Chinese Immersion Class Offered By Plainfield School District

PLAINFIELD, IL -- District 202 students this summer will once again be able to learn about Chinese culture and language through a special immersion program being held June 5 to 9, at Plainfield North High School, 12005 S. 248th Street, Plainfield.

District 202 will offer not-for-credit beginner Chinese classes as part of summer school, through “STARTALKing”, a federal government-subsidized language program. This is the seventh year that District 202 has offered this special summer program.

The courses will be open to District 202 students who are currently in 5th through 9th grades (as of May 2017).

Classes will run from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Participants will:

• Get a head start learning to read, write, speak, listen to and type Chinese;
• Develop a global vision, sensitivity to foreign cultures, and lifelong interest in learning Chinese;
• Participate in a fulfilling and enriching learning experience.

Registration is $90 (nonrefundable). Payment is due with registration. Please pay by check to Plainfield School District 202. Cash and credit cards cannot be accepted.

A maximum of three classes with up to 20 students each will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline to register is May 19, 2017. All registration materials are available under “Announcements” on the front page of the District 202 web site (www.psd202.org) and all District 202 elementary and middle school web sites. Registration materials are also available in the main offices of all District 202 elementary and middle schools.

Mail completed registration forms and payment to: District 202 Administration Center, Attn. Dr. Dan McDonnell, 15732 Howard Street, Plainfield, IL 60544.

STARTALKing approached District 202 in 2011 to host the Chinese language program, as it has done at several Chicago-area school districts. The program has been well received each of its first five years in District 202.

STARTALK is part of the National Security Language Initiative. The NSLI is “designed to increase the proficiency and number of Americans communicating in critical languages,” according to the United State Department of Education web site.

“District 202 is excited to continue to offer this wonderful enrichment program to our students as another way for our students to expand their cultural experiences and learning, said Dr. Dan McDonnell, District 202’s director for high school curriculum and instruction.

Please visit the District 202 web site for more information at www.psd202.org or contact Dr. Dan McDonnell at (815) 577-4036, or Lilian Blecha at blecha.lilian@gmail.com.

Submitted by District 202