Learning Chinese

I send my kids to Good Deed Chinese school in Naperville. Here's their website for more info:

http://www.gooddeedsacademy.org/

Hi J.,

Usborne Books carries some awesome books for those interested in learning about China. The First Thousand Words in Chinese is a must for every home interested in the language! As an adoptive mother myself of 2 little girls, I have been selling this books like crazy! Usborne also carries a Chinese Calligraphy Kit to learn the writing as well.

You can preview them on my website at www.UsborneBooksInfo.com and do a search for "China".

Let me know if I can answer any questions. These books are amazing!
D.

I have been told that the Naperville Chinese School is one of the most reputable for teaching language and culture in the area.

http://www.ncschool.org/

You might also try the West Suburban Chinese School in Elmhurst. It might be a little closer to you since you live near Chicago. (http://www.wschineseschool.org/index.htm) Language Stars has classes too, and there are several in the Chicago area. They're pricey though. Good luck!

My son just took a Chinese course this past summer through Arlington Heights School District 25. The program was actually taught be teachers from the Midwest Chinese Language Student Association which operates an ongoing program out of Fremd high school in Palatine. The course my son took was excellent. The teachers were kind, patient and native Chinese speakers. During the course, a lot of emphasis was placed on learning about the Chinese culture as well as the language. Here is the link to their website: http://www.mclsa.org.

A.

Try Ray Chinese School. They have Chinese classes for students who don't speak Chinese at home.

http://www.raychineseschool.org/

There was a Chinese school on Sunday's at Oakton Community College - my girlfriend took her children there many years ago - their Dad is from Taiwan and the first child was born there.

M.

My son is half Chinese and has been to the Chinese school in Skokie but we found that too intense. He also took Mandarin at the Chinese American Service League in Chinatown on Saturday. He went to class for an hour in the morning, then we would go to a restaurant in Chinatown for brunch. It was a fun weekend ritual. There's also a woman in Beverly who does mom-tot Mandarin classes on Saturday mornings for girls adopted from China. This woman is from Shanghai and adopted two girls from China, so she has a great perspective about learning Chinese and being adopted from China. If you want her info, let me know and I can dig it out. We went to her class for a couple of years, but my son is now 11, so it's been a while!