Words from Zhou Laoshi

Dear Fourth Grade Families,

It’s been a great start to the school year in Chinese class, and I’m excited to share what students have been learning! The students have done a wonderful job building on the knowledge they gained in previous years and are now applying it to develop new skills in reading, writing, and speaking Chinese. Their growing confidence and enthusiasm for the language is truly impressive.

Strengthening Pinyin Skills:
We have been working on strengthening the students' Pinyin skills, which are essential for understanding pronunciation and connecting with Chinese characters. The students have made excellent progress, and we have been conducting the first part of Pinyin reading assessments.  I am pleased with students learning outcomes so far.

Understanding the Chinese Language:
As part of our lessons, the students are gaining deeper knowledge about the Chinese language, including the places, dialects, how do characters works and how it differs from other languages they know. These insights are helping them to appreciate the structure and uniqueness of Chinese.

Languages Connecting Us:
We’ve also been discussing how languages are a way to connect with others. The students are learning that by communicating in Chinese, they can build connections across cultures and better understand the diverse world we live in.

Daily Speaking Practice:
Every class, we incorporate speaking practice to build the students’ confidence in using Chinese. They are encouraged to engage in class discussions, greet each other in Chinese, and share basic information about themselves, such as their names, hobbies, and favorite activities. This regular practice helps improve fluency and comfort with the language. Additionally, students are learning how to respond in different scenarios, like asking and answering simple questions or expressing how they feel. By practicing in a variety of contexts, they are becoming more adaptable and better prepared to use Chinese in real-life situations.

Character Recognition & Writing:
We have also been focusing on recognizing and writing Chinese characters, which are crucial for developing both reading and writing skills. Throughout the year, we will have a few character recognition and reading comprehension assessments to evaluate how well students are identifying the characters we’ve been practicing in class.

Moon Festival Stories:
In celebration of the Moon Festival (中秋节 – Zhōngqiū Jié), we’ve been reviewing stories about the festival, and read a story about Cháng é in Chinese. This helps the students engage with Chinese culture and language in a meaningful way.

Your children have been doing an amazing job, and I’m proud of the progress they’re making in class. I encourage you to ask them about their Chinese learning, whether it’s Pinyin practice, character recognition, or the Moon Festival stories we’ve discussed!

A big thank you to all the families who attended Curriculum Night, the Family Forum, and Parent-Teacher Conferences. Your involvement and support make a huge difference, and it was wonderful to connect with you!

Warm regards,
Zhou Laoshi
Chinese Teacher