Strengthening the Chinese Language Teaching Field through Teacher Support

National Chinese Language Conference

April 23, 2010

Washington DC

PresentersPresenters

Lucy C. Lee Yuanchao MengYvonne M. Lau

•Program developer•Program advocator•Curriculum developer•Textbook selector•Materials developer

中文老师 Lǎoshī

中文老师 Lǎoshī

Sustaining and Strengthening

Chinese Program

中文老师 Lǎoshī

中文老师 Lǎoshī

Educational Trends• Communicative Approach to Language

Learning

• Backwards Design

• Performance Assessments

• Formative Assessment

• Online & Digital Learning

• Content-based Instruction

• Differentiated Instruction

Challenges

• Multiple entry points • Various program types for elementary and

middle school• K-12 articulation• Sufficient national and local funding• Number of certified teachers• Curricula and textbooks for Mandarin Chinese• National perception of the need for foreign

language learning

Criteria for an effective Criteria for an effective Chinese language teacherChinese language teacher

– Solid background in MandarinSolid background in Mandarin

– Well-versed in American foreign language pedagogyWell-versed in American foreign language pedagogy

– Skilled in managing students in a U.S. classroomSkilled in managing students in a U.S. classroom

– Certified or willing to pursue certification and continuing Certified or willing to pursue certification and continuing professional developmentprofessional development

– Willing to work with the school and community at largeWilling to work with the school and community at large

– Proficient in EnglishProficient in English

Support for Languages

• American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and their guidance with standards

• College Board: language exams

• National Security Language Initiative NSLI

• National Security Education Program NSEP - Language Flagships.

Professional Support

• World Languages InstituteWorld Languages Institute

• Graduate School of EducationGraduate School of Education

• Department of Asian Languages and Department of Asian Languages and CulturesCultures

Chinese Language InitiativesChinese Language Initiatives

in Response to the Critical Needsin Response to the Critical Needs

of the Global Marketplaceof the Global Marketplace

The World Languages InstituteThe World Languages InstituteAccelerated Chinese Language Accelerated Chinese Language Teacher Certification ProgramTeacher Certification Program

The WLI Accelerated Chinese The WLI Accelerated Chinese Language Teacher Certification Language Teacher Certification

Program offers:Program offers:• State-approved courses in pedagogy, State-approved courses in pedagogy,

methodology, Chinese linguistics and methodology, Chinese linguistics and literature.literature.

• Intensive day and evening courses Intensive day and evening courses taught by highly qualified faculty and taught by highly qualified faculty and experts in the field.experts in the field.

• Fulfillment of K-12 Certificate of Fulfillment of K-12 Certificate of Eligibility requirements in as few as Eligibility requirements in as few as two summers.two summers.

Course Offerings in the SummerCourse Offerings in the Summer• Methods of Foreign Language TeachingMethods of Foreign Language Teaching

• Technology in the World Language ClassTechnology in the World Language Class

• Theories of Second Language AcquisitionTheories of Second Language Acquisition

• Advanced Topics in Chinese Language and LinguisticsAdvanced Topics in Chinese Language and Linguistics

• Chinese Across the CurriculumChinese Across the Curriculum

• Practicum in Language EducationPracticum in Language Education

• Chinese PoetryChinese Poetry

• Advanced Chinese Advanced Chinese GrammarGrammar

The Department of Asian The Department of Asian Languages and CulturesLanguages and CulturesMaster of Arts for TeachersMaster of Arts for Teachers

““This program is designed for those This program is designed for those already teaching Chinese and those already teaching Chinese and those interested in pursuing a career related to interested in pursuing a career related to Chinese language and culture teaching. Chinese language and culture teaching. Undergraduates majoring in Chinese or Undergraduates majoring in Chinese or related fields intending to teach Chinese related fields intending to teach Chinese may wish to augment their B.A. with may wish to augment their B.A. with this degree.”this degree.”

Excerpted from the departmental website

Graduate School of EducationGraduate School of EducationChinese Language Teacher TrainingChinese Language Teacher Training

• Traditional two-year Master’s Degree (Ed.M.) Traditional two-year Master’s Degree (Ed.M.) and Certification Programs (45 credits)and Certification Programs (45 credits)

• Alternate Route Program (19 credits)*Alternate Route Program (19 credits)*

Practicum in Language EducationPracticum in Language Education

This GSE course was conducted at the Highland This GSE course was conducted at the Highland Park Summer Camp followed by a student summer Park Summer Camp followed by a student summer program sponsored by Princeton and West program sponsored by Princeton and West Windsor-Plainsboro K-12 school districts. It was Windsor-Plainsboro K-12 school districts. It was funded by grants from the Freeman Foundation and funded by grants from the Freeman Foundation and STARTALK.STARTALK.

What does a standards-based What does a standards-based Chinese class look like Now? Chinese class look like Now?

Keys for Preparing Standards-Based Teachers

• K-12 collaboration which models best practice;

• Teacher candidates have the opportunity to observe, practice with REAL K-12 students, and reflect;

• Teacher candidates receive feedback and guidance;

Keys for Preparing Standards-Based Teachers

• Teacher candidates receive on-going guided support and opportunities to reflect;

• Programs are adequately funded for teacher support, materials, and teacher candidate scholarships; and

• Teacher candidates learn that becoming a teacher is a life-long process.

