Outside The Schools Stonington’s Mandarin Chinese Program Continues [VIDEO]

Sounds of English mingled with Mandarin Chinese and smells of fried American food mixed with homemade dishes wafted out of the home of Feng Xue and his fiancée Elisa Sun on a recent Mystic evening.

With the air-filled with laughter and chatter the gathering could’ve been mistaken for a family meal but in reality it was just a normal language class. Well almost. Xue and Sun founded First Han International School based out of their Mystic home as a way to continue Mandarin Chinese education in Stonington, and the dinner happens every ten-weeks as way for the students and their family to get together to discuss their process and also learn about Chinese culture.

During the 2010-2011 school year the Stonington Board of Education voted to phrase out the Mandarin Chinese program, but instead of looking for work else where Xue who is a licensed teacher in the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island decided to create his own private school.

“We wanted to give students who want to learn Chinese a chance to,” Xue said.

The school began in September and the first groups of beginner and intermediate students include a diverse group of people including a first grader, sixth graders and several adults.

In April, Xue is planning a trip to China similar to the one Stonington students went on last summer. However, this trip is not associated with any school but is for people who want to see and learn more about Chinese culture.

“You just think differently, hear things differently if you have an understanding of the language,” said Janice Marconi who began at First Han International as a way to increase and improve her international business presence.

 “I think the school systems of Groton and Stonington should realize the importance of Mandarin Chinese,” Marconi said as she looked around at all of her fellow students including several school-aged ones.

Students meet in class of five pupils maximum for one hour a week. They have homework to turn in that they are graded on and helps Xue and Sun determine which level the students have reached.

“Everything,” Sam Snediker said when asked what he liked about Mandarin Chinese language. “I like the culture,” he added.

Snediker, 11, began learning from Xue as part of Deans Mill School afterschool program but due to the board of education’s decision to phrase out the language program did not have the opportunity to take Chinese in the middle school this year.

The night wasn’t all laughter and good food though after dinner Xue had the students practice numbers by asking someone next to them how old they were saying it was fine for them to say how old they felt if they didn’t want to reveal the own age.

“We’re one big extended family,” Xue said.

A sentiment echoed the warm atmosphere of the gathering and by the students and their family members who joined the program including Snediker’s father David who casually mentioned he would sign up for the next lesson. Proving that the Mandarin Chinese program may be phrasing out of Stonington Public Schools but is far from out of Stonington.