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“Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.” – Flora Lewis
About the Program：
About the Program：
History and Goals
History and Goals
The Lynbrook Chinese program boasts a rich history spanning over 20 years. Our experienced teachers are dedicated to helping students:
Develop strong communication skills in listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
Gain meaningful cultural insights by exploring Chinese perspectives and comparing them with their own.
Become lifelong learners with a deep interest in and connection to Chinese culture.
Grow into global citizens equipped with critical thinking skills to address contemporary global challenges and take meaningful action.
Overview of Courses
Overview of Courses
All courses are open to grades 9–12 students, provided they meet the recommended background requirements.
All courses are UC and CSU approved as a Language other than English, subject E
All courses are taught in both simplified and traditional Chinese characters. Students pick one version of Chinese characters to read and write.
Chinese 1: beginning level (10 credits)
Recommended background: none
If you have little to no background in learning Chinese (for example, you can listen to or speak only a few basic Chinese phrases and cannot read or write at all), Level 1 is the best choice for you!
In Chinese 1, students will:
Learn to communicate about basic elements of themselves through listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
Gain a fresh perspective on the world by exploring Chinese cultures and traditions.
Master fundamental grammatical structures to convey meaning effectively.
Chinese 2: intermediate low level (10 credits)
Recommended background: C grade or better in level 1 (same language)
If you have prior experience learning Chinese (for example, you can listen to, speak, read, and write some basic Chinese phrases), Level 2 is the right choice for you!
In Chinese 2, students will:
Continue developing communicative competence for use in daily life.
Use Chinese to reinforce existing knowledge, expand their skills, and acquire new insights into Chinese language and culture.
Build on their foundational language abilities through more complex listening, reading, speaking, and writing activities.
Chinese 3: intermediate mid to high level (10 credits)
Recommended background: C grade or better in level 2 (same language)
If you have significant experience learning Chinese and can listen to, speak, read, and write simple stories or short paragraphs, Level 3 is the right fit for you!
In Chinese 3, students will:
Learn more advanced vocabulary and grammar related to their life and community, further enhancing their communicative competence across all four language skills, with a particular focus on reading and writing.
Develop formal writing and presentation skills.
Gain deeper cultural insights into the lives and traditions of Chinese-speaking communities.
This course is conducted primarily in Chinese.
Chinese 4 Honors: intermediate-high to advanced-low level (10 credits)
Recommended background: C grade or better in level 3 (same language)
As an honors course, this class is both rigorous and rewarding. It progresses more quickly through topics, delves deeper into the subject matter, and requires a higher level of independent thinking and problem-solving. Taking honors classes can also strengthen students’ college applications.
If you have extensive experience learning Chinese and can listen to, speak, read, and write relatively complex stories or essays, Level 4 is the best fit for you!
In Chinese 4 Honors, students will:
Continue to develop communicative competence, with an emphasis on understanding and using more academic, abstract, complex, and precise language.
Read and respond to a variety of texts in Chinese to reinforce and expand their language skills, with a focus on crafting well-structured written responses to various prompts.
Engage in a more in-depth study of Chinese culture.
This course is conducted entirely in Chinese.
AP Chinese: advanced-low level (10 credits)
Recommended background: C grade or better in level 4 Honors (same language)
If you are a native Chinese speaker or can listen to, speak, read, and write highly complex stories or essays, the AP level is the best choice for you!
In AP Chinese, students will:
Develop overall fluency in Chinese while expanding and refining their skills through college-level coursework.
Get trained on the testing strategies to succeed on the AP Chinese Language and Culture Exam. Students who pass this national exam may earn college credit.
Enhance their ability to analyze and respond to a variety of materials, including fiction, non-fiction, and multimedia content.
What do proficiency levels mean?
The proficiency levels are measured across four skills: listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
Benefits of learning Chinese
Benefits of learning Chinese
For Regular Students (who do not have a Chinese-speaking background)
Learning Chinese offers you a gateway to one of the world’s most influential cultures and economies. With Mandarin Chinese being the most widely spoken language globally, mastering it opens doors to exciting opportunities in international business, travel, and cultural exchange. You can also find that learning Chinese enhances your problem-solving and cognitive skills, as you navigate its unique tones, characters, and grammar.
Beyond practical benefits, studying Chinese allows you to experience the richness of Chinese traditions, art, and philosophy, fostering a greater appreciation for diversity. Through this linguistic and cultural journey, you will discover a sense of accomplishment in mastering a language that initially seemed challenging, making the process both rewarding and transformative.
For Heritage Students (who have a Chinese-speaking background)
Learning Chinese serves as a powerful way to connect with your cultural roots and deepen your identity. You can gain a stronger appreciation for your family history and traditions as you learn the language. It allows you to communicate more effectively with older generations, such as grandparents, preserving familial bonds and cultural knowledge.
Studying Chinese also provides you with the tools to celebrate your bicultural identity and articulate your unique perspectives. Moreover, achieving proficiency in Chinese can open up professional opportunities in bilingual or multicultural environments, where your ability to navigate both cultures becomes an invaluable asset.
Student achievements:
Student achievements:
earth day presentation
earth day presentation
Each year, students showcase their well-executed Chinese projects, designed to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), at the FUHSD Earth Day event held at the Mountain View Museum.
writing contest
writing contest
Students demonstrated outstanding dedication by participating in the 2024 Northwest Chinese Essay Contest, which included learners from across California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho! Representing different proficiency levels—regular, heritage, immersion, and native—our students showcased their exceptional skills and creativity.
Out of the participants, 10 students were selected as winners: four 1st-place winners, three 2nd-place winners, and three 3rd-place winners.
The first-place winners were invited to celebrate International Chinese Language Day at the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco on April 19, 2025.
cultural activities:
cultural activities:
Lynbrook High School Chinese Culture Night 2025 January 31, 2025 @ Lynbrook café Organized by Lynbrook Chinese Program & NCHS.mp4chinese culture night
chinese culture night
The LHS Chinese program (teachers, students, and clubs) hosted the 1st Chinese Culture Night (中华文化夜/中華文化夜) on January 31st, 2025. This wonderful event celebrates the Lunar New Year and Chinese culture, featuring student-initiated performances, 20+ cultural presentations, games, and delicious food!
Chinese new year Cooking
Chinese new year Cooking
Students handmade Tang Yuan in our school café to celebrate the Lunar New Year and experience traditional Chinese New Year customs.
Dragon boat festival zongzi tasting
Dragon boat festival zongzi tasting
Students celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival in class by enjoying delicious Taiwanese zongzi.
Follow our Instagram to see more highlights of student projects, trips, performances, and classroom activities.
Student-made video that features Chinese myths and folktale stories in a fun and unique way. Enjoy Watching ! 😀
chinese myths&folktales friends animation.mp4Page updated
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