Students and staff from Albion Primary School displaying some of the tablets donated by the Chinese community in Jamaica, (from left) Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica Chen Daojiang, principal of Albion Primary and Junior High Dr Lorane Moodie-Reid, students Javaughn Small and Shanika Thomas, and Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon.
February 5, 2025
Mandarin in the classroom
Two St James schools considering teaching of Chinese language
MONTEGO BAY, St James — While expressing thanks to members of the Chinese community for a donation of tablet computers, the administrators of two St James-based primary schools indicated that they are looking at further collaborations which could include linguistics opportunities.
According to the officials of the St James-based Albion Primary and Infant School and Mount Salem Primary and Infant School, learning Mandarin could be one of the things that students could benefit from.
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“Of course, we are open to a second language and the Chinese language, Mandarin, is one that we might just think of in the near future,” Yvonne Thompson-Kerr, student leadership coordinator at Mount Salem Primary and Infant, told the Jamaica Observer following the event.
“That would be a great collaboration, we are open for that,” added Thompson-Kerr as she pointed out that there are opportunities available working with members of the Chinese community in Jamaica to make this a reality.
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“We would definitely try to work with the Chinese nationals to see how we collaborate and work together as a school to see how we can make it happen,” said Thompson-Kerr.
It was a similar sentiment from principal of Albion Primary and Junior High School Dr Lorane Moodie-Reid who said if the right things were in place, then something like that could happen.
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“There is no boundary when it comes to our students and so whatever they will benefit from, as long we are able to get the resources, it is not a problem. So, if we are able to get somebody who is able to come in and to expose them to different languages, we welcome that,” said Moodie-Reid.
She stressed the importance of students learning new languages and said the work has already started at the institution she leads.
“Right now we do Spanish, and so looking at a multi-lingual society will definitely enhance students’ development if we have more than one languages,” added Moodie-Reid.
For head girl of Mount Salem Primary School Akira Campbell, Mandarin is a language she would like to learn it.
“I’ve tried but I just can’t remember it, but I’ve tried,” said Akira who believes there are opportunities for students if they learn the language.
“If we get the chance, we could go on school trips to China and so forth or we can talk to them here in Jamaica. When they come to us we can know what they are talking about,” added Akira.
Both Thompson-Kerr and Moodie-Reid said they are already looking at the benefits from the tablet computers the schools received from the Chinese community as part of that groups’ new year celebrations.
The tablets were handed over by China’s Ambassador to Jamaica Chen Daojiang, who was in the western city as part of the celebrations taking place.
Six tablets were given to the Mount Salem institution and five to Albion.
“We are grateful to our Chinese partners for really supporting us as a school and of course, we are grateful and these devices will surely help our students,” said Thompson-Kerr.
“Our students will use them to do assignments and do class work. The new curriculum we have really requires that students have devices to work with in class so it will really help us,” added Thompson-Kerr.
For Moodie-Reid the tablets provide access to match what is happening in the now technology driven world.
“We know that we are living in the technology age and so our students definitely have to be exposed to technology. We have a computer lab and our teachers continue to use technology in their instructional delivery,” said Moodie-Reid.
“It is something that is expected and so our students will definitely benefit from the use of the tablets in class and with assignments,” added Moodie-Reid.
