Portsmouth Christian Academy's Students Learn Chinese

DOVER, NH - Students at Portsmouth Christian Academy are prepared for global impact through the school’s enriched foreign language program, which provides exposure to students at the preschool level through the Upper School. New to the program this year is Chinese (Mandarin), a language addition made possible by PCA’s newest staff member, Emily Meloon.

A native speaker herself, Meloon serves as Chinese language teacher and Resource Director for the school, according to a press release.

“I have always loved language and learning; I knew I wanted to pursue a filed that allowed me to engage in both disciplines.”

As Principal of the Lower School, Dr. Connie Lawrence, explained, “Our students will compete for jobs that look different than those of today and we want them to be prepared. China is the second largest economy in the world and one of the largest trading partners of the United States. Many US companies do business in China and seek to hire people who speak Mandarin to run their long-term investments there. Knowing Mandarin can give students an edge when they reach the job market.”

For PCA’s youngest learners, the language program (which also offers Spanish and French) highlights the joy of language and culture through song and interactive activities. Older students expand on these fundamentals with a focus on language structure and style. Head of School, John Engstrom, said, “We realized that if we are going to serve our students as well as we can, we needed to offer an Asian language. We chose Chinese as a world language, which supports our vision of graduates impacting the world for good. From a practical point of view, there are a huge number of opportunities for service in Chinese speaking countries.”

Portsmouth Christian Academy is the largest non-denominational Christian school in New England, located on a beautiful 50-acre riverfront campus in Dover. From preschool to grade 12, Portsmouth Christian Academy offers an academically rigorous program centered on preparing their students for life. To learn more, visit pcaschool.org.