Students have been learning about Chinese language and culture through a grant-funded teacher exchange program, this year with Chinese language teacher Chen Fangfang. Chen — who teaches English language in China — spent the entire school year at Roosevelt, teaching students in all grades. Her stay in Kenosha was funded through a grant from the Teachers of Critical Languages Program. “She is just a gem,” Roosevelt Principal Nola Starling-Ratliff said, noting that Chen used songs and shadow puppets to teach language to the school’s youngest children.
Fun activities
Students caught on quickly to the language when it was combined with fun activities and cultural events. Among Chen’s activities at the school was a “Chinese Night” attended by about 150 students and parents, with families hearing their children perform songs, and learning about Chinese culture through activities like tai chi. “I like to combine the cultural things to motivate them to learn more about the language as they grow up,” she said. “They really got interested in China, and picked up language quickly.”