Clayton Schools’ Chinese Program Grows

Two years ago, just as Clayton schools' German language programs began to fade in popularity, a new contender emerged from the East.

The Chinese language program in the School District of Clayton began in the 2008-09 school year with one class offered to students at Clayton High School and one to eighth-grade students at Wydown Middle School. Since then, the program has ballooned in size and scope to include 61 students in five Chinese language classes: Chinese I, II and III at the high school, and Chinese IA and IB at the middle school.

"Clayton is very proud of its schools, and we continue to be proud of our graduates," said Christina Perrino, communications coordinator for the district. The Chinese language program "started because there are more than a billion people speaking Chinese, and China is a leader in the world stage."

Because it places value on preparing students for the modern world using challenging and relevant coursework, the school district conducted feasibility studies with the goal of deciding which language would make a fitting addition to the curriculum, Perrino said.

"We actually had people calling us—both heritage speakers and other people interested (in a Chinese program)—to ask if we could offer this language," said Elizabeth Caspari, world languages and cultures coordinator. "We were a little ahead of the curve. It's like when we began teaching Spanish classes in elementary schools . . . . Having a language that's not just Western European-based is wonderful for us."

Hongling Zhang, who works as a Chinese-to-English literary translator and is a graduate of Washington University,  teaches all five of the district's Chinese language classes.

"I am a native Chinese speaker," Zhang said. "I came to the United States in 1993. My son goes to Clayton High School, and (the school district) asked me if I was willing to come here and teach."

Zhang previously taught at the Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School in Ladue, where she assisted in the launch of its Chinese language program. This school year is her first in Clayton.

Although the experience has been rewarding, teaching Chinese to Americans has its difficulties.

"It is very challenging, I think, for American students to learn Chinese," Zhang said. "The writing system is very alien to them. They have to draw pictures instead of writing characters . . . . They like to write, but it's hard to memorize—that's the hardest part.

"The characters don't show you how to say the words," she added.

As part of the cultural learning experience, Zhang's students have watched Chinese films, read cartoons and created brochures that explain why people should learn to speak Chinese.

"If you learn Chinese, you can become smarter. The way that the language is set up, you can develop the gray area in your brain," Zhang said. "You can understand a very different culture. Many Americans know very little about that part of the world."

The Chinese program has taken the place of German classes.

"Although we were sad to phase out German, we no longer have that program due to decreasing interest," Caspari said.

China's perceived status as a fast-rising star in the realm of world politics and business might be a contributing factor to its newfound popularity as a foreign language in American schools, Caspari said.

Zhang anticipates teaching the district's first Chinese IV class next year.