School Board Approves Mandarin Dual Language Immersion Program

In an effort to teach children the world's most spoken language, the West Contra Costa Unified School District is starting a Mandarin Dual Language Immersion program, according to district officials.

District officials said the Board of Education this week approved the program to begin at a new school that is scheduled to open in August.

The school, which will open at the West Contra Costa Adult Education Serra Campus located at 6028 Ralston Ave. in Richmond, is one of only four public schools in California to offer the language in a school wide program, according to district spokesman Marcus Walton.

District officials said while English is the third most popular language in the world, Mandarin is the world's most spoken with more than one billion native and second-language speakers.

Superintendent Matthew Duffy in a statement said adding the Mandarin language immersion program would expand the academic opportunities for district students.

"The Board and I have made improving the academic outcomes for students our top priority and providing additional opportunities for students to become bilingual is one way in which we plan to address the academic needs of this District," Duffy said.

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Students who choose to attend the program would begin in kindergarten, where 90 percent of the instruction will be done in Mandarin.

The program will utilize the simplified script.

District officials said the school will initially offer three kindergarten classes and add additional grades in subsequent years.

In addition to the Mandarin program at the Serra Adult School site, Washington Elementary School, located at 565 Wine Street in Richmond, is adding 24 seats to their Spanish language immersion program.

For more information on either program interested persons can contact Eric Peterson at (510) 307-4641.

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock