Information on this page pertains to the project funded by the 2007 State Innovations grant from Longview Foundation.

Purpose: Support outreach and workshop efforts by the Chinese Language Core Team

Timeframe: Spring through Fall, 2007

Description:

• Hold two workshops on “Creating Chinese Language Programs” outside of the Seattle area
• Bring expert speakers to present
• Develop support system (mentoring program) for visiting teachers from China
• Promote study abroad opportunities for Chinese
• Provide input on the development of the new Confucius Institute in Washington State

Key Personnel:

• Adam Ross, Co-chair of the Chinese Language Core Team of the Coalition; teacher of Chinese at Lakeside School in Seattle
• Chunman Gissing, Co-chair of the Chinese Language Core Team of the Coalition; teacher of Chinese at University Prep School in Seattle; Chinese examiner with IBO
• Lotus Perry, Chinese Instructor at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma
• Meitsu Chuang, Chinese examiner with IBO
• Michele Anciaux Aoki, Ph.D., P.M.P., International Education Consultant; 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 State Team Member; and Project Director for 2003, 2005, and 2007 State Innovations grants

Status as of:  1/25/2008 | 11/27/2007 | 9/2/2007 |  5/7/2007

Status as of 1/25/2008

• Members of the Core Team presented the "Creating a Chinese Language Program" workshop for Thurston School District in Lacey, WA on January 10, 2008. The program was attended by the Superintendent, Executive Director for Elementary Schools, two School Board members, Curriculum Directors, and a number of principals and teachers, several Chinese teachers from the area, and several community members. It was very well received.
   
• The State Innovations grant has awarded $500 to the Chinese Language Teachers Network as an honorarium for the guest speaker at their March 29 meeting at University Prep in Seattle.
   
• Meitsu Chuang has written a Guide for Mentoring Visiting Teachers from China (Word) based on her work with Zhudan and other visiting teachers in the Seattle area this past year.

Status as of 11/27/2007

• Members of the Core Team are scheduled to present the "Creating a Chinese Language Program" workshop in Lacey, WA on January 10, 2008.
• Members of the Core Team presented the "Creating a Chinese Language Program"  workshop at the WAFLT (Washington Association for Language Teaching) Conference in Wenatchee on October 13. See Workshop Resources.
• The Coalition provided PR and registration support for the September 22 Chinese Language Teachers Network Meeting and Hands-on Pedagogy Workshop by Dr. Haiyan Fu at University of Puget Sound. More than 60 teachers registered to attend.
• The Coalition has continued to forward emails to the Chinese email list about programs of interest and study abroad opportunities.
• After many months of work, the state of Washington submitted its proposal to create a Confucius Institute to the Hanban this fall.

Status as of 9/2/2007

• Members of the Core Team are scheduled to present the "Creating a Chinese Language Program" workshop at the WAFLT (Washington Association for Language Teaching) Conference in Wenatchee on October 13. The workshop will be open to the public, and we hope to attract a number of local school district administrators, teachers, and parents.
   
• The Coalition provided PR and online registration for a very successful workshop (over 50 teachers and students in attendance!) held on August 18.
  
  Workshop with Dr. Cyndy Ning, executive Director of the Chinese Language Teacher’s Association and Director of Confucius Institute, University of Hawaii, author of Communicating in Chinese, who directed the just awesomely completed Chinese Language Immersion Sports Camp on the University of Hawaii campus.
  
  Several of the visiting teachers from China were able to attend this free workshop where they had a chance to meet their local colleagues and network with each other.
   
• The Coalition will be providing PR and online registration for the fall meeting of the Chinese Language Teachers Network on September 22.
  
  The next Chinese Language Teachers Network meeting/Chinese Language Core Team workshop is scheduled on September 22 at the University of Puget Sound. We have a full agenda and an exciting workshop led by Dr. Haiyan Fu. Some of you met Dr. Fu this spring at the UW during the AP workshop; she is the author of Chinese Essentials: What and How - for 6-12 Chinese as a world language classroom practice (published in May 2007). Details to follow!
   
• The Coalition has expanded the [Chinese] email list to over 215. Since May, we have sent out approximately a dozen announcements about job openings and study abroad opportunities to the list. We began offering a Job Openings page on our website.
   
• The Chinese Language Core Team has been represented by Catherine Barnhart at a number of summer meetings on the new Confucius Institute proposal. The Core Team issued a letter of support to Governor Chris Gregoire (PDF), outlining recommendations for focus areas for the Confucius Institute.

Status as of 5/7/2007

• The Chinese Language Core Team is planning a fall workshop in September, 2007
• Core Team members have been actively participating in meetings about the Confucius Institute proposal this spring.

 

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