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

Paper/Best Practice Session (1 hour)

Mandarin

One-Way Second/Foreign Language Immersion

At the end of each unit of study in a DLI Culture and Media class, 7th grade Chinese immersion students in America communicate with 7th grade English immersion students in Xi'an, China.  Students skype and blog in order to exchange and compare cultural experiences.                               

Finding authentic materials can be challenging for teachers of 7th grade Chinese immersion students.  Many materials are not age appropriate or relevant. However, communicating with 7th grade students in the target culture and sharing opinions about being a teenager can be very illuminating and relevant for students in both cultures, as well as a great source of authentic material.  In order for this to happen, sister school relationships were formed in both the US and China beginning in 2015. All of the students are one-way foreign language immersion students:  the American students study content in Mandarin, and the Chinese students study content in English. Students who are now at intermediate proficiency levels have the language capabilities to talk and write about their lives and opinions in the target language.  For example, they can discuss and compare school courses, extra curricular activities, family expectations and rules, holidays, and summer plans. Teachers prepare students for speaking and writing and also have follow-up activities to discuss cultural differences.  The hope is that students will form lasting relationships and gain understanding of the target cultural  before exchanges begin in the summer of 8th and 9th grade.