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Few would dispute that learning a second language aids in students’ critical thinking skills, free-thinking, creativity, and mental flexibility, but the study of Mandarin in particular affords students at BASIS Independent Schools special gains.
Researchers have found that learning Mandarin develops new pathways not only in the left temporal lobe of the brain in native English speakers, but in fact utilizes both temporal lobes. Given the emphasis on ordering, grouping, and distinguishing between similarities and differences in character writing and intonation, Mandarin causes students to stretch their mathematical abilities.
Our Mandarin curriculum is deeply academic with students walking away with concrete language acquisition, and our Mandarin teachers have an uncanny ability to get every student excited about the language.
“With the help of images, we teach students the target language in the target language instead of encouraging translation from the native language,” explained Ms. Fan, founding BASIS Independent Brooklyn Mandarin faculty member. “Students start speaking long complex sentences at their very first lesson. The images become self-explanatory, and they become intuitive learners. Also, in my classroom, music is an important part of learning and uses the same method – the lyrics are all represented by images as well so while students are singing the songs, they also understand the lyrics.”
The Mandarin program at BASIS Independent Schools extends beyond language instruction to cultural enrichment. Lunar New Year celebrations feature classes performing fan and dragon dances, Chinese calligraphy, painting, and analyzing Chinese movies. Students are required to study Mandarin through fourth grade. In the middle school years, students can continue with their Mandarin studies or pick another language to study.
BASIS Independent Manhattan opens on the Upper West Side, fall 2017. To learn more about the language program, join us for an upcoming admissions event or tour. Register here.
