2013 Joint Meeting of U.S. Confucius Institutes

1. 2013 Joint Meeting of U.S. Confucius Institutes Group Discussion 8: Report September 29, 2013 St. Mary's School Shake Heights High School Germantown Academy The King’s Academy Cedarlane Middle School Dalton School Northwest Nazarene University Chinese Language and Culture Center of Maine St. Cloud State University The College Board Center for International Understanding, University of North Carolina Asia Society

2. Goal and Process • 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 • 1:30 – 2:30 Introductory Presentations of Attendees and Programs • 2:30 – 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 • Break • 3:30 – 3:50 Small Group Work 2 • Exchange Programs / Partnerships • Infusing Culture into the Classroom • 3:50 – 4:10 Small Group Report-Out 2 • 4:10 – 5:00 Summary

3. “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

4. Effective Chinese Language Teachers & Programs • Connect World Language Teachers • Connect Schools/Districts • Connect K-12 and Higher Ed • 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

5. Partnership & Exchange Programs • Authentic Experience • Learning outcomes • Persistence • Reciprocity • 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

6. 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