The tone of Piedmont Language School’s classes is having fun with the language, and the goal is to instill a love of learning Mandarin, an accent and an ear.
TK Class
The PLS TK class is for our youngest students who have little or no experience in Mandarin. Students should be a minimum of 4 years old and be able to use the bathroom unaided.
Early Mandarin
The PLS Early Mandarin class is for our Kindergarten and 1st grade students who have little or no experience in Mandarin.
This class lays a fun foundation for learning at the higher levels. A textbook is not used at this level; the teacher teaches in themes primarily using simple crafts, rhymes, storytelling and games to engage students. Some of the themes explored in this class are Myself, My Family and My Friends. The idea is for students to get a feel for the language, and to immerse in the spoken language, without being conscious of the fact that they are learning.
Early Mandarin Immersion
This class is designed for Kindergarten students who have come from a Mandarin-immersion pre-school OR speak Mandarin at home with a parent. The class is taught all in Mandarin, with minimal English used.
Pre-Level 1 Mandarin
The PLS Pre-Level 1 Mandarin class is geared towards students who have completed PLS Early Mandarin or are have been assessed by East Bay Mandarin School Administration as to be ready for Pre-Level 1.
This class continues to build the foundation for learning of characters and speaking Mandarin. A textbook is not used at this level; the teacher teaches in themes primarily using simple crafts, rhymes, storytelling and games to engage students. Some of the themes explored in this class are Myself, My Family and My Friends. The idea is for students to get a feel for the language, and to immerse in the spoken language, without being conscious of the fact that they are learning.
Mandarin 1
The tone of these classes is having fun with the language, and the goal is to instill a love of learning Mandarin, an accent and an ear. We utilize different levels of workbooks/textbooks depending on age while bringing lots of art & crafts and hands-on activities into these classrooms. There is 10-15 minutes of light, age-appropriate homework on a weekly basis to reinforce classroom learnings
Mandarin 2
The PLS Mandarin 2 class is for students who have either completed PLS Mandarin 1 or an equivalent Mandarin program.
The tone of these classes is having fun with the language, and the goal is to instill a love of learning Mandarin, an accent and an ear, while building upon what has been learned in Mandarin 1. We utilize different levels of workbooks/textbooks depending on age while bringing lots of art & crafts and hands-on activities into these classrooms. There is 10-15 minutes of light, age-appropriate homework on a weekly basis to reinforce classroom learnings.
Mandarin 3
The PLS Mandarin 3 class is for more advanced learners and signifies a more academic chapter in language learning.
30 minutes of weekly homework is consistently assigned. The goal is “what can you do with the language that you learn”, and with this in mind, our focus is on learning more practical and functional Mandarin.
The PLS Mandarin 4 class is for advanced learners and will begin preparing students who endeavor to enroll in Mandarin in 8th grade at Piedmont Middle School.
Mandarin 4
The PLS Mandarin 4 class is for advanced learners and will begin preparing students who endeavor to enroll in Mandarin in 8th grade at Piedmont Middle School.
The Mandarin 4 teacher will base some lessons off of material in the Mandarin textbook used at Piedmont Middle School.
Havens ASE Class
We offer a class for Kindergarten and first graders as part of Havens After School Enrichment program. This class is not part of our formal curriculum and focuses more on exposure, fun, and experiences. This class can be taken on its own or in conjunction with our other Early Mandarin classes on Tuesdays/Thursdays.
To register for this ASE class, click here.
Adult Mandarin Classes
We offer classes for adults who wish to learn Mandarin via the Piedmont Recreation Department. For more information, please contact Piedmont Language School or East Bay Mandarin School.
To register for this class, please click here.