This past summer, BCIC pulled off an amazing feat for its Chinese Immersion students. Led by Sylvia Shen, the council offered 7 culturally enriching classes, with a wide range of grade and interest levels. Each of the classes were well attended, and provided a chance for students to meet kids in other grades and from different schools. Plus since several of the classes were held at Greencastle Manor, there was also the added multi-generational component that all enjoyed. Check out these photos of the kids and Greencastle Manor residents enjoying their time with the Chinese "Culture Club" (insert Boy George reference here)!

In addition to Sylvia Shen (mother of Flora), we also thank the class instructors: Manli Yu (Kevin), Baoyu Cheng (Anne Sui), Cali Zhou (Sophia Ma), Lucy Zhang (Mia and Austin), Nina Chen (Daniel), Master David Garrison, and Youmei Shao (Derrick). We couldn't have had this successful program without you!

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Julia offered her audience the following learning points:

• The largest part of your culture remains "below the surface" and needs to be understood in order to remove misunderstandings and create synergies.
• Different cultures think and communicate differently, Chinese tones and language patterns result in a different communication ’style’.

• Learning Chinese takes time and practice, parents shared some of their experience which led to these tips:

  - Keep practice short and repeat often
  - Practice in the morning, waiting for the bus, with boards on chalk on the driveway
  - Practice on the way to sports, waiting at the doctor etc.
  - Let kids prepare their own quizzes
  - Let siblings quiz each other or phone a classmate to practice
  - Above all small kids, help them build mnemonic memory help (auditory)- Let them draw the character in a picture (visual)
  - For older kids: let them figure out what parts of the character they recognize

Julia has two children in the Barrington 220 Chinese Immersion program: a 4th grader at North Barrington Elementary and a 6th grader at Station Middle school. Both children were born in China and the family spent nearly 9 years living in Beijing and Shanghai before they moved to Barrington in 2015, all of them learned Chinese. After a corporate career of over 10 years, Julia has worked as Cross Cultural Trainer and Executive Coach for 12 years. She grew up in Munich, Germany, lived in France and her husband is British, so culture has been a fascinating topic for a long time.

It was such an interesting and useful discussion! Thanks, Julia!

Each teacher in District 220 receives a stipend in the beginning of the year, but most (or all) of their stipend is used for general needs - to buy staplers, tape, glue and such. The BCIC comes in to aid in supplying necessary items that will help with the management of two classes with frequent transitions. So far this year, we have provided:

• a mobile storage rack
• desk organizers
• wobble cushions
• and a Chinese character game for the CI children

We at BCIC are thrilled to continue helping our CI teachers in fulfilling their classroom needs! But none of this could happen without your very kind contributions - such as your annual family membership, proceeds from adult and potluck parties, and even the contributions that come our way from AmazonSmile and Heinen's! YOU are the ones that make all this possible! Thank you!

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Our November General Meeting is on November 6 at Station at 7pm. Meeting features Rebecca Weigel, Director of Programs, Dr. Kristin Paul, Station Principal, and introduces Yu Lao Shi - new Chinese teacher at Station.