Established in 1963, West Valley Chinese Language School (WVCLS) is the Bay Area's oldest non-profit Chinese language and culture learning after-school program in the Santa Clara County.  It is also the only school in the area that teaches primarily Cantonese.       

The school's mission is to provide an engaging, experiential Cantonese and Mandarin learning environment that excels a student's understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture and heritage. 

​At WVCLS, classes are offered to kindergarten through 12th grade school-age learners.  Our teachers work to develop the proficiency of students in the four basic skills of language learning - listening, conversation, reading, and writing. 

Chinese culture, history, and traditions are also interspersed throughout the lessons at every grade level. ​​

​Our course offerings are structured as follows:

1. Kindergarten to 3rd Grade
   Lectures are delivered in Cantonese.  Students learn to read and write traditional Chinese characters.
2. 4th Grade and Up
   Mandarin is introduced in addition to regular Cantonese lectures.
3. AP Chinese 
   Offered to students who are interested in partaking the AP Chinese exam.  Class is offered in Mandarin with a small class size based on a rotational 3-year syllabus.  The AP track follows the College Board AP Chinese course outline.

To learn more, please visit the Curriculum page.

All classes meet every Friday from 7 - 9 p.m.in a school year.  The school's holiday schedules are the same as those of the Fremont Union High School District.

WVCLS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization run by parent volunteers and dedicated teachers.  It is also a member of the Association of Northern California Chinese Schools.