How are languages (Chinese) learnt young?

Dr. Bonnie Bunch, a pediatric neurologist and assistant professor with the Sanford School of Medicine at USD, said learning a language breaks down to four parts. Semantics is the meaning of words. Syntax is grammatical construction. An element called prosody covers rhythm and musical quality in a speaker's inflection. Pragmatics is functional use.

A child's mind fires on all four of those cylinders. An adult trying to pick up a language, on the other hand, might have an edge in semantics but won't be as adept in the other qualities.

"Kids learn a lot of language even before they say anything," Bunch said. "A young baby hears language spoken and picks up the prosody. Then they begin to learn words. If you learn those things early in life, you have a much better chance of picking up the syntax than if you learn later in life."

Confucius classrooms a success for Chinese children

Exec Director, Tsutsui, said learning about China gives children an advantage.

“Parents realize now that to prepare their students for the future, Chinese is a really great thing to have and it sets them apart, it gives them a little leg up that they need,” he said.

..it is just as likely to be Scottish children taking part in the Chinese classes...

City youngsters learn the future's language

The undulating, rhythmic sound of children's voices belting out unfamiliar words and a distinctly oriental tune resonates through the classrooms and down the corridors of an otherwise deserted secondary school.

It is Saturday, and most of the rooms at Drummond Community High School are closed for the weekend. But nearly 200 students – mostly Chinese, but a surprising number of them native Scots – are there to learn one of the trickiest yet most widely spoken languages in the world.

For while the Edinburgh Chinese School has traditionally been a seat of learning for the children of Chinese families in the city, now it is just as likely to be Scottish children taking part in the classes, getting to grips with the complex tones and structure of Mandarin and Cantonese.

"In the past five years there has been a rising number of Scottish people coming to the school," confirms Edinburgh Chinese School headteacher, Kathy Miller.

"Most of them are simply interested in China and its culture. However, there are also many who want to study the languages for business purposes, and there are a number of parents who are very keen for their children to learn the language, because they are aware that China's future is blooming."

More schools offer Chinese to children.

More schools teach Chinese

MASON - China's expanding global reach is taking hold in the classrooms of Greater Cincinnati as more schools are offering courses to teach Chinese.

And some schools are reaching halfway around the world to learn more about Chinese language and culture - and to recruit teachers.

Next school year, the Mason school district will join a small but growing list of area schools adding Chinese to the traditional menu of Spanish, French and German offered at most public schools.

"We are very excited to be able to offer this," said Nicole Huelsman, an assistant principal at Mason High School. "With China accounting for about 21 percent of the world's population, it is necessary to look in this direction."

Primary schools in England will receive about £340 extra each next year to support compulsory languages teaching.

Lord Dearing said: 'I invite all head teachers to see this announcement as an opportunity."

He said primary schools should press ahead with languages with the confidence that increased funding was secure for a further three years.

"By continuing to invest in more long term solutions, such as better trained teachers and more innovative resources, we will generate enthusiasm and confidence for studying languages in secondary school and beyond - far more effective than simple compulsion."

Mr Knight (schools minister) said the answer was to make children enthusiastic about languages at a younger age.

But Mandarin Chinese is set to become the second most popular foreign language learned in UK schools.

It is already studied by more children than German or Russian. Only French and Spanish are more popular. If the rate of growth continues it will overtake Spanish in three years. Gareth from Wales, says 'I am learning Chinese, and find it fun.' Another student, Thomas from London, says 'Just telling people that I learn Mandarin turns heads. Even a basic insight gives you an edge.'

Learning a language is made easier if relevance is revealed. Working across the curriculum is great fun.

Experts generally agree that learning a language is made easier if its relevance is revealed. We work closely with schools to integrate Chinese language learning with other subjects. Where in China were endangered species last spotted? (geography) And can you say these animals names in Chinese? Just how many kms long is the Great Wall of China? (Maths / Geography and History). This interlinked 'Need to Know' way of learning Chinese is our speciality.

Children broadcast new Chinese skills by recording their own podcasts. Lost your login? Contact us

As Bamboo only teaches children we work innovatively with them. For example, children in our clubs design and record their own podcasts.

We find this activity is motivational, promotes practice and involves parents. Children and parents are given their own login to access their podcast.

It can then be downloaded onto MP3 players and iPods for sharing and practicing.