It is a program designed to help students learn in new and effective ways while enhancing cultural awareness.
On this episode of the Supercast, we visit with Chinese Dual Language Immersion students and teachers at Southland Elementary School to find out why they love learning another language. Find out what happens when we follow the students on a fascinating field trip to Chinatown in South Salt Lake City.
Audio Transcription
Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. It is a program designed to help students learn a language in new and effective ways while enhancing cultural awareness. On this episode of the Supercast, we visit with Chinese Dual Language Immersion students and teachers from Southland Elementary School to find out why they love learning another language. Find out what happens when we follow the students on a fascinating field trip to a Buddhist temple.
We're here with two teachers from Southland Elementary School on the field trip to the Cambodian Buddhist Temple. Thank you very much for letting me join you. Go ahead and introduce yourselves, please.
Xiaoyu Fan:
This is Xiaoyu Fan. I'm the fourth-grade teacher at Southland.
Jia Wei:
I'm Jia Wei, the Southland sixth-grade teacher.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me what is the purpose of the field trip here? It's been really interesting hearing from them about the Buddhist religion, about and about the temple. Tell me about what you hope the students gain from this experience.
Xiaoyu Fan:
So we feel like this field trip provides a great opportunity for the students, not only in the immersion-like environment in the school but also brings that immersion experiment like experience for them outside school as well. And the purpose of coming to the Buddhism temple is to let them know, because Buddhism is the most people worship in China, it's their major religion. So we would like to have the students have an opportunity to not learn, not necessarily learn about the religion, but to expose them to the more diverse culture.
Jia Wei:
I agree with what Ms. Fan said. I think it's important for students to be more open-minded to the cultures and the philosophies and realize we can work together with other people also.
Anthony Godfrey:
It was fascinating to watch the kids. I got to sit up front. They were rapt with attention. They were paying close attention. They're fascinated by all of this. So I think it's really a rich cultural experience for them to be able to do this. So thank you for going to the work to make this possible.
Xiaoyu Fan:
Thank you. It's an honor to have you to be here.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about teaching here in the United States and teaching in the Dual Immersion program.
Xiaoyu Fan:
It's, to me, it's such an eye-opening experience because in China usually you have one subject taught by one teacher. But here we have, we get to teach all different subjects in our language, in Chinese. And I think it's definitely seeing how much students learn, seeing how much students are able to say in Chinese, and see how much students love about the culture and learn about the culture and really immerse in that culture. It's very fascinating
Anthony Godfrey:
Learning a foreign language for me has always been important. My father was a foreign language teacher, but I still am always impressed when I see a teacher stand in front of children this young and speak rapidly and they understand and they respond. It's really, really remarkable. So thanks for doing such a great job with them.
Xiaoyu Fan:
Thank you. Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about your experience teaching in the United States and in the Dual Language program.
Jia Wei:
I think the best part is to grow with my students together to understand the language. I think my students taught me more than I taught them in the language immersion program. And they helped me to understand myself and the cultures.
Anthony Godfrey:
Students grow very close to each other when they're together. I know that they mix up the classes somewhat, but you pretty much get to know the same kids through those elementary years in particular. Tell me about the value that you see in that.
Jia Wei:
The value is to be, to find out who they are, and to find out what we can do for the world.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, this is an exciting program. It's an exciting experience. Thank you for everything that you're doing to make this such a great learning environment for kids.
Xiaoyu Fan:
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Jia Wei:
Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
Hi Kimball. What grade are you in?
Kimball:
I'm in sixth grade.
Anthony Godfrey:
Kimball, tell me about your experience here today.
Kimball:
It was pretty cool. It was fun.
Anthony Godfrey:
What are some of the things that you learned?
Kimball:
I learned that the monk, like anyone can be the monk. I thought just males should be the monk, but girls can also be the monk.
Anthony Godfrey:
And what did you learn about what it's like to be a monk? What is a monk's life like?
Kimball:
You can't eat. Like you have to eat only at like 12:00 or like 12:00 or under and you can't eat anything after that.
Anthony Godfrey:
It was the fasting all afternoon and evening that made me decide. I don't think that's my path.
Kimball:
Yeah. Seriously.
Anthony Godfrey:
It's pretty impressive though. Tell me about being in the Chinese Dual Immersion program.
Kimball:
It's great. You speak Chinese, the teachers are awesome. They're so kind and if you don't understand anything they're like really welcome and like help you.
Anthony Godfrey:
You're in sixth grade now. Do you remember what it was like in first grade when you were just starting out?
