Workshop

Establishing K-12 Critical Language Programs:
The Example of Chinese

Excellence, Opportunities, Innovation and Results

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Date: April 25-27, 2007

Location: Portland, Oregon

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K-12 schools around the country are establishing programs in Chinese and other critical languages such as Arabic and Korean. This movement addresses the national need for speakers of these languages and prepares individual students to succeed in the 21 st century. Schools and school districts, however, are searching for assistance in dealing with the myriad issues that arise in establishing new language programs. Equally urgent is the fact that these programs be well planned and based in solid research so that they are sustainable with high quality.

To respond to this overwhelming need expressed by schools, Asia Society and the Oregon Chinese K-16 Flagship are organizing a hands-on workshop for current FLAP grantees and other schools planning to establish programs in Chinese. This workshop will provide the forum for face-to-face interaction and in-depth discussions on administrative, curricular, staffing, and pedagogic issues. The U.S. Department of Education, National Security Education Program, the STARTALK Project (the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland), the College Board, and the Confucius Institute at Portland State University are partners in this workshop.

Each school or district is encouraged to attend in teams consisting of instructional and administrative staff. The workshop will include optional site visits to Chinese and Japanese programs in Portland Public Schools, followed by interactive debriefings from these programs and observers. National experts and leaders in Chinese and world language education will share expertise and offer practical advice on language acquisition, assessment, curriculum, material selection, and pedagogy. Issues such as finding highly qualified teachers, garnering community support, seeking future funding opportunities, and how to find technical assistance will be addressed. Participants will have ample opportunities for consultation and networking with researchers, policy-makers, administrators, and teachers. At the end of the workshop, participants will form a community of practice and continue to receive information and support from a national network of advisors. Program planners and administrators interested in other critical languages are also welcome to attend as the experiences in establishing Chinese programs can be transferred to their target languages.

Space is limited to the first 100 registered participants. Registration is $300 per participant, which covers workshop attendance, materials, some meals, and transportation for site visits. Please go to http://casls.uoregon.edu/workshop to register and for more conference and hotel information.