Westside Chinese School, West Los Angeles, California, USA 90066
Westside Chinese School in Los Angeles
Westside Chinese School (formerly known as The Chinese Language School of Southern California, or CLSSC) has a permanent home at the Mar Vista Elementary School. They offer a program of Chinese language conversation classes for adults. Not to mention the several hundred Chinese language students in every grade level from kindergarten through high school - all of them taught by native Chinese language speakers.
Since its founding in 1967 by Taiwanese immigrants, the parent-run Saturday school had taught only the traditional form until enrollment dipped, and the school began teaching in both Chinese scripts, said Joan Kung, the school's past dean of academic studies.
"We ask the teachers if they can teach both to meet the demands of both parents," Kung said. "We want to attract these parents from China."
In classrooms and textbooks at the school, traditional script is presented side by side with simplified, and students are allowed to choose which they prefer.
-Los Angeles Times, October 18, 2009, "Schools a battleground over dueling Chinese scripts" by Raja Abdulrahim
There is an A track for students who speak Chinese at home and a B track for children who don't.
The number of fluent Westside Chinese School alumni grows larger and larger every year.
Yet through all this remarkable growth, one thing hasn't changed - Westside Chinese School is still entirely managed and run by parent volunteers.
Pay them a visit any Saturday morning and you'll see what a difference this approach makes. Because the school is family-run, it's decidedly family-friendly.
From the student talent shows to the fresh-cooked Chinese meal served every weekend at recess...from the Chinese culture festivals to their annual summer camping trip, Westside Chinese is a place where everyone in your family can learn and grow.
Yes, even those family members not studying Mandarin Chinese can participate.
You can find out more information about their programs on their website: The Westside Chinese School
