For new school year 2024-25, we made some major changes on the Chinese class design. Here is the summary of key changes. The link for 2024-25 Fall Semester Class Distribution Overview is located right above the REGISTER NOW button.
- Knowledge level matters: Students will be divided into three different knowledge levels in their age group - Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced. e.g. if your child is Grade 4, but you know your child's Chinese knowledge level is at the beginner stage, then we recommend you to register your child for the Grade 3 Beginner class. However, if you think your Grade 4 child's Chinese is very advanced, then you can register for a higher grade or even middle school grade.
- Textbook selection: For elementary, middle school and high school students, we offer two textbooks for you to choose. You can decide based on your children's interests and expectations. e.g. comparing Chinese Made Easy (轻松学汉语) and Ma Li Ping (马立平) textbooks. The first one is focused on conversation using daily life interactions; the second one is focused on learning Chinese through history and legends. Please make the decision with your children together. The Jinan (暨南) textbook has been replaced by other textbooks because we believe our children can follow content better if the material is more relevant to their everyday lives. When the topic is more relevant to them, they will have more of an interest to study and learn faster. You can choose your class and textbook based on their Chinese knowledge level and outcome focus.
- Continuity: Since a majority of our students come from the Bellevue School District, we've selected the district's curricular chinese textbooks so students could have their learning in public school and continue to be further enriched with additional learning materials at NWCS. The textbooks are Chinese Made Easy (轻松学汉语) and Modern Chinese (现代汉语).
- Textbook purchase: Parents will take the leading role to order student's textbook they are interested in. Most of the textbooks we offer can be easily ordered or returned at Amazon. Online order is fast and often can receive discount. School will continue to sell books that can not be ordered online e.g. Ma Li Ping (马立平) textbook. We specified where to order each textbook in our class distribution overview.
