Keeping in touch with — or acquiring a new — culture is what the Princeton Chinese Language School is about
By:Meredith Make
The Princeton Chinese Language School has been promoting cultural diversity and awareness in Princeton since 1970, the year it was established.
Thirty years ago, the school had an enrollment of 20 students. PCLS now holds classes for over 200 students, who range in age from 5 to 18, on Sunday afternoons from 2:30-5 p.m., September through June. PCLS students travel from all over New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania to attend the school, which is comprised of two sessions of language classes, 45 minutes each, as well as 45 minutes of a cultural activity.
According to Gigi Hsu, chairwoman for the school, the mission of PCLS "is to promote cultural diversity by teaching the Chinese language and culture to children and adults of any race, religion, color and sex."
The latter part of this statement, which stresses that the school is open to people of all backgrounds, is an aspect of PCLS which all who are affiliated with it are eager to emphasize.
"We want to invite Caucasian or non-Chinese-speaking families to learn about the Chinese language and culture," said Henry Lin, who served as principal this past school year.
PCLS is transforming its policy into practice this year by revamping its curriculum to expand the program for students who don’t come from Chinese-speaking families.
Jamie Hook, who has taught the special class for the past four years, learned Chinese on his own while living in Taiwan in the 70s. According to Mr. Hook, he was asked to teach the class by PCLS committee members who "thought that someone who learned Chinese as a second language would be able to relate to and motivate students" who don’t speak Chinese in their homes.
His PCLS class is structured to make learning Chinese a fun and manageable endeavor. "Chinese, spoken Chinese, even including the tone, is not as difficult as people think it is. It’s a misconception. Writing, however, is more difficult," Mr. Hook explained.
Through songs, poems, memorization and comparisons to English sounds, Mr. Hook teaches the Chinese language to students of all backgrounds.
The rest of the student body is divided into 14 different language classes which are assigned based on age and level.
But language is only part of the Princeton Chinese Language School. Culture is also emphasized and is of great importance to many parents who don’t want their children to lose touch with their culture just because they are living in America.
Wai-Ing Yu, who immigrated from Taiwan and is the parent of two PCLS students, believes it is important for his daughters to learn about Chinese culture. "The best thing about the school is that it gathers all the Chinese kids together and they can exchange feelings and they have the chance to learn about Chinese culture," Mr. Yu said.
His daughter, Victoria Yu, 13, agrees that being able to meet, socialize and learn with other Chinese kids is a great opportunity. She has formed a second group of friends at PCLS because, she says, "a lot of people come back year after year."
"I think it’s a great way to learn a second language," Victoria said. "When family and grandparents come over to visit, I can communicate with them."
Not all students may exhibit Victoria’s enthusiasm to learn another language. Bosco-Shang Wang, who was principal of PCLS during the 1993-1994 school year, recalls that his two children, Burkon and Tammy, didn’t want to go to the school. But Mr. Wang had faith that their extra schooling would provide a basis for learning later in life.
Sure enough, both Burkon and Tammy became very involved with the Chinese language in college and both have made summer trips to China.
Mr. Wang attributes this later interest in Chinese language and culture to their earlier schooling. "When they grow up, they will want to go back and find their roots and will do much better in college," Mr. Wang predicts of PCLS students.
For the time being, however, PCLS students can choose from a diversity of cultural activities such as Chinese calligraphy, painting, knotting, chess, dance, martial arts, yo-yo and singing. Jian Yea Ma, the school’s culture director, said that Chinese yo-yo and painting have been the most popular classes.
The school also participates in community events such as the International Program at Princeton University and holds its own events, including a Chinese New Year Party and an end-of-the-year picnic celebration.
Various competitions are held throughout the year to challenge and excite students, such as speech, calligraphy, essay and dictionary usage contests.
Kids aren’t the only ones who can partake in these kinds of extracurricular. Parents are also invited to enroll in activities such as aerobics, swordsmanship, basketball and chorus. This provides the opportunity for parents to meet and socialize.
Helen Nan, mother of two PCLS students and wife of Robert Chang, one of the school’s three guidance counselors, feels that the Princeton Chinese Language School is a family affair. "We look forward to it every Sunday. I think the whole family benefits," Ms. Nan commented.
"Learning the language and culture is really an asset for my children," Ms. Nan said. "I want them to learn their heritage. And it’s fun!"
It’s also challenging, for both the students and their parents. Since PCLS is a nonprofit organization which relies heavily on donations, grants and fund-raising, the PCLS committee and board is comprised of volunteers. There are mandatory parents’ meetings twice a year and parents are also called upon to fulfill "parent duty" twice.
"It’s really run by parents. We work together," Mr. Wang commented. "It’s a good opportunity not only just for kids but for parents as well."
Classes, which are held at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, 1200 Stuart Road, Princeton, begin Sept. 17.
For more information, visit the Princeton Chinese Language School Web site at www.pcls.org.
For specific questions, e-mail [email protected] or call Mark Lin at (609) 734-3294.