Sixth International Conference on Immersion and Dual Language Education: Connecting Research and Practice Across Contexts

Discussion Session (1 hour)

Chinese

One-Way Second/Foreign Language Immersion

Elementary (K-5)

As immersion students reach the upper elementary grades, it can be a challenge to engage them in reading Chinese. I will present a project that I have used with my 5th grade Mandarin immersion students that integrates all four skills--reading, writing, listening and speaking--and that builds their interest in reading and in sharing their ideas about what they have read. Students work with a partner to choose a book at their level that they will read independently. They will then meet to share their understanding of the book and work together to write a written summary of each chapter and create a book of their own that is a re-telling of the story. They present their book to the class and engage them in a discussion of their opinions about the book. The results have been very powerful in keeping students engaged in reading Chinese and increasing their motivation for continuing to read in Chinese.