Chinese Immersion Program

Dual language immersion is an educational approach in which students learn academic content in two languages over time. Students develop strong skills in both English and Mandarin Chinese while learning grade-level subjects such as literacy, math, science, and social studies.

Research shows that multilingualism enhances cognitive flexibility, executive functioning, problem-solving skills, creativity, and social cognition (Daud, 2024). Immersion students develop the skills to learn and communicate across languages and cultures—preparing them to thrive in an increasingly global world.

The Chinese immersion program provides students with full integration in the SAS elementary school experience while intentionally building bilingualism and biliteracy in Chinese and English. Anchored in the SAS core values, our program centers joy, belonging, and academic excellence so students can thrive as diverse learners and global citizens in two languages.

All students participate in the same rich immersion curriculum, with instruction designed to support learners at different stages of language development. Learning together supports authentic communication and strengthens academic Chinese literacy and foundational skills. Research also shows that immersion models that support the home language and culture and integrate diverse language learners were associated with faster English acquisition (Serafini, Rozell, Winsler, 2020).

Absolutely. While speaking Mandarin at home builds a wonderful foundation, our program bridges the critical gap between conversational fluency and academic biliteracy. We challenge home language speakers by moving beyond daily household vocabulary into rigorous character recognition, essay writing, and complex subject matter like science and social studies, transforming their home language into a professional, high-level skill set that is rarely achievable through family exposure alone. Differentiated instruction ensures all learners are consistently challenged and supported in building strong academic biliteracy.

Students engage in the same core curriculum aligned to Common Core and ACTFL Standards, with thoughtful language adaptations in math, science, and social studies. English Language Arts follows the same curriculum, while the Chinese Language Arts curriculum is a research-based curriculum designed for the unique features of Chinese, emphasizing strong foundational skills, cultural understanding, and real-world application.

Partner teachers collaborate closely to foster social-emotional learning and care, align instruction, support students holistically, and bridge learning across languages.