California students receive cultural experience with new district program
On a recent day, some students at the California Area School District found themselves in the kitchen preparing fried rice.
Huilin Qiu, a native of China, had steamed some rice the day before – a necessary step for properly crisped rice – and the students seemed pleased with the result.
While the time behind the kitchen’s burners produced delicious food, that hands-on learning is also part of a bigger program in the California Area School District to introduce its students to the Mandarin language.
“I was an English teacher in China at a middle school for nine years,” Qiu said. “We had 10 teachers come (to America) from the Chinese mainland. I was the only one who was arranged to be in Pennsylvania.”
Qiu came to the district in October through Teachers of Critical Languages (TLCP), a program through the U.S. Department of State which is designed to increase the study and acquisition of important world languages in schools across the country.
Superintendent Dr. Laura Jacob said the district received a federal grant for the program, and noted that learning another language – particularly Mandarin – should be important to students.
“English remains the number one language of the world; however, Mandarin is the second most spoken language,” Jacob said. “We realized we need to prepare our students with their futures and teach languages representative around the world. We also know that many of our students are interested in Asian culture and this was an opportunity to bring the culture to our students.”
Qiu has been offering Mandarin lessons to students from kindergarten to high school seniors, with classes at the elementary school and the high school each day.
“I just want to make them interested in learning Chinese culture,” she said. “Normally, I will have a lot of outreach, like cooking class, handicraft class and calligraphy. I just want them to enjoy Chinese culture. It’s not easy for the kids to remember or pronounce Chinese, but if I hold a cooking class, it’s easy for you to remember the taste. It’s a good start, (they may think), maybe I want to know more about Chinese. It sets a fire in their heart.”
Even though the program is in its infancy, it’s been well-received.
“The students love learning from Mrs. Qiu,” Jacob said. “She is hands-on, energetic, passionate, and willing to share different approaches. In addition to the kids that signed up for her courses during the traditional day, we have over 40 students who stay after school each week for Mandarin.”
The after-school Mandarin club meets every Wednesday at the elementary school.
“We do everything,” Qiu said about the club. “Normally, I will have a different topic for each after-school club. You need to always compare the differences between the two cultures.”
She’s also focused on immersing students in Asian culture.
“The cooking classes are the most popular. Even the students who didn’t select my class, every time they pass by my classroom, they will look inside and admire, they wish they had taken the class,” she said.
Qiu praised the support she has received in the district and is quite impressed with Western Pennsylvania. She stayed with Jacob until finding an apartment and enjoyed the chance to see wildlife up close.
“It’s beautiful,” she said. “Every afternoon, there are deer that come across the backyard. I was so shocked. In China, you can just see the deer in the zoo. So, every afternoon I would stay in the backyard and stare. It’s a miracle for me.”
“I learned so much during our time together and we had a great time exploring the local area and Pittsburgh,” Jacob added.
Qiu is with the district through the end of the school year. However, Jacob said the district has reapplied to TLCP for the program for next year.
As for Qiu, she has found a passion in being part of the program, and if the opportunity presents itself, she would love to continue at the California Area School District.
“It’s a new journey for me,” she said. “I love this career. I love this job. I will try to be a Mandarin teacher forever.”