January 12, 2006

San Jose Chinese School fills the gap for second language students

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

For the past three years the Leland High School campus has been transformed every Saturday into a flourishing Chinese language and cultural center.

Instructor Shou-Wei D. Chen, front left, instructs parents in tai-chi. He has taught the ancient art which promotes balance, flexibility and calmness for 10 years.

It’s called the San Jose Chinese School [SJCS]. It’s a non-profit organization managed by parent volunteers for over 30 years that operates here in our own backyard. Two thirds of the 600 students are Almaden residents but some travel as far away as Monterey and Salinas to study the Mandarin language. And two thirds of those enrolled are non-Chinese speaking.

“The school is growing very fast,” said Almaden resident and SJCS principal Sam Chen whose daughter, 16-year-old Sheila, attends. “We want to promote our CSL [Chinese Second Language] for new students. We’ve had more non-Chinese students in the past couple of years. It’s a good idea to learn the language and the culture.”

Mandarin spoken here
Children attend one of the seven-level Mandarin language classes in 35 classrooms taught by 25 experienced teachers. Their parents are allowed to sit in. The classes are accredited classes for ninth to twelfth grade students of the San Jose Unified School District.

The Chinese folk dance begins with the drumming of Mongolian sticks.

And the results are impressive. SJCS won 11 trophies in the Association of Northern California Chinese Schools Academic Contest this past year. Many parents attend the classes with their children but some opt for one of the 30 cultural classes offered. And all parents volunteer either on the board, in the classroom or as security.

“We enjoy SJCS very much,” said parent Michael Wong equipped with a walkie-talkie. Wong volunteers for security every Saturday morning. “We moved from San Jose to Cupertino and the classes are so good that we don’t mind the commute. We’ve been coming here for almost 10 years. Michelle, my oldest is 14, Nicole is 12 and my youngest is Ansell. He is 6-years-old and started taking Mandarin last year. And he plays soccer here as well. They are really good classes.”

Extra-curricular activities
Have you always wanted to learn calligraphy or Chinese folk dance? These classes are offered as well as painting, art, guitar, choir, flower arrangement, knitting, yoga, kung-fu and abacus. Tai-chi instructor Shou-Wei D. Chen has taught for 10 years.

Instructor Ying Chen is a professional dancer. Athletic students enjoy tennis, soccer and basketball. There is something for everyone in the 30 extra-curricular activities.

Besides the Mandarin language classes and cultural events, SJCS provides opportunities for social interaction for their members. In December they collected donations for a winter food drive. On a recent visit, a meeting was underway to plan the annual teacher appreciation dinner. They also have a culture day where they celebrate Chinese traditions.

SJCS instructor Ai-Ling Hsieh has taught for 20 years. Here, she is teaching level 5 Mandarin creating an enjoyable learning experience with writing symbols of Chinese New Year, the year of the dog, and receiving a red envelope with money on New Years.

SJCS history
SJCS began in 1974 with a single class of 13 students at the Southside Community Center. The school was established and operated by parents of the students on a voluntary basis. With a need for increased classrooms, SJCS relocated to Pioneer High School in 1979. A move to John Muir Middle School in 1983 provided Mandarin classes for kindergarten through twelfth grade. In December of the same year, the school was recognized as a non-profit. In 2002, SJCS relocated to Leland High School.

Brett Rickard drives from Morgan Hill to bring his 7-year-old son Quinn and his Taiwanese wife to study the Mandarin language.

“I began studying Chinese because the symbols were so beautiful,” said Rickard who was babysitting his children, 3-year-old Annie and 11-month-old Mathew at the check-in desk while enjoying coffee and a bagel. “I’m learning to write now and I am fluent in reading the Chinese newspaper. My wife heard about the San Jose Chinese School from a friend and has now been studying for 12 years.”

But for now, a parent volunteer rings a bell signaling the beginning of studies. Classes have begun at the San Jose Chinese School where they are keeping the Mandarin language and culture alive every Saturday morning.

New classes begin at San Jose Chinese School on Jan. 21. To register call (408) 268-5537 or visit www.sjcsnet.org. The office is located at 6472 Camden Ave. #201, San Jose.

—Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis