Letter to the Parents and Students

Letter to the Parents and Students

August 27, 2009

Dear Parents and Students,

August 31 is the first day of Compu Chinese School in 2009-2010 school year. This is a totally new Chinese school that offers an easy, enjoyable and effective learning experience for learners of Chinese as a foreign language.

Our program employs innovative teaching methodologies and computer applications to enhence language learning, as well as keep students motivated in and outside of the classroom. The CD-ROM gives students access to audio, visual, and tactile information about the language all at once. Chinese typing is systematically integrated into the program to facilitate the acquisition and retention of new vocabulary and to equip students with a skill that is becoming increasingly important in the internet era wherein more and more professional and personal correspondence are done electronically.

I'd like to briefly discuss my homework policy. I do not give a great deal of homework as the teachers do in China. However, I do not give a little of homework as the teachers do here. Generally speaking, students will have 15-20 minutes of homework every day, including the weekends. Please let me know if you find your child is regularly having more than 45 minutes every day, because this indicates that we need to talk.

The purpose of homework is two-fold: to reinforce what we have learned in class, and to teach responsibility. A child who has done his or her homework is prepared, in class, to hear explanations of what he or she has had trouble with at home. A child without his homework done loses twice-both in learning through reinforcement, and in listening to explanations in class. I am also trying to help students develop good habits for future years - punctuality, high attendance, persistence, neat, well organized work, and the most important: responsibility. So, when a child arrives in class without his homework done, it is my policy to send a "Homework Alert" for parents to sign in a week. This is my way of communicating the importance of homework to your child. If an unusual circumstance prevents your child from doing his homework ( sickness, injury, or other serious problem ), would you please send a note with your child in the next class, so that he can be excused for not doing his homework.

You can expect you and your child get my email for homework at the sametime. Please email me if you have any questions. I normally check my email daily, and this is often the quickest, and most efficient way to get in touch with me. I am available to meet with parents every day after the class. Unlike the other teachers, I sincerely welcome parents to attend my class and give me your suggestions for improvements.

Now I have 150 monthly letter copies for elementary schools, and 60 copies for middle school students. Please see the attachments. You are welcome to get them this Sunday (August 30 ), 10:00-11:30, and bring your friends to my presentation.

Thanks for chosing Compu Chinese School and your cooperation in new school year.


Teacher Mei