Language and Culture

Contact

Wo Center Office
wolanguage@punahou.edu
808.944.5871

Wo International Center offers a variety of opportunities to experience language and culture at an early age.

Program Dates for 2024 - 2025

Fall Semester: August 19 - December 20, 2024

Spring Semester: January 13 - May 16, 2025

Programs

List of 2 items.

Middle School Language Program

This Middle School program provides students new to, with some experience, or extensive experience with the language or with a desire to supplement their current studies with additional exposure and instruction. The experience will involve fun activities, instructional lessons, and collaborative opportunities to improve one’s language competencies. While the class will not serve as a replacement for the Japanese or Mandarin classes offered during the school day, it can help to supplement a student's curricular or heritage language experience.
After School Language Program

This program provides a cultural and theme-based language environment that challenges students in age appropriate ways to become capable and confident communicators through activities and play.

All communication is in the target languages for significant parts of the period, gradually increasing as students become more comfortable with using the target language.

Students are placed in small groups under the supervision of a faculty member and a teacher assistant.

The proficiency-based curriculum is designed to allow students with more experience to deepen their understanding and practice of the target language through small group or individual practice and lessons designed upon some of the students’ demonstrated needs.

Families will also have an opportunity to enroll their children into private or group lessons. Private lessons are designed by proficiency and student goals. Private lessons are normally scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Group classes will be offered two - three times per week depending on the grade level and are open to all students. Heritage speakers may enroll in private lessons once or twice per week.

Learn More About the Wo Center

Additional Information

List of 2 items.

Days, Times and Fees

See the course catalog for specific times and fees.
Escorting

Parents enrolling K – grade 5 students should review the information about escorting.

The admission of any student in the School’s extended learning programs is at the sole and absolute discretion of Punahou School in accordance with applicable laws. Admission criteria may be modified from time to time without notice by the School. Furthermore, students with past due billing accounts may not be eligible to enroll in these programs until their accounts are brought current. All payments made to the School will be allocated first towards unpaid Punahou tuition.