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Issue: 886 Date: 8/16/2007
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應美國大學委員會之邀 落實漢語教學計劃
64位中文教師自中國開赴全美23州任教
Chinese Guest Teacher Program Helps Thousands of U.S. Students
Native Mandarin Speakers to Bolster U.S. Classrooms' Language, Culture Curricula
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| 參與美國大學委員會與中國漢語辦公室合辦之「中文客座教師」計劃之中文老師暑期研習會現況 |
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【時報訊】應美國大學委員會（College Board）中文客座教師計劃之邀請，64位來自中國漢語辦公室之中文教師，於8月3日飛抵美國，在接受一週之密集講習後，隨即分派至全美23個州之小學、初中和高中任教中文和中華文化兩年，到期後還可視狀況再續約一年，這是美國大學委員會有鑒於全美中文師資缺乏之現況而與中國國家漢語國際推廣小組辦公室(漢辦)合作推動之“中文客座教師計劃”。
美國教育委員會主席Gaston Caperton指出，美國目前亟需中文教育師資，根據該會2004年調查報告指出，漢語教學計劃在許多學區因師資缺乏而停擺。由於有了這項中文客座教師計劃，美國學生得以參與21世紀全球化趨勢中不可或缺之中文教育。今年來自中國的中文客座教師比去（2006）年成長了二倍。
以語言使用人口數字分析，全球目前有中國的13億人口和世界上數以百萬的華人說中文，中文成為世界上排名使用第一之語言，比較起來，目前有超過2億中國學童自二年級就開始學習英文，但是在美國，祗有近五萬名學生學習中文。
負責聯系各大學院校的大學委員會組長James M. Montoya表示，中文客座教師計劃帶給我們深入瞭解現代化中國和研習中華文化的機會，豐富了美國學生的學習經驗，他還說，學習中文並不祗是準備進大學的學分而已，中文更是深入研究國際領域的跳板。中文之重要性不言而喻。
中文客座教師計劃是由美國大學委員會與中國國家漢語國際推廣小組辦公室(漢辦)共同策劃成立，(漢辦)提供教師之薪資及來美交通費用，教師任教之美國學校和學區則提供住宿、當地交通和一般行政費用。教師之評選由大學委員會負責，主要甄選項目有教學技巧，課堂管理，文化瞭解及中英文語言能力，入選的教師將在美國教課兩年，期滿可再續約一年。
在這64位老師派往的學校中大部分是第一次有教中文的學校，這給了這些學校成立新的中文課程之機會，將來這些老師回中國後，學校要有能力繼續維持中文教學及聘用當地的中文教師，2008年的中文客座教師預計明年八月抵達美國。
“中文客座教師”計劃除由中國大陸選聘老師來美之外，同時還有美國老師進修安排，目前為止共有99位美國老師獲得獎學金，於暑假期間到中國在北京、上海和南京之大學修習中文教育，此外這項計劃並提供美國教育界人士一年一度到中國實習、瞭解中華文化語言和教育系統之機會，稱作“中華之橋”。今年暑假就有近800位教育界人士代表參加“中華之橋”到中國大陸一遊，這是2006年人數的兩倍。
參與美國“中文客座教師計劃”之23州分別為德州，維吉尼亞州，奧克拉荷馬州，俄亥俄州，愛荷華州，康乃迪克州，賓州，紐澤西州，佛羅里達州，科羅拉多州，北卡州，紐約州，緬因州，加州，伊利諾州，麻薩諸塞州，馬里蘭州，阿拉巴馬州，威斯康辛州，羅德島，密西根州，新罕布什爾州，西維吉尼亞州。密蘇里州並未納入這項計劃之內。
Chinese Guest Teacher Program Helps Thousands of U.S. StudentsNative Mandarin Speakers to Bolster U.S. Classrooms' Language, Culture Curricula
NEW YORK - As part of the College Board's co-sponsored Chinese Guest Teacher Program, 64 additional Chinese teachers have arrived in the United States, ready to begin educating U.S. students about Chinese culture and teaching the most widely spoken first language in the world.
This is the second such group to arrive, increasing the number of guest teachers in the program by almost 200 percent. It is the largest K-12 Chinese guest teacher program in the United States and seeks to address the shortage of qualified teachers of Chinese in U.S. schools. The teachers arrived Aug. 3 and, after a week of intensive training with language experts, they will be placed in schools and districts in 23 states, teaching students in high school, middle school and elementary school.
