Have you decided it's time for you or your children to learn some Chinese words and phrases? Your pre-schooler is ready for more than Ni Hao, Kai-lan on TV? One doesn't have to go very far in Lyme, Old Lyme, or East Lyme to find real cultural experiences and multi-cultural instructors.

The Southeastern Connecticut Chinese School (SCCS), which holds classes on Sunday mornings at East Lyme High School, welcomes youth and adult students from around the region.

Started in the late 1970s by Chinese parents, many who worked for Pfizer, to instill some of their own traditions and strengthen Chinese language skills in their otherwise Americanized children, the school has grown to current enrollment of over 330 students from New Haven to Rhode Island. Classes range from Chinese language and basic China studies and math, in either Chinese or English, to drawing and watercolor, dance, flute, violin, guitar, plus martial arts, yoga and basketball. SAT prep classes, also bilingual, are offered.

When the school, which became a nonprofit organization in 1997, outgrew available space on the Connecticut College campus, it found a welcoming community in East Lyme last fall, according to Dehua Chen, the school's principal.

"The East Lyme Public Schools, Superintendent Lombardo and East Lyme High School Principal Michael Susi have been very supportive of our program," said Chen, crediting increased number of students, including more from non-Chinese households, to the relationship. "We're beginning to look like a little United Nations here."

The school has almost 40 instructors and staff, all part-time, and with a variety of backgrounds, according to Chen. Some of the arts and music teachers are professionals in their fields: Eva Leong, Mystic, with bachelor of fine arts degree from Parsons School of Design, teaches Chinese brush painting; guitar is taught by music teacher Frank Lynn Natter.

Jeff Chong, a 2007 East Lyme High graduate, SCCS alum, who went on to study architecture at Roger Williams University, teaches math, in English, to a diverse group of third- and fourth-graders.

Two current East Lyme High School students are instructors. Xiao Li teaches one of the school's two Chinese for non-native speaker classes and Danni Shen teaches drawing.

Chen said that with the interest in Chinese language, it is not uncommon these days for non-native speakers to be in the Chinese emersion classes, and holding their own.

"Chinese is not just for the Chinese," said Chen. "Although this school started because we didn't want our own children to forget our language and culture, all the teachers and staff think they are responsible for helping the local public schools to develop our younger generations with bilingual or multilingual skills as well as global view to take up the new challenges in future. So we welcome anyone interested in learning Chinese, studying the culture or any of the other classes we offer."

SCCS students will be demonstrating their linguistic and artistic abilities at the school's annual talent show, Sunday, May 22, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the ELHS auditorium.

SCCS offers fall and spring semesters; for the 2010-11 year, course fees start at $70 per semester. To learn more, call the school at (860) 884-9990 or email jdchen@ct.metrocast.net.

Mandarin Chinese for Tots at Lyme School

The Lymes' Youth Services Bureau (LYSB) is offering two Mandarin Chinese language and cultural experiences this spring.

A Mandarin Chinese play group for pre-schoolers and their parents or caregivers will be offered on four Wednesday mornings in May, starting May 4, 9:30-10:45 a.m., at LYSB in Old Lyme. Each 75 minute session will involve traditional and inventive Chinese games, songs, stories and play, to learn introductory Chinese words. Each week will focus on a theme: numbers, family, colors and animals. This program, which is open to families in surrounding communities, costs $40 for four sessions.

Students at Lyme School can take part in a Chinese After-School Program hosted by LYSB for four Mondays, starting on May 9. The 65-minute session will include games, songs, stories and crafts. Fee is $40.

Both programs will be led by Lili Yang, who teaches Chinese at Pine Point School in Stonington and has worked with youth at the Chinese Language School of Connecticut

in Riverside. Yang, a candidate for Connecticut's Alternate Route to Teacher Certification to teach Chinese, also will teach Chinese classes for adults this fall in Old Lyme through New London Parks and Recreation continuing education.

To register for either program, contact LYSB at (860) 434-7208, www.lysb.org.