A Peek into Virtual Immersive Language Class
Since classes have moved into the distance-learning environment, our Whittle School educators have adapted our global curriculum into remote instruction. A core component of our academic model is personalized learning. Our Early Learning team has started to “meet” with language learners in small groups, to continue to meet students’ individualized learning levels.
What does this look like?
During an ELC Mandarin class, the entire twenty-minute class is taught in Mandarin, to maintain the immersive model language learners are used to from live instruction. Each student is greeted individually to begin class. Early learning teacher Mintong Zheng (see bio below) selects a theme for the small group to discuss. Recently, she selected the theme of “perseverance,” a skill she hopes her students will develop during their time at home when many wish they could be at school. Before jumping into the read-aloud, she reviews familiar vocabulary words with her small group, and accesses prior knowledge with previously taught topics. She reads “The Tortoise and the Hare” in Mandarin to her small group, pausing throughout and assessing their comprehension of the story, asking questions to each student in Chinese. The students respond in a mix of English and Mandarin, demonstrating their proficiency and understanding. She asks them to predict, what will come next?
After finishing the read-aloud, she demonstrates a small science experiment to build on the lesson’s theme. During the story, the group discussed the hair’s tendency to go fast, and the Tortoise’s tendency to go slow. Mintong pulls out a zip bag she has filled with water and asks her preschools if she should stick a pencil throw it slow or fast? FAST they scream! She reminds them that being fast didn’t work out for the Hare! The activity is to engage students in the theme, and the new vocabulary of today’s lesson.
VIEW VIDEO AND PHOTOS FROM THE CLASS
ABOUT THE TEACHER
Mintong Zheng, Lead Chinese Teacher with six years teaching experience, began her teaching career as a lead Chinese teacher at Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School in 2014, and served as the PreK leader of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. She grew up in Beijing, China, graduated from Beijing International Studies University with a Bachelor's Degree in Russian Language and Literature; and spent a year in Russia studying and traveling. She came to the United States in 2012 and graduated with a Master's Degree in Foreign Language Education from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Prek-12 teaching certificate. Mintong enjoys facilitating children's learning by providing them with open-ended and inviting learning experiences where children create and explore in a language immersive environment. She also enjoys playing the piano (started playing at age 4) both at home and in the classroom; and writing traditional Chinese calligraphy in different styles.