Meeting Training and Development Needs for Early Language Teachers

H. Yalan King

yking@CAISinstitute.org

April 23, 2010

1

2www.TheMandarinCenter.org

www.CAISinstitute.orgwww.CAIS.org

China’s Rapid Rise

• Obama pledges to send 100,000 students to study

• 300 million Chinese learning English each year

• China has more internet users than any other country

• Corporations are looking for the best talent

3

Teacher or Program Developer?

4

• Curriculum– Language– Culture– Content

• Outreach & Advocate• Expectations

– Administrators– Faculty– Parents– Students

– Teacher

Challenges

Challenges for American students to become proficient in Chinese language and culture:

1.Shortage of qualified teachers

2.Lack of state/national standards

3.Lack of appropriate materials

5

Shortage of Qualified Teachers

1. Import teachers from Asia2. Develop “homegrown” teachers

Guest Teachers

ChallengesAcculturationSustainability of programExperience

AdvantagesQuick startLow investment

7Chinese Education Conference 2009 - Hanban workshop

“Homegrown” Teachers

Native speakers who have lived in the USNear native fluency

Standards

9

State and National Standards for Chinese language and culture curriculum

Resources

10

Can’t do it alone…

TheMandarinCenter.orgCAISinstitute.org