Learning at Stony Brook (CCLSB)? |
|
Who are the Administrators? |
|
Hours & Location |
|
Do you offer Activity Classes? |
|
Student Age |
|
Contact Information |
|
|
|
We consider our school as a NEW TYPE of Chinese School. We do share the common objectives of our sister schools, to promote
Chinese language literacy and cultural exchange for enriching cultural diversity in our community. On the other hand, there
are some CCS specific characteristics that we would like to share with you:
We believe earlier is better.
In terms of language, earlier is always better. Long term, children who have gone through an early childhood immersion experience
in languages show great cognitive flexibility, greater facility in concept formation, great creativity and problem-solving skills in
verbal and math problems, and, obvious, a greater facility of vocabulary. Research indicates that young children are highly receptive
to language acquisition, and second language learning comes most easily early on in a child's life.
To have our kids conceive Chinese language systemically at a younger age, we offer classes to kids as young as 4 years old. We have
written our own textbooks for those little ones: small 8x5 books, to ensure easy access for small hands. Each book contains a small
illustrated rhythm or story, a little bit math, in class and take-home exercises, and a summary list for parent to follow, etc. Kids
will be excited by receiving those cute little books every week. Each week's class is broken down into three 30-minute teaching
sections, one 10-minute break, and one 20-minute snack break.
We believe teaching methodology can make
a big difference.
There is nothing wrong if you think no matter which textbook is being used, whatever methodology is behind it, with the right
teacher, certain learning goals can always be reached. But would you agree a good textbook with more appropriate teaching strategy
will make everything easier?
Most traditional textbooks and teaching methods adopted in US Chinese Schools, learning Chinese character through Pinyin, require
memorizing a lot of writing characters'. Unfortunately, most of those words do not show up anywhere else, coupled with insufficient
appropriate reading material to backup what students have learned. Very often, students intend to read Pinyin other than the
character even though they already know the character by heart. Eventually, they lose their reading ability; they memorize the
required characters each week, but forget them months later. With the lack of fresh reading material, their effort reaps
little reward.
With Ma Liping book, we see solutions to those problems: kids learn characters first, through fun rhythm, story, they learn to
WRITE some of them, but just RECOGNIZE the rest. With extensive supplemental reading material, composed of 95-98% of
characters that they have learned, it's like rolling a snow ball, their vocabulary build up fast, so they are capable of
reading materials at their right age and knowledge level. Their reading ability is not hurdled by Pinyin, their interest
is boosted by the fun and accomplishment brought by reading those interesting stories that mostly cannot be found in English!
Besides, Ma liping's CD-ROM homework (besides its light paper-pencil homework) is a huge plus to attract students to their
Chinese studies too.
Ma liping textbook does not target students with non-mandarin background.
We believe each child is different, there
is no such thing that "one size fits all".
Together with other sister Chinese Schools, we are glad to provide another option to serve our next generation, to better suit
their individual Chinese language learning need.
We believe learning should be fun.
Chinese School learning activity should motivate kids' interest, it should be fun. We have put a lot of emphasis and efforts
in this aspect. Please let us know if you have any good suggestions and ideas, hope we can work together to make some positive
difference in our kids.
We believe introducing Chinese culture and
language to non-Chinese nationality is equally important.
By introducing non-Chinese students into the Chinese school, there would be positive reinforcement among students of different
nationalities in Chinese learning.
We have very strict legal and financial system, with a thin admin
team.
We wish to be as efficient as we can possibly be, to be focused on teaching, while ensuring that the school is very properly run
under strict policies.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
Who are the Founders of Center for Chinese Learning at Stony Brook (CCLSB)?
|
|
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
Who are the Administrators?
|
|
Our school is a nonprofit educational organization. All school staff are volunteers. We have a very strong and supportive team
serving our School Board.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
Hours & Location
|
CCS operates on Saturday mornings from 10:00 AM to 11:50 PM or 01:00 PM to 02:50 PM for language programs, and
12:00 NOON to 12:50 PM for culture classes.
All classes will be operated at Center for Chinese Learning at Stony Brook at Physics Building, Stony Brook University.
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
Do you offer Activity Classes?
|
|
Culture classes are offered as the following: Martial Art, Choir, Chinese Yo-Yo, Culture Dance, Painting, Chinese Chess, Origami and Paper Cutting, and GO (Weiqi).
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
Student Age
|
|
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
Contact Information
|
|
If you have any questions, you may email us at info@stonybrookchineseschool.com
|
|
Back to Top
|
|
