Chris Linn and Yungfei Kao say there's a need, and interest, in learning the Chinese language as the relationship between the United States and China grows stronger.
"Chinese is more and more popular. The market for Chinese language is huge," said Linn, the program director for the new South Tulsa Chinese School that will open in August.
The school, which will meet Sunday afternoons, is enrolling students through the summer leading up to the first class on Aug. 25.
"In just a couple of weeks, more than 50 students have enrolled, to our surprise," said Linn, who said he expects even more as it gets closer to the first day of classes.
Kao is principal of the school, as well as a professor at Northeastern State University-Broken Arrow.
"We can see such a big demand in this particular language," Kao said, and students are interested in learning Chinese for different reasons.
Adults may want to learn the language as business and commerce between the U.S. and China continues to grow, Kao said. Some public schools offer Chinese to its students so the South Tulsa Chinese School may be a way to expand or strengthen what those students are learning in the classroom.
There are also children from Chinese families who have enrolled.
"Our children, they're American, but we don't want them to forget their tradition," Kao said. The classes are structured in a semester model and will follow public school schedules of holiday and break schedules.
Once students are enrolled, they will be assessed to determine which of the six levels they will go into once classes start, Linn said. And the teachers have all had at least three years of experience teaching Chinese.
The school is using the Evergreen Baptist Church facility at 10301 E. 111th St. South, in Bixby, to hold classes, but has no affiliation with the church, or any religion, he said.
"It is hard to learn Chinese, but it's not as hard as you think," Linn said. He hopes the school will build that confidence in its students, no matter their age or skill level.
Students can't learn the language without also learning about the culture, Kao said, including Chinese festivals, food, legends, stories and customs.
"That's so important because that's how we learn from each other," she said. "Twenty years ago, China was a mysterious place. We don't know them and they don't know us. Now it's very open, very globalized."
South Tulsa Chinese School
What: Chinese language and culture classes for children and adults
Where: 10301 E. 111th St. South in Bixby, inside the Evergreen Baptist Church. The school has no affiliation with the church.
When: Enrollment is currently open. Orientation is Aug. 18 at 1:30 p.m. and classes start Aug. 25 at 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $150 for the 15-week class, and scholarships are available
For more: Go to
tulsaworld.com/stcs or call 918-280-8448.
Sara Plummer 918-581-8465
sara.plummer@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Chinese language school for kids, adults to open
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