College Board President Gaston Caperton said the program's growth is a strong indication of the enthusiasm for Chinese language and culture programs within U.S. schools. In a 2004 College Board-conducted survey, school districts reported a high demand for Chinese language programs but feared a lack of resources would keep such programs from becoming a reality.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for young Americans to be a part of globalization at a fundamental level, learning the language and discovering the Chinese culture," Caperton said. "This program's success should demonstrate the growing awareness among Americans that we need to offer a 21st-century choice to our students."
The national language of the more than 1.3 billion inhabitants of China and millions more ethnic Chinese around the globe, Chinese is the most widely spoken first language in the world. Though more than 200 million Chinese schoolchildren are studying English-often begun as early as the second grade-experts estimate that no more than 50,000 U.S. students are studying Chinese.
"Our guest teachers bring a deep and contemporary understanding of China to the study of Chinese language and culture, thus enriching the learning experience of American students. The study of Chinese is not only outstanding preparation for the academic rigors of college but it also provides a springboard for more in-depth study in the international arena," said James M. Montoya, head of the College Board's work supporting colleges and universities across the country.
In partnership with the College Board, the program is sponsored by Hanban, China's Office of Chinese Language Council International. Hanban provides the teachers with monthly stipends and international transportation, while host schools and districts provide housing, local transportation and administrative fees. As part of the selection process, the College Board interviews guest teachers about teaching methods, classroom management, cultural tolerance and language skills in both Chinese and English. The guest teachers work at host schools for two years and then renew for an additional year if both the school and teacher are satisfied.
Most are the first Chinese teachers in their schools, launching new language and culture programs for students with no background in the language. It is an opportunity for the schools to start a new program affordably and to participate in an international exchange. The program's goal is that schools will continue the Chinese program after the departure of the guest teacher by hiring a teacher locally. The next group of guest teachers is scheduled to arrive in August 2008.
The partnership between Hanban and the College Board also includes other programs to enhance the supply and quality of Chinese-language teachers in the United States. Scholarship funds are provided to select universities preparing U.S. teacher candidates seeking state certification to teach Chinese. Current teachers of Chinese are also offered in-service professional development. A total of 99 teachers received scholarships to attend four summer institutes on Chinese university campuses in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing.
Additionally, the partnership sponsors an annual trip to China during which U.S. educators and administrators can familiarize themselves with China's culture, language and education systems. The trip, known as the Chinese Bridge Delegation, provides hands-on incentives and strategies for educators to return to their own schools better equipped to support their Chinese programs. That program also doubled in size this summer, with nearly 800 delegates participating in this year's trip-twice the number of delegates in 2006.
Participating Schools and Districts:
Austin Independent School District, Austin, TexasBarbour County Schools, Philippi, W. Va.Bartlesville Public Schools, Bartlesville, Okla.Benjamin Logan Local Schools, Bellefontaine, OhioBoone Community School District, Boone, IowaBow High School, Bow, N.H.Chesterfield County Public Schools, Chesterfield, Va.Chillicothe City Schools, Chillicothe, OhioChoate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, Conn.Cresskill Public Schools, Cresskill, N.J.Delaware Valley Charter High School, Philadelphia, Pa.Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville, Fla.East Marshall Community School District, Le Grand, IowaFairview High School, Boulder, Colo.Fountain Valley School of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colo.Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, N.C.Hackensack Public Schools, Hackensack, N.J.Homer Central School District, Homer, N.Y..Independent School District, I-1 of Stephens County, Tulsa, Okla.Indiana Area School District, Indiana, Pa.Jenks Public Schools, Tulsa, Okla.John Bapst Memorial High School, Bangor, MaineKingswood-Oxford School, West Hartford, Conn.Lincoln County Schools, Hamlin, W. Va.Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles, Calif.Muskogee Public Schools, Muskogee, Okla.Norman Public Schools, Tulsa, Okla.Parma City School District, Parma, OhioPeoria Public Schools, Peoria, Ill.Richard J. Murphy School, Boston, Mass.Roland Park Country School, Baltimore, Md.St. Benedict School, Elberta, Ala.Shaker Heights City School District, Shaker Heights, OhioSkiatook Public Schools, Skiatook, Okla.Smith Elementary School, Oshkosh, Wis.South Kingstown School Department, Wakefield, R.I.South Lake Schools, St. Clair Shores, Mich.The Roeper School, Birmingham, Mich.Tulsa Public Schools, Tulsa, Okla.Warren Woods Public Schools, Warren, Mich.Washington Academy, East Machias, MaineWolcott Public Schools, Wolcott, Conn.
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| 中文客座教師參加暑期研習會討論中文教學 |
中文客座教師參加暑期研習會討論中文教學 |
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| 中文客座教師參加暑期研習會討論中文教學 |
中文客座教師參加暑期研習會討論中文教學 |
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