The Westtown Chinese Program Overview 西城学校中文项目简介
The Westtown School Chinese program focuses on language acquisition and cultural competence by integrating culture, content, and language seamlessly in a student-centered learning environment. The program immerses students in the target language, provides them with ample comprehensible input, focuses on communication, employs age-appropriate learning materials, implements a standard-based curriculum, and conducts integrated performance-based assessments. The program also provides a variety of signature opportunities for students to further their language and cultural competencies, such as trips to China and Taiwan, annual field trips to Philadelphia's Chinatown, Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year celebrations, authentic cooking lessons at multiple intervals throughout the year, an annual National World Language Week celebration, service opportunities within the local Chinese community, Chinese National Honor Society Induction, annual Chinese Medal award presentations, a visiting keynote speaker series, and more. The Westtown Chinese Program was presented the "Distinguished K-12 Chinese Program in the United States" award by the Chinese Language Teachers Association (CLTA) in 2024.
The Distinguished K-12 Chinese Program in the United States
全美中小学优异中文项目
T. Bei Zhang, the lead Mandarin Chinese teacher and World Language Department Chair, accepting the "Distinguished K-12 Chinese Program in the United States" on behalf of the Westtown Chinese Program.
Meet Your Chinese Teachers 中文老师简介
Upper School Chinese Teacher
Chair, World Languages Department (6-12th grades); Co-Director of the International Student Program; Lead Chinese Teacher
Middle School Chinese Teacher
Why do students learn Chinese at Westtown? (Student-Made Videos) 为什么西城学校的学生会选择学中文?(学生自制的视频)
Why you should learn Chinese at Westtown?
Why our best athletes learn Chinese at Westtown?
Student & Parent Feedback Samples 学生、家长反馈范例
“Dear Teacher Bei, I can’t tell you how much we appreciate the ways you’ve inspired Melanie over the years. She’s never more enthusiastic than when telling stories from her Mandarin classes, and it’s been wonderful to see her love of languages develop with such positive support from you and others in Westtown’s World Languages Department. We’re looking forward to seeing how she continues her language growth and learning in college. Many thanks for providing a strong foundation and encouraging her curiosity.” - Amy Flynn, Parent, 2023
“The Westtown Chinese program has not only given me a rich understanding of Mandarin, but has allowed me to immerse in the culture through singing, playing traditional games, and cooking yummy foods. I’ve had such dedicated teachers who have instilled in me a love for the language and the desire to continue my Chinese education in college.” - Andrea Alevras, Student, 2023
Quick Links 快速链接