Spotlight on Electives: Mandarin Chinese
Brooke Lundgren, Editor
For the third year running, Wallkill is offering a Mandarin I class as an elective to those
who have successfully completed Spanish IV with a final grade of C (73) or higher. In this class,
students learn a basic understanding of Mandarin Chinese by being introduced to the vocabulary,
pronunciation, and typical conversation of the language. Interactive and technology-rich, this
class allows the students to build confidence and further their skills in listening, speaking,
reading, and writing. Through this class, students will also expand their knowledge and
perception of the culture, history, and geography of China.
Josh Gaston, a current student in the Mandarin Chinese program, considers this class to
be helpful in keeping him stay focused and organized in school. The class is instructed by a teacher at Orange-Ulster BOCES via video conferencing, so he and the other students contact the teacher through email and must be especially organized in note taking, which has helped him in his other classes. He says that because he is "so used to looking at some sort of screen daily," whether it be a computer in school or his phone at home, he is more involved in class and interactive with the teacher. Josh believes that taking this class will "have people stand out from others on their college application". He says that he's learned a lot about himself and has loved every moment of this class, believing it to be "a great opportunity to learn about the Chinese culture and expand your knowledge on a new language".
Ms. English, the program facilitator at Orange-Ulster BOCES, believes that it is
important for people to learn languages other than their native one. She says that because we live
in the United States, "we work with many different people in many different countries, so
learning another language really helps bridge the gap in terms of culture and knowing how to
communicate better with others". She believes that by learning Chinese, it will also help with
international business. This is because China is such a large part of business, so understanding their language and culture will help with interacting with them.
For the third year running, Wallkill is offering a Mandarin I class as an elective to those
who have successfully completed Spanish IV with a final grade of C (73) or higher. In this class,
students learn a basic understanding of Mandarin Chinese by being introduced to the vocabulary,
pronunciation, and typical conversation of the language. Interactive and technology-rich, this
class allows the students to build confidence and further their skills in listening, speaking,
reading, and writing. Through this class, students will also expand their knowledge and
perception of the culture, history, and geography of China.
Josh Gaston, a current student in the Mandarin Chinese program, considers this class to
be helpful in keeping him stay focused and organized in school. The class is instructed by a teacher at Orange-Ulster BOCES via video conferencing, so he and the other students contact the teacher through email and must be especially organized in note taking, which has helped him in his other classes. He says that because he is "so used to looking at some sort of screen daily," whether it be a computer in school or his phone at home, he is more involved in class and interactive with the teacher. Josh believes that taking this class will "have people stand out from others on their college application". He says that he's learned a lot about himself and has loved every moment of this class, believing it to be "a great opportunity to learn about the Chinese culture and expand your knowledge on a new language".
Ms. English, the program facilitator at Orange-Ulster BOCES, believes that it is
important for people to learn languages other than their native one. She says that because we live
in the United States, "we work with many different people in many different countries, so
learning another language really helps bridge the gap in terms of culture and knowing how to
communicate better with others". She believes that by learning Chinese, it will also help with
international business. This is because China is such a large part of business, so understanding their language and culture will help with interacting with them.
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