2013 Joint Meeting of U.S. Confucius InstitutesGroup Discussion 8: Report

St. Mary's SchoolShake Heights High SchoolGermantown AcademyThe King’s AcademyCedarlane Middle SchoolDalton SchoolNorthwest Nazarene UniversityChinese Language and Culture Center of MaineSt. Cloud State UniversityThe College BoardCenter for International Understanding, University of North CarolinaAsia Society

September 29, 2013

Identify vision, challenges, and resources in the following areas:

• “Chinese Language Day” — Community Support and Awareness

• Effective Chinese Language Teachers & Instruction• Exchange Programs / Partnerships• Infusing Culture into the Classroom

Goal and Process

1:30 – 2:30 Introductory Presentations of Attendees and Programs2:30 – 2:50 Small Group Work 1

• Chinese Language Day – Engaging Cultural Activities

• Effective Chinese Language Instruction 2:50 – 3:10 Small Group Report-Out 1

Break3:30 – 3:50 Small Group Work 2

• Exchange Programs / Partnerships• Infusing Culture into the Classroom

3:50 – 4:10 Small Group Report-Out 24:10 – 5:00 Summary

“Chinese Language Day”

Mission, Branding & Public Relations• Have a clearly defined mission/purpose that have global

appeal and allow for local adaptation• Develop and/or supply a press kit that includes up-to-date

information about the Confucius Institutes/Classrooms network worldwide

• Multiplatform branding – t-shirt, ads, mobile app, etc.

Audience• Engage the entire community• Community and thought leaders• Business• Academia• Media

Activities – initiate an open wiki for depositing and referencing ideas• Academic Decathlon, spelling bee • China speaker series, TEDx re: Chinese Language• Film screening, reading club• Sports, games

Effective Chinese Language Teachers & Programs

• Well-articulated program: curriculum planning and assessment

• Mapping instruction to standards• Consistency and cross-referencing amongst various

standards• Mentorship and observation • Classroom management training• Teacher retention• Clarify and raise expectation of students• Use the target language• Preserve curiosity / interest• Develop leadership and community support

Connect World Language Teachers

Connect Schools/Districts

Connect K-12 and Higher Ed

Partnership & Exchange Programs

Based on shared interest and mutually understood goals• Scaffolding with smaller projects• Maintain communication• Design short-term and long-term• Reinforce in-person and virtual exchanges with each

other• Visit China as catalyst and reward for language learning• Arrange homestays, ask students to plan itineraries

themselves• Learning should be targeted and not left to chance

Authentic Experience

Learning outcomes

Persistence

Reciprocity

Infusing Culture into the Classroom

Get beyond the “three Ps”• Pandas• Paper-cutting• Picking stuff up with chopsticks

Re-balance Foreign vs. Familiar • Learning another culture is not always about seeking out

the exotic, the fundamental similarities are unifying and powerful

Learn with China, not just about it• Modern and the traditional• Global and connected• Journey to the West + Lewis and Clarke