Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.

SMALL VOICES, SPEAKING CHINESE

Today’s Asbury Park Press has a feature story on the newly begun Chinese language program at the Red Bank Middle School.

Hot_topic

In just a couple of weeks, the kids have begun learning short phrases and songs in Mandarin, writes Press reporter Larry Higgs.

This is not the old-school phrase- and word-drill method of learning a foreign language.

“I put it in song and rhythm; it’s easier to remember,” said teacher Tsun-Ju Lin.

Even when she goes around the room checking homework, the basic exchanges of “please” and “thank you” are spoken in Mandarin.

“We do our daily communication in Chinese,” Lin said.

Mainly, though, the article focuses on the emerging demand for Chinese language instruction, and for teachers like Lin, and where they’re coming from.

Lin, says Higgs,

was one of nine teachers of Chinese who graduated from the Rutgers University World Language Institute over the last two summer sessions. Now, 61 future teachers are enrolled in that program, and demand is high for them, said Marion Yudow, the institute’s director.

“The problem is there is a shortage of teachers. The state asked us to develop a fast track for fluent speakers of Mandarin to attract people from other careers,” Yudow said. “We’ve developed a curriculum to give them a background in teaching.”

This is the first year Red Bank is offering five classes in Chinese for about 100 students from fourth to eighth grades, said Laura C. Morana, superintendent of schools. The borough is one of 20 districts in the state offering Chinese in some form, said state education officials.

“Chinese is considered a critical language by the (federal) government and the government is encouraging the study of Chinese,” Yudow said. “The economic factors with all the trade we have with China is contributing to the desire (to start Chinese language programs).”

In March, representatives from more than 50 schools, including five in the Shore area, attended a state Department of Education information session about adding Chinese to their world languages. That demand lead Rutgers to offer a fast-track program for people fluent in Chinese to get their teaching certification.

“We’re on the cusp of it and ahead of it,” Yudow said. “We’re one of 10 to 12 institutes in the country invited to apply for the Freeman Foundation grant and one of six programs in the country that got it.”

Email this story

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
redbankgreen Classics
Partyline
MAILBOXES HEAD TO HISTORY’S SCRAP HEAP
Sign of the digital age: mailboxes hauled away from Red Bank post office to storage.
HOVERING CHOPPER
What’s going on here? Last Sunday. Hovering around for quite a while. (Photo and text by Partyline contributor Rosaleen Perry)   ...
RBMS HOOPS CHAMPS HONORED
The Red Bank Middle School girls basketball team is honored for their championship season. (click for more)
NAVESINK SUNSET
Sunset sunburst over Riverside Gardens Park (photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus)
RIVERSIDE SUNSET
Sunday’s sunset shot from Riverside Gardens Park. (Photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus) —
MARINE PARK SUNSET
Stunning sunset from Red Bank's Marine Park.
GULLS AND GRAY OVER MOLLY PITCHER INN
On a cold rainy spring day, bulls soared high above the Navesink River and the golden cupola of Red Bank's Molly Pitcher Inn.
Red Bank Commuters Enjoy Stunning Sunrise Over Navesink River
Thursday morning sunrise over the Navesink River, a commuter view from NJ Transit Train 3320. (photo by Partyline contributor Karly Swaim) & ...
SUNRISE OVER MONMOUTH STREET
Sunrise over Monmouth Street Thursday morning (photo by Partline contributor Thomas Doremus)
FINAL STRAW FOR MARINE PARK REMAKE
Workers place a straw covering over the now-dirt (soon to be grass) stretch of Marine Park that had been an asphalt parking lot for generati ...
DEER IN RED BANK
Dear Friends –Original before GPT– Deer Friends
GHOSTBUSTERS ON MONMOUTH STREET
Ghostbusters vehicle spotted on Monmouth Street. (photo by Partyline contributor Roseann DalPra)
BOAT CLUB AND BATTLESHIP GREY
Monmouth Boat Club under the past weekend’s clouds. (Photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus)    
CURBSIDE BLOOMS
Broad Street beautified. (photo and text by Partyline contributor Boris Kofman)  
NEW MURAL TAKES SHAPE AT CANNABIS SHOP
Red Bank artist Michael White, donning a hat fitting for the day of the New York Mets’ home opener, works on a new mural at Canopy Cro ...
CHERRY BLOSSOMS ABOUND IN RED BANK
Cherry blossoms are everywhere! (photo and text by Partyline contributor Boris Kofman)  
DOWNTOWN RED BANK ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON
Downtown on a Friday afternoon. (partyline Photo by Thomas Doremus)  
LIGHTS ON THE NAVESINK
Thursday’s post-sunset clouds over the Navesink (Partyline photo by Thomas Doremus)  
A SPRING IN THE STEP
A man walks carrying a bouquet of flowers beneath the blooming trees in Red Bank. (Partyline photo by John T. Ward)  
ROWING INTO SPRING
Beyond the magnolia trees in full bloom at the Red Bank Library, the Navesink River Rowing Advanced Youth Program heads out for their weekda ...