A new Chinese language program will be taught at several Columbia public schools. The program is a partnership between Columbia Public Schools and University of Missouri’s International Program and Confucius Program. Three Chinese teachers will be training Columbia School teachers the language so they can start the program in fall of 2013.
The Institute signed the memorandum on Friday for the program and Spanish teacher John Becker is happy they have it set in stone.
“Without having that on paper it would be too easy for us to go back next year and say well, not enough students signed up or, well -- it’s a little harder than we thought it would be,” Becker says.
The program will begin teaching seventh graders and older next fall at six middle and junior high schools including Jefferson Jr. High and Lange Middle School.