Small Grass

K-Man will perform the famous Taiwanese campus folks song "Small Grass" at the graduation. Below is the lyrics and a video clip for extra familiarity at home.

大風(dàfēng)起(qǐ)，把頭(bǎtóu)搖(yáo)一(yī)搖(yáo)；
風(fēng)停(tíng)了(le)，又(yòu)挺直(tǐngzhí)腰(yāo)。

大雨(dàyǔ)來(lái)，彎(wān)著(zhù)背(bèi)讓(ràng)雨(yǔ)澆(jiāo)；
雨(yǔ)停(tíng)了(le)，抬(tái)起頭(qǐtóu)站(zhàn)直(zhí)腳(jiǎo)。

不怕(búpà)風(fēng)不怕(búpà)雨(yǔ)，立志(lìzhì)要(yào)長(cháng)高(gāo)；
小草(xiǎocǎo)，實在(shízài)是(shì)並不(bìngbù)小(xiǎo

Big wind rises, shaking its head side to side;
The wind stops, and straighten its back up once again.
Big rain comes, bending its back letting the rain drench it;
The rain stops, raises its head standing up straight on its feet.
Unafraid of the wind unafraid of the rain, determined to grow up tall;
Small grass, truly is not that small.

Week of April 14-18, 2014

The students took a trip around the campus and interviewed some of our Confucius Institute teachers this week. Some thought it was the most exciting to be able to converse with real Chinese speakers, and some were a bit shy. Overall a fun experience and I encourage you and your children visit Chinese businesses often over the summer so he can stay immersed.

|WATCH| How do you learn Mandarin? Speak it! Speak it! And Speak it!!

Our mornings are usually filled with lots of speaking practices. The students have been memorizing greetings, their birthdays, weathers, favorite foods and activities. There are SO MANY vocabulary words and phrases they know, but the only way to become fluent is to SPEAK THEM. It might be silly to plug words into formulas, but after awhile, the students will shift to tweak phrases...and that is really exciting! Anyhow, since we don't live in a Mandarin speaking country, we make the best use out of each other. Students are partnered up randomly and they are required to ask a set of questions and answers they are familiar with.

In this video clip, Rami and Ava ask each other what they like and do not like to do. First they interviewed each other, then they had to do an introduction. I thought the three step process was not the easiest task. Think about this, first, they have to ask the question. Second, they have to memorize it. Third, they have to ask the next question. Fourth, they have to memorize it. Fifth, they have to present it all. Oh wait, that WAS really complicated, wasn't it? And just sixty Mandarin days ago, each of them was learning how to say "ni hao!" and counting numbers to 10.

The seeds are sprouting, so keep watering.

Enjoy the clip!

|WATCH| Calendar Math in a Mandarin Immersion Classroom

I had taught in traditional first and second grade classrooms prior to teaching Mandarin at GLOBE. There really isn't much difference when it comes to Calendar Math aside from speaking in Mandarin instead of English. In the beginning there was a lot of blank stare, but with the help of Ms. Salzillo's teaching on their "English Days", the kids quickly made the connections. Usually in the second semester it's when I start having students lead Calendar Math. This year, it was delayed due to mold remediation and snow days. Some days I am in awe of the progress the students have made and they never seize to amaze me each and every day. Such joy!

Here is a short glimpse of Reed leading Calendar Math. Enjoy!

Week of March 31-April 4, 2014

WARM WEATHER REMINDER...
* WATER BOTTLE FOR YOUR CHILD DAILY
* SUNSCREEN PRIOR TO COMING TO SCHOOL

Being the week before Spring Break, you can only imagine the excitement among students. Nonetheless, we spent the majority of our mornings practicing speaking, focusing on the tones, and reading pinyin. In the afternoons we touched and sorted some rocks. One day we even traveled to Asia via Google Map.

Traveling to the Mandarin Speaking Countries - Thanks to Google Map

Talent Show in Music - What a talented group of kids. Karate, Break Dance, Guitar, Drumming (lots), and Singing (Frozen, 3 times!) 

Happy April Fools! Thanks to the Jacobs family for your infectious spirit! 

We made our own "I like to do..." book in class this week, they are coming home on Friday. I encourage you to have your child read to you over the break!

Reed leading Calendar Math while Liu Laoshi takes a water break.