Berkeley Parents Network: Chinese Language Classes

Berkeley Parents Network

Chinese Language Classes

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Classes & Lessons > Languages > Chinese Language Classes

Afterschool and summer Chinese classes
Chinese Language Immersion or Camp in East Bay?
Chinese class for 12-year-old
Chinese school summer program for a 5-year-old
Mandarin language summer camp
See also: Chinese Language Schools
See also: Tutors for Chinese

Afterschool and summer Chinese classes

Feb 2007

I'm looking for information on Chinese language learning, both summer camps and after school or weekend, for my 5 year old daughter who's currently in kindergarten. Does anyone have new info.? Pauline

Keystone Chinese School is held on Saturdays from 9:30 to 12:00. It located in Albany and good for kids from age 4.5 to 16. For details, please visit their web-site at http://www.keystonechinese.org
Lydia

Chinese Language Immersion or Camp in East Bay?

April 2006

My children, age 10 & 11, have been studying Mandarin Chinese at home for the past three years. Their tutor has done wonders, but an immersion program would really help their conversation skills. Is there any East Bay school or camp or playgroup or meeting that specializes in Mandarin as a second language? Heck - a Chinese speaking basketball team! Mainly, we want a meeting for a few hours a week where they had to use Mandarin socially. Also - any suggestions on visiting China/HK/Taiwan specifically to help their language skills? Cliff

It's not hard to find immersion in any of the major cultures of the SF Bay Area. One just has to have an open mind and a good attitude. In the case of Mandarin Chinese, the easiest immersion is in the Mandarin speaking Christian (invariably fundamentalist Protestant) churches. There are many in the East Bay, and most have active childcare and children's programs. Several also offer a free homestyle Chinese lunches after their Sunday services. Some are bilingual or trilingual. As long as you can tolerate a bit of religious instruction, the Chinese churches are a very good bet.

Chinese class for 12-year-old

Aug 2003

My 12-year-old son will be going to Beijing in 2 summers. He will be studying the language during this time, but I would like to get him started. He has taken a bit of Japanese during an after-school program, but otherwise has no exposure to any Asian languages. Do you have any suggestions on how best to proceed? Matt

My daughter's Mandarin teacher just sent me this email (below) last week. We've really enjoyed taking classes at the Albany Community Center.

Do you know any child who is going to be in 3rd through 6th or 7th grade this September and wants to learn Chinese? Annie Wei, my mentor, will teach an upper grade beginning Chinese class at Albany Community Center at 10:15 am in the Art Room. (If she can have minimum of 6 children sign up for her class.) Annie has more than 20 years of experiences of teaching children Mandarin both in the US and Taiwan. She taught in East Bay Chinese School for more than 10 years. Couple years ago, after she retired from the East Bay Chinese School she started teaching in Alameda Community Center (mostly FCC families) and one of the Piedmont Elementary schools. Please pass the words to your friends and hopefully we can have this class starts on 9/6 too. Feel free to contact me for any question or concern. Hope to see you all in September.

Phoebe Chen (925) 283-8866 phoebechen at comcast.net

Hi, Matt, About learning Chinese (Mandarin), any good suggestions will depend on the learner's ability and interests. I taught Mandarin to Japanese adults and children for six years. In my teaching experience, it is key to emphasize Mandarin pronunciaton for children because children have an ear for pronunciation, whereas the older the adult, no matter how you teach they are set in their pronunciation. The other point is that for children, a small amount of time every day is good for studying (adults might do fine with twice a week for longer times, but not so with children.) Good luck to your son! junallison

Chinese class for 12-year-old

July 2003

Can anyone recommend a chinese school summer program for a 5 year old? Thank you!

The Berkeley Chinese School (located in Albany) has a summer camp, as well as a preschool and after school program during the school year. The phone number is 510-525-9666. Elisa

I have seen the Chinese Summer Camp on the newspaper couple of weeks ago. The school is called Berkeley Chinese School, I think. It starts from preschool, Kindergarden and etc. I was planning to send my daugther, but she is too young for it. The number is 510-525-9666. mun33

Mandarin language summer camp

2000

Hi! Friends of ours from Boston have been looking for a Chinese (Mandarin)-language summer camp in the Bay Area or elsewhere for their two kids, 9 and 6. They already speak Mandarin in the home with their mother, so they would be looking for something a little more advanced than beginners' courses. They are also interested in an environment that stresses not only academics, but arts and athletics/recreation. Thanks for any leads! Linda

There is some info at this website: http://www.newconcept.com Annie

I have heard of a summer camp conducted by the Pacific Rim Academy in Emeryville. They are a bilingual (Mandarin/Japanese English Montessori School, ages preschool through elementary). Patricia

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