Chinese Literacy Learning in an Immersion Program

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xviii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Chan Lü

   Pages 1-10

3. One-Way Immersion and Mandarin Immersion in the United States

   • Chan Lü

   Pages 11-26

4. Theoretical Framework, Literature Review, and the Current Project

   • Chan Lü

   Pages 27-62

5. Pacific Elementary School

   • Chan Lü

   Pages 63-80

6. Chinese Language, Orthography, and Learning to Read

   • Chan Lü

   Pages 81-109

7. Properties of School Chinese

   • Chan Lü

   Pages 111-131

8. Oral Language, Phonological Awareness, Word Reading, and Passage Reading Comprehension in Grade 2

   • Chan Lü

   Pages 133-166

9. Morphological Awareness, Vocabulary Knowledge, Lexical Inference, and Text Comprehension in Chinese in Grade 3

   • Chan Lü

   Pages 167-192

10. Implications for Chinese Literacy Learning and Instruction in Chinese OWI Programs: A Proposal

    • Chan Lü

    Pages 193-211

11. Recommendation for Program-Level Practices and Future Research Agenda

    • Chan Lü

    Pages 213-227

12. Back Matter

    Pages 229-252

    PDF

This book examines one-way foreign language immersion education in the United States. It provides a clear and rich description of a Chinese (Mandarin) immersion program, its curriculum, instructional materials, assessment activities, parental involvement and student outcomes. The author analyses two studies that document the development of the students’ reading skills in English and Chinese, and the progress of their vocabulary knowledge, lexical inference, and reading comprehension in Chinese. In addition, this book contextualizes the program in its eco-system, including its neighbourhood, school, and the school district, and discusses the importance of school leadership, parental involvement, neighbourhood support and language acquisition planning in making an innovative school program successful. Its concluding chapters offer recommendations for program- and classroom-level practices and suggest pathways for future research on biliteracy learning in Chinese one-way immersion programs. This book will appeal in particular to students and scholars of applied linguistics, second language acquisition and language education.

       
               
          
     
               


   

• language learning
• literacy
• second language acquisition
• school bilingualism
• immersion education
• language planning
• biliteracy
• one-way immersion program
• content area learning
• Chinese as a second language
• Mandarin
• Curriculum Development
• vocabulary knowledge
• lexical inference
• reading comprehension
• Chinese Language Teachers
• Foreign Language Teaching
• metalinguistic awareness
• chinese
• english

“Her book is an excellent resource for many stakeholders – including, but not limited to, language researchers, teachers, and programme designers or directors.” (Yi Wang, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, November 2, 2021)

“This study brings together current research on cross-language literacy learning and a report from the implementation of a Chinese as second language (L2) immersion teaching program. … Especially useful to teachers … .” (Norbert Francis, Applied Linguistics, May 11, 2019)

 

“In 2018, we find ourselves at a point in the history of the Chinese language teaching profession in the United States where 90% of students studying the language and culture in the PreK-16+ academic pipeline are doing so at the pre-collegiate level – and over 45% in K-12 programs. The urgency of designing better immersion programs in those primary and secondary schools is of paramount importance. Dr. Lu is to be highly commended for providing both a macro-analysis of the American language education theoretical and empirical context wherein programs such as Pacific Elementary School have been established, and a micro-level examination of how such a program may be better understood and enhanced. For program administrators to front-line teachers, and for literacy scholars to language policy advocates, this is a book of great insights and a source of true inspiration. I recommend it to the potential reader with great enthusiasm and appreciation.” (Scott McGinnis, Senior Academic Advisor & Professor of Chinese, Defense Language Institute, US)

“Interest in Dual Language Immersion programs is growing rapidly throughout the United States and in an expanding number of languages, including Mandarin Chinese. Dr. Chan Lü’s book is one of the first to address the specific challenges of teaching and learning Mandarin Chinese in an early language setting with few, if any, native/heritage language speakers of Chinese. Her study addresses the major issue of developing literacy skills in two languages with very different writing systems in the context of a language immersion program teaching language through content instruction. In Seattle Public Schools we are using her timely and practical recommendations as guidelines for improving the quality and literacy outcomes of our K-12 Mandarin Dual Language Immersion programs.” (Michele Anciaux Aoki, International Education Administrator, Seattle Public Schools, USA)

“In this compelling and deeply researchedvolume, Chan Lü describes and investigates the complexities surrounding bi-literacy development in English and Chinese.  Employing a case-study approach, Lü’s chapters supply a support structure to guide the reader through the issues impacting bi-literacy development in languages employing strikingly different writing systems. This is a volume that all stakeholders in Chinese literacy and second language/immersion education will want close at hand.” (Michael E. Everson, Emeritus Associate Professor of Foreign Language Education, University of Iowa, USA)

• Asian Languages and Literature, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

  Chan Lü

Chan Lü is Assistant Professor of Chinese Language and Linguistics in Department of Asian Languages and Literature at the University of Washington, USA.

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