Kimball:
I do.
Anthony Godfrey:
What was that like?
Kimball:
At first, it was kind of weird. I remember the first day I was sitting there and I was like, can I speak English? Is that okay? Cause I don't know any Chinese and they were really nice.
Anthony Godfrey:
They were nice about it.
Kimball:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
And now do you need to speak any English in class?
Kimball:
Not really, no.
Anthony Godfrey:
Do you start to think in Chinese when you're not even in class?
Kimball:
Yeah. Well, but when I'm in English, I think in English. But when I do Chinese I'm thinking in Chinese and saying Chinese.
Anthony Godfrey:
So you're able to switch back and forth?
Kimball:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Great. Teach me a little bit of Chinese here.
Kimball:
Nǐ hǎo is hi.
Anthony Godfrey:
Nǐ hǎo
Kimball:
Zàijiàn is goodbye.
Anthony Godfrey:
Zàijiàn
Kimball:
Zàijiàn.
Anthony Godfrey:
Zàijiàn. Okay. And what’s your favorite word?
Kimball:
I like Píngguǒ.
Anthony Godfrey:
Píngguǒ.
Kimball:
Píngguǒ, it’s apple.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's cool. Yeah. Okay. Very nice meeting you Kimball.
Kimball:
Yeah. Nice meeting you too. Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
And tell me your name.
Eden:
My name is Eden.
Anthony Godfrey:
And Eden, what grade are you in?
Eden:
Fifth.
Anthony Godfrey:
And what do you like most about being in Chinese Dual Immersion?
Eden:
I don't know. I really love being in Chinese Immersion cuz it's so fun to see what we have in common with Chinese culture. And also it's really fun to learn new things cuz it's like you can always learn new things and have something to look forward to.
Anthony Godfrey:
Do you think it keeps your brain firing a lot to be learning Chinese every day?
Eden:
Yeah it does take a lot of like thought and stuff to like learn Chinese, but like after doing five years of Chinese, it's like getting slowly easier.
Anthony Godfrey:
Have you been surprised at how much Chinese you've been able to learn?
Eden:
Yes, I am really surprised. I remember when I was like in first grade and I couldn't understand Chinese at all and now I can understand and whenever I hear someone at like the grocery store speaking Chinese, I can understand them. It's really cool.
Anthony Godfrey:
It's kind of like a secret language that you get to use with your friends, right?
Eden:
Yeah. My dad has been learning it and sometimes we talk at home with him and my mom is just like, waka, waka, waka.
Anthony Godfrey:
She just doesn't even know what to say.
Eden:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's really fun that you have your own language. What would you say to parents who are thinking about putting their kids in a Chinese Dual Immersion program?
Eden:
I'd say they should try it. It's okay if it's not like that easy for them, but I always like to try new things and I'm so glad that I tried it. It was really awesome. It may be hard at first cuz like it's a whole new language, you know, but like I know that if you can just keep going with it and try it then you can do it. But like, if it's way too hard then that's okay.
Anthony Godfrey:
I love your curiosity that you always wanna learn new things. That's awesome. Thanks for talking with me.
Eden:
Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
Please introduce yourself.
Raymond Hour:
My name is Ray. I am the director at Utah Cambodian Community Buddhist Temple. And my job is to coordinate, help the monks and the priest and the community what they need for our temple in terms of operation and that kind of stuff.
Anthony Godfrey:
Thank you very much for allowing our students to come and visit today. You had some great questions from them.
Raymond Hour:
I do. The student here they ask very good question. Then some of them look like they understand the philosophy and the basic one. And hopefully when they grow up they study more and then they have very open-minded.
Anthony Godfrey:
I like when you asked them about karma. Tell me about their answers.
Raymond Hour:
Oh, they are so good. They understand and say, do good thing in life, many thing come back in return. They call good karma. Do bad thing in life, many bad thing might come back. And he say that the bad karma. I say, wow, you understand it so good.
Anthony Godfrey:
I remember the first student said if you do bad things, that will come back to haunt you. I thought that was a pretty good summary as well.
Raymond Hour:
That is correct. Always. That's why I try to encourage students and other members, Hey, just do good, help each other. Whatever. You can even talk to an elderly. Donate a little bit. It makes you feel good. That's called good karma.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, thank you for being so welcoming and allowing our students to be here.
Raymond Hour:
Oh, you're welcome. It's very good education.
Anthony Godfrey:
Thank you.
Stay with us. When we come back more with our Chinese Dual Language Immersion students and a trip to Chinatown.
