Upper School students in Xiaolin Lin's Mandarin IV and Mandarin V classes took a trip to Chinatown in Flushing, Queens. Students conducted interviews with small business owners solely in Mandarin, had the chance to read only Mandarin characters-based content, savored authentic Chinese food and explored the Flushing community. As Xiaolin explains, the opportunity to use the city as an extension of the classroom allows students "to engage in real-life communications in Mandarin, boost their confidence in Mandarin acquisition, and immerse themselves in diverse cultural communities."