Your child will learn Mandarin Chinese language and culture through songs, stories, games and art projects in a student-centered classroom environment. Classes are taught by native or near native Mandarin speakers with extensive experience teaching Mandarin Chinese to children. Snacks and materials are provided. The courses are throughout the academic year, divided into trimesters. Enrollment is limited. Registration for the 09-10 academic year begins in June, 2009.

Beginner: Levels A & B

Levels A & B (3-10 years old)

This class is designed for children age 3-9 years old with little or no Mandarin Chinese background. Through fun activities, songs, and rhymes, children learn to communicate ideas that are relevant to daily life in Chinese.Additionally, the fundamentals of Chinese characters, including basic strokes and stroke order, as well as Pinyin, are introduced.The children also learn about basic sentence patterns and aspects of Chinese culture.

Level A.1 (3-4 years old)

Starts September 22 or September 24 Tuesdays or Thursdays ~ 2:00-3:00 PM $990 member / $1,050 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Level A.2 (5-7 year olds)

Starts September 30 Wednesday ~ 4-5:30 PM $1,260 member / $1,350 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Level B.1 (4-5 years old)

Starts September 22 Tuesdays ~ 4-5:30 PM $1,260 member / $1,350 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Level B.2 (6-8 years old)

Starts September 24 Thursdays ~ 4-5:30 PM $1,260 member / $1,350 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Level B.3 (8-10 years old)

Starts September 21 Mondays ~ 4-5:30 PM $1,260 member / $1,350 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Immersion Class

Levels A, B & C (3-7 years old)

The class is designed for Chinese with a background in Mandarin Chinese.The class instruction will be 100% in Mandarin Chinese.For A class, children meet twice per week. During class, children will learn vocabulary and knowledge of the Chinese language and culture through storytelling, singing songs, reciting ancient poems, nursery rhymes, and many other fun activities.Children will gain more confidence in Chinese speaking skills.

Immersion Class A (3-4 years old)

Starts September 22 Tuesdays and Thursdays ~ 2:00-3:00 PM $1,980 member / $2,100 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Immersion Class B (4-6 years old)

Starts September 21 Mondays ~ 4-5:30 PM $1,260 member / $1,350 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Immersion Class C (5-7 years old)

Starts September 30 Wednesday ~ 4-5:30 PM $1,260 member / $1,350 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Intermediate: Levels C & D

Level C (5-8 years old)

Building on the foundation of previously-learned Mandarin Chinese, children will learn to make grammatically sound sentences. Games and hands-on activities present fun ways to reinforce material.

Level C.1 (5-7 years old)

Starts September 22 Tuesdays ~ 4-5:30 PM $1,260 member / $1,350 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Level C.2 (6-8 years old)

Starts September 24 Thursdays ~ 4-5:30 PM $1,260 member / $1,350 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Level D (6-9 years old)

Children will learn complex Mandarin Chinese sentences through student-led conversations and interactive games. By the end of the course, the children should be able to engage in functional conversations.

Level D.1 (6-8 years old)

Starts September 24 Thursdays ~ 4-5:30 PM $1,260 member / $1,350 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Level D (7-9 years old)

Starts September 22 Tuesdays ~ 4-5:30 PM $1,260 member / $1,350 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Advanced: Levels E & F

Level E (8-12 years old)

In this level, students start getting familiar with complicated sentence patterns and grammar that meet the demands of daily communication. Students are expected to engage smoothly in Chinese dialogue, and to be able to read Chinese article and write short passages with Pinyin.Exercises and tests are used to help students consolidate their knowledge of the Chinese language.

Level E.1 (8-11 years old)

Starts September 22 Tuesdays ~ 4-5:30 PM $1,260 member / $1,350 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Level E.2 (9-12 years old)

Starts September 24 Thursdays ~ 4-5:30 PM $1,260 member / $1,350 non-member Plus $50 non-refundable registration fee

Level F

Children will focus on building vocabulary and learning to read and write long essays in Mandarin Chinese.

Level F (9-12 years old)

No Level F class is scheduled in 09-10 academic year.

Chinese for Children is supported in part by the C.T. Feng Education Fund. For more information on Classes and Events for Kids at China Institute, please email pzeng@chinainstitute.org, or call (212)-744-8181, ext. 138