Chinese as a second language - a huge hit

An innovative pilot program to teach Chinese to non-Chinese speakers entered its second week and is gaining eager students so rapidly that the organizers are considering a set second set of classes.
By 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13 the large meeting room on the ground floor of Bland House Community Center, located at 133-36 Roosevelt Avenue in Flushing, was crowded with nearly two dozen new students for the second of ten classes.
Initiated by Councilmember John Liu the program was based on a suggestion by Donald Henton, vice president of the Bland House Community Center, who was busy organizing additional copies to be made of the class notes as more and more people arrived.
Henton had expected the class to be popular and was pleased when over 40 people turned up to the first class, but he was surprised and delighted when that number shot up to close to 60 for the second class. &#8220We already have enough interest to consider a second set of classes in the future,” he said.
Man-Li Lin, the Chinese language instructor who has volunteered her time for these free classes considers them an important bridge for friends, neighbors and community members to get to know, understand and accept one another more fully.
&#8220I love teaching this class. If people speak the language they will be more welcome in the Chinese community, and Chinese Americans will feel more welcome here. Even if people only come to one class they will get something from it.”
The assemblage is a true reflection of the ethnic diversity of Flushing, with African Americans, Anglos, Hispanics and surprisingly, a strong showing of Chinese in the audience.
Linda Hai is one of several Chinese speakers here to find out how Lin approaches teaching Chinese. Hai was a teacher for 30 in Taiwan and is very impressed with Lin. &#8220She teaches in the American way. I want to learn that. She includes phonetics from Taiwan, the Chinese mainland, as well as the American English version.”
&#8220The origin of words is so important,” says Lin who goes on to explain that the Taiwanese symbols are the traditional ones used in the mainland before the revolution. Now in Mainland China they use a simplified system. I've included those too.”
Leola Wayne, a resident of Flushing says that although she missed the first class she wanted to learn Chinese because there are so many Chinese people in her neighborhood.
Sol Randisi who has lived in Flushing for 54 years agrees. He's also here because he loves languages and wants to learn Chinese so he can communicate with people in the area. &#8220There's been a lot of change here,” he said.
A middle-aged woman from Flushing, who didn't want to give her name, had come because she seen an article in the media and thought it would be wonderful to be able to speak Chinese to the many Chinese people who live in her neighborhood. &#8220If you can't beat them, join them,” she said.
As the time slipped by, concentration in the room began to wane. Lin checked her watch and found it was exactly half way through the lesson so she asked the class to stand and began to teach the Chinese marshal art of Tai Chi.
As she led students in the movements she told a story of the movement, first in English then in Chinese. &#8220This way they can learn language, exercise, and Chinese culture all at the same time,” she said. &#8220I'm the first person to ever do this.”
It is an effective teaching tool. Five minutes later, the class settled back into their seats reenergized and focused, ready to learn more Chinese.
Although the current class is rather full, and as Henton puts it, &#8220students who've been there from the beginning are anxious to move on to new lessons,” if at least 20-25 people indicate their interest there will be a new class announced at a future date.
Those interested in future classes should contact Councilmember Liu's office at 718-888-8747, Ext.111.