By Katherine Camberg

TPA offers many summer class options, and while the image in your head of summer vacation may not be taking classes, the Chinese class may just change your mind. The class is a full immersion of Chinese language, but it doesn’t stop there. Students in the class do crafts, sing, dance, and participate in cultural activities. Mrs. Moffitt lights up when she speaks about this amazing opportunity.

The class is taught by native Chinese speaker, Mrs. Light. She is an experienced teacher and brings lots of hands-on learning to the class. The class is three weeks long, which is perfect for anyone looking for something to do before leaving on a midsummer vacation.  Past participant Clara Moffitt says, “The class is super fun and we never stopped moving. I loved the immersion and cultural activities.” The enthusiastic teacher creates a fun learning environment as well.

Beyond the fun aspects of the class, there are also great practical reasons to take the course. Chinese is an extremely important language, being the most widely spoken language, and is useful for people interested in business and foreign affairs. The TPA Chinese course is a good intro for students who are interested in Chinese language and culture and can be a launching pad for other more advanced programs.

For example, TPA junior Niki Everding took the course last summer and was then able to participate in the selective ASU Startalk program, another Chinese language program. She will also participate in NSLI-Y, a program funded by the U.S. State Department which sends kids abroad for a summer or a year to learn a critical language. Niki will be going to China with this selective program.

While the Chinese program is one of Mrs. Moffitt’s favorites, TPA also offers many other summer class options. These classes can be great for preparing for difficult subjects. The pre-algebra class is a great option to prepare students for 9th or 10th grade math. The PSAT prep class provides great training for anyone looking to improve their PSAT score, which can help students receive college scholarships.

Overall anyone looking to fill their time this summer can find an option with Tempe Prep’s summer classes.