MHS, Fremont to offer Mandarin classes

Mundelein High School and Fremont Middle School will offer Mandarin Chinese language classes beginning with the 2012-13 school year.

The courses initially will be funded through a grant.

The Mundelein-area students will not be alone in their studies. Several schools in the area already offer Mandarin Chinese, including Stevenson, Barrington, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Deerfield and Woodstock high schools.

For the 2012-13 term, Mundelein High will offer Mandarin Chinese Level I, with one or two sections in the fall and spring.

Students will be introduced to the foundations of Mandarin Chinese through speaking, writing, listening and reading. Students will learn the tones of this language, as well as the characters and correct stroke order.

Additionally, students will be exposed to the various cultures in Chinese-speaking countries.

Fremont will offer the first level of the course. The following year, the second level will be added at the high school for continued study by Mundelein High students.

Fremont students entering the high school will also be able to follow up on their Level I introduction to the language.

More than 100 Mundelein High students have registered to take the course next year.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to have another choice of languages,” Mundelein High Superintendent Jody Ware said. “It definitely fits well with our vision to educate our students for 21st century communication.”