Chinese as Second Language (CSL) Program

Koo Chinese Academy offers Chinese as Second Language (CSL) small group classes for young learners, grades K - 8.  This is for students who do not speak Chinese regularly at home. Our CSL program emphasizes conversation from the start, introducing reading and writing naturally as the learning progresses. Our instructors are all native Chinese speakers who specialize in teaching Mandarin Chinese as a second-language. Passionate and open to new forms of teaching styles, our language instructors hope to inspire the love of learning and reading Chinese in our students through a variety of fun, interactive activities. 

What's Special about our CSL Program?  

Right Brain / Left Brain Integration 

The left hemisphere and right hemisphere of the brain is often described to function differently. The left brain is logical, analytical and linear, whereas the right brain is creative, feeling, and visual. 

Studies have shown that something exciting happens when teachers use language-body conversations in the classroom. When a second-language is taught actively through movement, engaging in fun and practical activities, both sides of the brain are activated. The left brain receives the language component and the right brain retains the physical association of that word and phrase. 

Furthermore, studies have shown that through physical engagement with language, students become more relaxed and are further able to remember information. This is known as lowering the affective filter. 

Our curriculum uses songs, games, story-telling , role-playing, creative projects and other task-oriented activities to get students excited about learning as well as help them translate their knowledge and language skills into real-life applications.  

Recreational Reading

Reading for pleasure is one of the most, if not the most, effective ways of learning a new language. While our instructors will provide lessons and an encouraging environment for learning, sustained self-interest and intrinsic motivation are the greatest propellers of vocabulary accumulation. 

We have built a special library with over 2500 children's books of multiple levels for the very reason of encouraging our students to read Chinese for pleasure. The books we have range from children's classics to comics to popular science series. Based on the students' interests and language levels, our instructors will provide recommendations for them to read from the Koo Chinese Library.

Through extensive voluntary reading of their own choosing and interests, our students will not only gain language exposure and competence but also enhance their general knowledge of the world. 

Learning in a Digital Age

Students learn best when given the opportunity to use their new language to communicate in a meaningful, realistic context. As we live in a digital age of iPads and laptops, we at Koo Chinese Academy believe that language instruction should be enhanced with technology. Through multi-media presentations and tech-interactive presentations, we hope to break the constraints of the classroom and further engage and immerse our students in Chinese.  

Level Placement

In order to ensure that the curriculum fits the needs of our students, our instructors will perform a short and quick assessment to evaluate their current language levels. Students will be grouped based on their abilities and can progress to higher levels according to their learning pace.