MANDARIN CHINESE

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MANDARIN CHINESE

• Preparing Arkansas Children for a Global Workforce

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Why Mandarin Chinese?

• People are finally beginning to pay attention to
  Mandarin as a major cultural and economic
  prospect for students, said Michael H. Levine,
  executive director of education for the Asia
  Society. The push is coming from the defense
  community and government and grass-roots
  interest from parents
• With a Changing World Comes An Urgency to Learn
  Chinese By Lori Aratani, Washington Post Staff
  Writer, Washington Post 8/25/06

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More Reasons

• School systems in Philadelphia, Houston, New York
  City and Portland, Ore., are poised to launch
  Chinese programs. Chicago public schools teach
  more than 3,500 students in the largest program
  in the nation.
• With a Changing World Comes An Urgency to Learn
  Chinese By Lori Aratani, Washington Post Staff
  Writer, Washington Post 8/25/06

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More Reasons

• In an increasingly global, technological economy,
  experts say, it isnt enough to be academically
  strong. Young people must also be able to work
  comfortably with people from other cultures,
  solve problems creatively, write and speak well,
  think in a multidisciplinary way, and evaluate
  information critically.
• (Soft Skills in Demand, Education Week, June
  12, 2007)

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More Reasons

• Non-Asian children are attending the Lansing
  Chinese School in Michigan because of an
  ambitious feeling on the part of the parents who
  are interested in Chinas playing an important
  role in the world
• (New York Times, Non-Asians Show a Growing
  Interest in Chinese Courses, November 29, 2006)

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More Reasons

• Oklahoma has more than 20 teachers from China for
  secondary Chinese language education. (use
  emergency certification)
• Mandarin Chinese is a language listed by the U.S.
  Dept. of Education as a less-taught, critical
  language at secondary and college levels
• The Natl Security Education Program offers
  college students 20,000 to 30,000 a year to
  study less-taught, critical languages in the
  countries where the languages are spoken.

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How can Arkansas be a part?

• Two avenues of opportunity are available to
  Arkansas school districts interested in offering
  Mandarin Chinese for the 2008/2009 school year.
• The Chinese government is sending teachers to
  Arkansas for two years to teach Mandarin Chinese
• Ameri-can Interconnect IntL Inc. wishes to
  contract with school districts to send Mandarin
  Chinese teachers from Canada to Arkansas. This
  initiative is being developed by Representative,
  Janet Johnson and former Speaker of the House,
  Herschel Cleveland.

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Hanban Teachers(partnership with UCA)

• Speak fluent English and one other non-Asian
  language
• Have Master Degrees in teaching Chinese as a
  world language
• Should be licensed to teach in another discipline
  area such as Mathematics, Science, etc.
• Have studied in regards to the American Culture.

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Working with the University of Central Arkansas

• UCA works with the Office of Chinese Language
  Council International (Hanban) under the Chinese
  Ministry of Education to provide resources for
  Chinese instruction
• Hanban can supply a maximum of five (5) teachers
  for the 2008/2009 school year.
• UCA will process visas, enter the candidate into
  the INS database for the background check, greet
  candidates at the airport, and provide a 3 day
  orientation before teachers attend the 3 week ADE
  Non-Traditional Program

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Hanbans Responsibilities

• Provide transportation and all costs involved
  from China to Arkansas and return trip.
• Provide the stipend for the teacher on a two year
  contract (usually a 12 month stipend/salary
  according to the Chinese education system.)
• Pay transportation costs for teachers to travel
  home during the summer and the return trip to
  Arkansas.

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ADE Responsibilities

• Process all documentation necessary for Chinese
  teachers to enter the NTLP and assist with
  Arkansas licensure requirements.
• Provide information and assistance regarding any
  Praxis II content tests to be taken.
• Ensure all teachers have taken and passed the
  Oral Proficiency Inventory (OPI) (may be
  administered in China)
• Obtain written commitments from five (5) school
  districts in Arkansas to host a Mandarin Chinese
  teacher to teach in the school district.

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Host School District Responsibilities

• Provide housing (or host family)
• Local transportation
• Medical Insurance
• Non-Traditional Licensure Program tuition (1,200
  per year for two years)
• Assign a mentor for the two year program
• If the host school district does not want to be
  responsible for the above requirements they can
  pay 16,200 yearly to cover these costs.

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Timeline

• November 2007 Commitments from 5-13 school
  districts.
• December 2007 Dr. Hui Wu gets a written
  commitment from the Chinese government
• February 2008 Delegation from Arkansas goes to
  China to interview prospective teachers
• June 2008 Teachers arrive in AR and attend
  orientation at UCA
• July 2008 Teachers begin NTL training.
• August 2008 Chinese teachers begin teaching in
  AR classrooms.

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Contact Information

• Ms. Barbara Culpepper
• NTL Lead Program Advisor
• 501 Woodlane
• Little Rock, AR 72201
• [phone]
• barbara.culpepper_at_arkansas.gov