Organization
Cambodian School of San Francisco
The Cambodian School of San Francisco (CSSF) is a school in San Francisco, California, that teaches the Khmer language to children and adults.[1] Marlai Ouch founded it in 2012, and its classes have been held at Nagara Dhamma Temple.[1][2]
Language and culture
The school teaches Khmer to Cambodian children and adults living outside Cambodia, with the aim of keeping their connection to Cambodian culture.[3] In 2016 younger students came to connect with their heritage, while adults came to learn to read and write their native language. The classes were open to anyone curious about Cambodian culture.[1]
In 2016 the school offered free two-hour classes on Sunday afternoons at the temple. Ouch had recruited volunteer teachers, among them her brother and sister-in-law and Keo Sar. By then she had taught hundreds of students, at the temple and online, and had recorded 74 Khmer lessons on YouTube.[1]
Student support
The school lists free tutoring for Khmer students from kindergarten through grade 12 in math, reading, writing, science and social studies or history. It also lists homework help and college and career advice, and its tutors act as mentors and role models for Cambodian youth.[3] The school states that its goal is to raise Cambodian high school and college graduates to a level similar to those of other immigrant communities.[3]
Location
The school is listed at 3225 Lincoln Way in San Francisco, the location of Nagara Dhamma Temple.[3][2]