Break:
Hello, I'm Tracy Miller, President of the Jordan School District Board of Education. There are seven members on the Board of Education, one in each voting district. We are committed to listening and serving our constituents as we work together to provide the best possible learning environment for the students we serve. As members of the Jordan Board of Education, we believe it is our duty and responsibility to: increase student achievement; provide parents with the choices they deserve and desire; recognize and reward quality in educators; empower school leaders through policy governance and professional development; and communicate with the public, legislators, business leaders, cities, and parents. We invite you to get to know the Board member who represents you in your voting district and to please join us at our monthly board meeting held on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Or listen from the comfort of your home, on our live stream. For more information and to find your Board member, visit jordandistrict.org. With parent and community input and support, we will continue our work to give students every opportunity to succeed in Jordan District schools and beyond. Thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now we are at the Chinatown Market. Is that correct?
Jia Wei:
Yeah, that is absolutely right.
Anthony Godfrey:
All right. Now tell me, this is a large grocery store with all Chinese products.
Jia Wei:
Yes, it is the biggest one in the whole county.
Anthony Godfrey:
And tell me what is the activity that the students are engaged in right now?
Jia Wei:
So students going to learn the Chinese food and the merchandise, whatever they interested and they're gonna bring something to the class and talk about that in a Kiva.
Anthony Godfrey:
So do they get to kind of choose what is most interesting to them?
Jia Wei:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
And then come back and explain it?
Jia Wei:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
Can we go take a walk down the aisle and you can show me something?
Jia Wei:
Absolutely.
Anthony Godfrey:
All right. Let's walk through. If they wanted to stop by, where is the market located?
Jia Wei:
Okay, it's on the State Street in South Salt Lake.
Anthony Godfrey:
Let’s see what we've got. I see belt fish here. I've never had belt fish.
Jia Wei:
I've never seen that before.
Anthony Godfrey:
How about turbo fish?
Jia Wei:
Nope.
Anthony Godfrey:
No turbo fish. Okay. So it's full of surprises for you as well?
Jia Wei:
Yes, yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
What are some things that you might have expected to find here that you can't see elsewhere?
Jia Wei:
Maybe some spices or chopped meat.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay.
Jia Wei:
They have a very thin sliced pork for the Chinese New Year Hot Pot.
Anthony Godfrey:
Looks like we have pork heart and pork liver as well.
Jia Wei:
It's called fish meatball, I think.
Anthony Godfrey:
A fish meatball. Fish ball with dried mushroom. I had that for breakfast.
Jia Wei:
Really?
Anthony Godfrey:
No, I'm just kidding. Okay, so we're on the candy and cookie aisle, it looks like here in this market. Are you seeing anything that looks good to you?
Student 1:
Well, they're these cookie things that look like straws or just like any cookie things, they just look very good. They just look good because I have something called Piroulines. If you know what those are, and they're just really good.
Anthony Godfrey:
How about this right here? It looks like it's bursting with fruit flavor.
Student 1:
I don't really like jelly.
Anthony Godfrey:
You don't like jelly?
Student 1:
No.
Anthony Godfrey:
So that's not gonna work?
Student 1:
No.
Anthony Godfrey:
Anything else? What else looks good here? How about you? Egg rolls. Egg Rolls. Crisp is what it says. Do Crisp Egg Rolls sound good in a canister with a smiley face on it?
Student 2:
I like the ducks. It's really cute.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, so the cute package. Maybe you can judge a snack by its package. Anything else look good to you guys?
Student 3:
These like weird rice things. They just look kind of like interesting to taste.
Anthony Godfrey:
They do look interesting. Just kind of an odd cereal kind of stuck together.
Student 3:
Because for me I like trying new foods. That's why it's like so fun to try Chinese candy and things because I've never had it before.
Anthony Godfrey:
Does it surprise you that all this is available here? Not that far from where you live?
Student 3:
Kind of. I didn't know Chinatown was even a thing in Utah.
Anthony Godfrey:
Can you read the label for me?
Student 3:
Reading Chinese labels
Anthony Godfrey:
What does this one say?
Student 3:
I don't know.
Anthony Godfrey:
I think this one says you should buy this. It will taste really good in your tummy. I mean, that's a rough translation.
Student 3:
I don't think it says that, but good job you tried!
Anthony Godfrey:
All right. Thanks for making me feel good. All right. Good luck shopping.
Student 3:
Okay, thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
All right. We're talking with one of the parents here, volunteering on the field trip. Introduce yourself.
