AskAsia.org > Chinese Language in the Schools > Newsletter > January 2007


January 2007
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Greetings!

Welcome to the first edition of the monthly Chinese Language in the Schools Newsletter.

Chinese is in demand! Interest in learning Chinese is growing dramatically among American youth. Although only a small number of U.S. elementary and secondary schools currently teach Chinese, several thousand are interested in doing so. This electronic newsletter is intended to provide information to a wide range of people who are involved in or becoming interested in Chinese - school board members, superintendents, principals, parents and community members, teachers, education policymakers and others.

A companion website AskAsia.org/Chinese features fuller information on:
* Schools that teach Chinese
* Sources of teachers
* State certification and licensure
* Links to other professional organizations

This newsletter is produced by Asia Society but will report on major initiatives across the Chinese language field. We hope that it will contribute to turning the growing interest into high quality programs so that many more students will have the opportunity to learn Chinese, a language we as a nation can no longer afford to ignore.

Grants and Opportunities
Workshop for New Programs
Asia Society and the Oregon K-16 Chinese Flagship will hold a technical assistance institute for those interested in starting new Chinese language programs. The US Department of Education is one of the co-sponsors of this institute and strongly encourages FLAP grantees to attend. The institute will take place April 25-27 in Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit: AskAsia.org/Chinese

China Bridge Delegation 2007
The College Board and the Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) will organize a one-week educational tour to China in late June. Participants will visit schools and cultural sites, exchange ideas with Chinese educators, and obtain information on starting Chinese language programs. School and district leaders are invited to apply. Click here to learn more.

STARTALK
STARTALK, a project of the federal National Security Language Initiative, will fund a number of summer programs this year in Chinese and Arabic. The project will include professional development programs for teachers K-16 and language programs for high school students. Programs will be held in locations throughout the US and many plan to offer tuition and/or travel assistance to participants. Check the February edition of this newsletter for a list of programs. Click here for more information.
Recent and Upcoming Publications
Released in June, Creating a Chinese Language Program in Your School: An Introductory Guide, is a handbook which provides practical information to schools and districts on how to plan, launch and sustain new programs in Chinese language and culture. Click here for more information

Inside Higher Ed has published an article on the upcoming Modern Language Association report that "has concluded that the (language) programs that train undergraduate majors and new Ph.D.s are seriously off course, with so much emphasis on literature that broader understanding of cultures and nations has been lost." The panel recommends connecting the study of history, culture, economics and society with language programs. Click here for more information.
Question of the Month
Q: Why should our students study Chinese?

A: China is home to one fifth of the world's population and has the world's fastest growing economy. Its increasing influence on global affairs is undeniable. Above all, China's long-standing culture has enriched world civilization for thousands of years. To deal with a country of such size, history, and population successfully is to understand and engage it. Through the study of Chinese language and culture, our students will be able to develop the communication and cultural competencies to interact with the people of this important nation.

If you have a question for one of our experts or if you would like to submit your responses for the February question: "Where can I find a qualified Chinese language teacher?," please click here.
Chinese in the News
News articles addressing Chinese language education abound. In the past month The Boston Globe, The Times (UK), Christian Science Monitor and San Jose Mercury News all ran major stories on the subject. You can read articles on Chinese language initiatives at www.AskAsia.org/Chinese/news, where articles on language study are continually posted.
 
 

We welcome your feedback on this newsletter and encourage you to share information that would be of interest to the wider community. Please pass this newsletter on to others who are interested in Chinese language programs in the schools.

Sincerely,


Shuhan Wang, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Chinese Language Initiatives
Asia Society


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