A Study On The Teaching Of Chinese Immersion In American Elementary School

Immersion education,started from 1960 s,is considered to be the most effective language teaching mode.In recent years,more and more elementary schools in the United States have opened Chinese immersion programs.Up till January 2017,233 schools in the United States have established Chinese immersion programs,increasing 9.32 times as of 2006.In Utah,where the author works,Chinese immersion program has gained legislative support from the state government,with 33 elementary schools and 14 middle schools having Chinese immersion programs.Consequently,Utah has the largest size of students learning Chinese in the United States.Based on the author’s teaching practice in SCE in Utah,the thesis researches Chinese immersion education.The major methods are documentary research,classroom observation,participating observation and case study.The research includes,firstly,an analysis of the motivation,target,philosophy,curriculum,and assessment of the Chinese immersion program in SCE.Then,the research focuses on the target,teaching contents,modes,and assessment from the perspective of teaching practice.Four cases are selected to analyze to show the teaching methods and the outcomes of the students learning process.Finally,the thesis reflects upon Chinese immersion education from the essence of language,language learning theory and language teaching theory,as well as the practical thinking of the English teaching in elementary schools in China.