Amy Nicholson:
My name's Amy Nicholson.
Anthony Godfrey:
Amy, you and I've met before, but you have several students in this program over the years, right?
Amy Nicholson:
Yes, I do. I've had two of my own and then I've had three nieces and nephews that I take care of after school that have been in the program.
Anthony Godfrey:
And tell me what impact this program has had on them.
Amy Nicholson:
Oh, it's amazing. It's fantastic. They have been able to move forward quicker in college and they've been able to use it in some job settings and they love to use it at restaurants and be able to communicate. So I think it's a great asset for them.
Anthony Godfrey:
Have you seen an impact on their learning generally?
Amy Nicholson:
I think that they did pick up reading better and I think their communication skills are better.
Anthony Godfrey:
I think it gets the brain firing in a different way and opens you up to additional learning for sure.
Amy Nicholson:
Yeah. I agree.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it's an exciting field trip, so let's get back to it.
Amy Nicholson:
All right. Hey, thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
We're on the cookie and candy aisle it looks like. Tell me, what should I be paying attention to? What's the best stuff here?
Xiaoyu Fan:
Since you're American, you probably wanna pay attention to sweet stuff.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, the sweet stuff.
Xiaoyu Fan:
And you're at the right spot.
Anthony Godfrey:
All right, perfect.
Xiaoyu Fan:
We have chocolate, we have mochi, we have vanilla wafers, we have that one is called ChocoPie, but they're kind of like Ding Dongs in the states and they're all really good.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, the ChocoPies look good. Okay. What would challenge me the most?
Xiaoyu Fan:
Seaweed.
Anthony Godfrey:
Seaweed.
Xiaoyu Fan:
How about you try this one?
Anthony Godfrey:
This one. The seaweed. The big roll of seaweed.
Xiaoyu Fan:
Yep. Big roll of seaweed.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay.
Xiaoyu Fan:
That's like an entrepreneurial level.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay.
Xiaoyu Fan:
It's like an entry level.
Anthony Godfrey:
Entry level. Alright.
Xiaoyu Fan:
Yeah. Next level up for you will be spicy. Something spicy.
Anthony Godfrey:
Alright.
Xiaoyu Fan:
Like a dried octopus or dried squid.
Anthony Godfrey:
Spicy dried octopus.
Xiaoyu Fan:
Would you like to try that?
Anthony Godfrey:
That is out of range for me a little bit. That's not on this aisle, right?
Xiaoyu Fan:
It’s not on this aisle.
Anthony Godfrey:
What is the spicy dried octopus section?
Xiaoyu Fan:
It's over there on that aisle. I'll take you there.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, let's take a look. Oh wow.
Xiaoyu Fan:
This might be the next level for you. It's a little bit spicy. It's called salted salmon. A salted egg salmon skin.
Anthony Godfrey:
Salted egg salmon skin. Wow.
Xiaoyu Fan:
So they take this huge salmon and they skin it, and then they dry the skin and they put some salted egg yolks on the outside for coating. And they dry for a long time. And that's what it becomes like. It tastes like a fish chip.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. Wow. And then we see these chips are the lobster on the front. Yes. What are the lobster chips?
Xiaoyu Fan:
Supposedly they're made with lobster flavor. They're like lobster chips.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Yeah. All right.
Xiaoyu Fan:
They're good too.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, there are lots of great delicacies here and I can tell the kids are really excited to experience some different things.
Xiaoyu Fan:
Yes, they are loving it. This is a great experience for the students to immerse themselves, not in the classroom setting, but also in the real setting. All these stuff that they see, they see in books, but they don't know what they are. They don't know what they look like. So bring them here. It's like dream come true.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. Do you think some of them will come back and bring their family and continue to explore different foods here?
Xiaoyu Fan:
For sure. Actually, before we came here, some of the students, because right now it's during Chinese New Year, they already brought their parents back here. And some of them actually made dumplings at home. They take picture and send it to me. They're like, Mrs. Fan, look, we made dumplings at home. We celebrate Chinese New Year.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, that's awesome.
Xiaoyu Fan:
So some of them actually already very familiar with this place. I see some students, they are like tour guide. They're touring their groups, telling them this is what it is, this is what it is. This is really good. So it's really fun.
Anthony Godfrey:
It's fun for the kids to be tour guides for their family, like you said. The learning goes well beyond the classroom. Congratulations. That's fantastic.
Xiaoyu Fan:
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, education is the most important thing you'll do today. We'll see you out there.