NJ Chinese Teacher Roundtable

NJ Chinese Teacher Roundtablewas initiated by

• Rutgers University

• Summit Public Schools

• Livingston Public Schools

Team BuildingTeam BuildingBrainstormingBrainstorming

Chinese Class Net PlatformChinese Class Net Platform

NJ Chinese Learning Community

Objectives

• Improve and expand the existing Chinese Improve and expand the existing Chinese programs programs

• Develop curriculum models to inform and Develop curriculum models to inform and improve instruction in Chinese improve instruction in Chinese

• Support ongoing Chinese teacher Support ongoing Chinese teacher professional development, including peer professional development, including peer coaching and mentoring.coaching and mentoring.

High School TeamHigh School Team

• Monmouth CountyMonmouth County

H. Rebecca Wang,H. Rebecca Wang, Rumson-Fair Haven HSRumson-Fair Haven HS

• Essex CountyEssex County

Yajing Li and Eileen Quirk, West Orange HSYajing Li and Eileen Quirk, West Orange HS

Lucy Lee, Livingston High SchoolLucy Lee, Livingston High School

Middle School TeamMiddle School Team

• Union CountyUnion County

Joan Lu,Joan Lu, Summit Public SchoolsSummit Public Schools

• Mercer CountyMercer County

Susan Hsueh,West-Windsor-Plainsboro PSSusan Hsueh,West-Windsor-Plainsboro PS

• Essex CountyEssex County

Yun Abernathy, Liberty Middle School Yun Abernathy, Liberty Middle School

Elementary School TeamElementary School Team

• Mercer CountyMercer County

Jume Shen, Village Elementary SchoolJume Shen, Village Elementary School

• Essex CountyEssex County

Vicky Chang, Nishuane Elementary SchoolVicky Chang, Nishuane Elementary School

FACILITATOR/ MENTORSFACILITATOR/ MENTORS

•Rosanne Zeppieri Rosanne Zeppieri (High School Team(High School Team),),

West-Windsor-Plainsboro PSWest-Windsor-Plainsboro PS

•  Leslie Zimring Leslie Zimring (Middle School Team(Middle School Team))

Summit School DistrictSummit School District

•  Janice Dowd Janice Dowd (Elementary School Team) , (Elementary School Team) , Teaneck Public Teaneck Public Schools (Retired)Schools (Retired)

Can students transfer what they Can students transfer what they have learned to a real life task?have learned to a real life task?

What is the difference between what they “know” and what

they “can do”?

Something for Chinese teachers to think about…

What can we ask our students to find out if they GOT it?

• Local Chinese communities

• Weekend Chinese heritage schools

• University/Colleges

• State-wide world languages teacher’s association

Recruitment

Build Regional/Local Contact

•CLASS

Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools Schools

•CLTA

Chinese Language Teacher’s Association Chinese Language Teacher’s Association •ACTFL

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign languagesAmerican Council on the Teaching of Foreign languages

Connection to Chinese Teachers Network

Supporting Chinese Teachers

Professional Development Professional Development Opportunities for Chinese TeachersOpportunities for Chinese Teachers

• CLASS sponsored summer programs in CLASS sponsored summer programs in China and TaiwanChina and Taiwan

• ACTFL ConferenceACTFL Conference

• STARTALK ProgramsSTARTALK Programs

• AP Summer InstitutesAP Summer Institutes

• ACC/CLASS Fulbright Study Abroad for ACC/CLASS Fulbright Study Abroad for Non-Native Speaker of Chinese TeachersNon-Native Speaker of Chinese Teachers

Resources for Building Resources for Building Chinese Language ProgramsChinese Language Programs

http://askasia.org/Chinese

http://www.nflc.org/projects/http://www.nflc.org/projects/

Read Chinese! -Read Chinese! -

35 Chinese lessons at 35 Chinese lessons at ACTFL level Novice-lowACTFL level Novice-low

20 Chinese lessons at 20 Chinese lessons at ACTFL level Novice-midACTFL level Novice-midUse Online or Download the

lessons

• Look for opportunities for your Look for opportunities for your students to study Chinese in the students to study Chinese in the summer.summer.

• www.nflc.org www.nflc.org and follow the and follow the link to STARTALKlink to STARTALK

http://internationaled.orghttp://AskAsia.org/Chinese

Monthly Electronic Newsletters: Chinese and International Ed

http://www.nflc.org/projects/

Read Chinese! -

35 Chinese lessons at ACTFL level Novice-low

20 Chinese lessons at ACTFL level Novice-midUse Online or Download the

lessons

十年树木，百年树人Ten years to grow a tree;

One hundred years to grow a people.

Teach your heart out!Teach your heart out!

一心一意教汉语一心一意教汉语

Contact for more infoContact for more info

• 全美全美中小學中文教師中小學中文教師協會協會WWW. CLASSk12.orgWWW. CLASSk12.org

• Lucy C. Lee Lucy C. Lee 竹露茜竹露茜lleeclass@gmail.com lleeclass@gmail.com

Livingston High School, New JerseyLivingston High School, New Jersey

謝謝！謝謝！Thank you!Thank you!谢 谢！谢 谢！