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Published on 02/23/1998 All articles from this issue

Parents proposing Mandarin as part of CUSD curriculum

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By Linda Taaffe / Town Crier Staff Writer

Mandarin Chinese could be added to the Cupertino Union School District's curriculum if the parent-organized language proposal is approved.

Launched by parents Lynette Lee Eng and Marilyn Chi, the dual immersion program would start in kindergarten and first grade in its first year as part of the district's alternative education program and would expand every year thereafter.

Unlike bilingual classes aimed at teaching English to non-English speaking students, both English and non-English speaking students enrolled in the program would learn English and Mandarin.

Eng said she is pushing for an immersion program because she believes all children would benefit from learning two languages.

"People argue 'why Mandarin?' I'm not doing it because I'm Asian. I don't even speak Mandarin," Eng said. "I'm looking at the bigger picture for the future and what can help children in a global market. Learning Mandarin could be very valuable."

Board member Roberta Pabst said the district has not yet "officially" looked into the proposal.

"We may look into it in the future, but it's not likely going to happen for the coming year," Pabst said. "We encourage parents to explore the idea and to generate interest."

She said alternative programs usually come from a strong need and only when there's enough interest for the board to pursue them.

Pabst said the district does not have any kind of immersion program in place. Non-English speaking students are enrolled in the English Language Development program where they learn to be proficient in English as soon as possible, she said.

"We don't want to do things quickly. We need to be careful and make sure a program is right for the children," Pabst said. "A dual immersion program could bring them to a place where they're confused and where they could sink or swim."

Eng has been busy generating support for the proposal, she said. She organized an informational meeting last month where about 60 parents attended, including Cupertino's mayor, she said.

Eileen Chou attended the meeting. Chou said she has been looking for a school with a dual immersion program for her 4-year-old son so he can learn about his Chinese roots.

"It's been an uphill battle," Chou said about finding Mandarin immersion programs in public school systems.

Yalin Chen, who has a 3-year-old daughter who will be attending schools in the Cupertino district, also attended the meeting. Yalin also supports the Mandarin proposal.

"Studies show a strong brain development in children who learn a second language," she said. "I think many people may oppose the program because they don't understand what it is all about."

Those supporting the proposal will meet with the district later this month. Eng said she hopes to have the program implemented in the district by this fall.

The district supports approximately 60 languages. About 16 percent of the students speak Mandarin, said a district spokeswoman.