Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Selected to Join
New Hanban-Asia Society Confucius Classrooms Network
20 Schools Work to Bring High-Quality Chinese Language Programs to U.S. Classrooms
Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School Hadley, Massachusetts, has been accepted as a member of the first cohort of schools in the Hanban-Asia Society Confucius Classrooms Network. Awarded start-up funds of $10,000, the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School will work to enhance their existing Chinese language programs through unique opportunities such as being matched with partner schools in China to enhance language learning experiences and students, teachers and administrators will conduct exchanges and joint projects. All 20 schools selected to the Hanban-Asia Society Confucius Classrooms Network will be linked through an online community where teachers will share resources and best practices in an effort to build models for the field.
The Confucius Classrooms initiative aims to develop a national network of 100 exemplary Chinese language programs over the next three years. The application process for the first year was done by invitation only, but in subsequent years will be public. “These pioneers represent the future of high quality Chinese language education in the U.S.,” says Chris Livaccari, Asia Society Associate Director, Education and Chinese Language Initiatives.
As part of its continuing effort to help American students become more globally competent, Asia Society has been supporting the development of Chinese language programs in schools across the U.S. This work includes the Chinese Language Initiatives e-newsletter, the annual National Chinese Language Conference co-organized with the College Board, which will be held in Washington D.C. on April 22, 2010, and the development of resources for the field, including the new “Learning Chinese in American Schools” DVD. More information about the Hanban–Asia Society Confucius Classrooms Network and all of Asia Society’s Chinese Language Initiatives is available at asiasociety.org/Chinese
==========================================================
The Hanban-Asia Society Confucius Classrooms Network has been established with the support of an International Expert Advisory Committee and in partnership with Hanban, a non-governmental agency supported by China’s Ministry of Education that supports the teaching and learning of Chinese language and culture in all corners of the world. The Network is more than just an attempt to recognize excellence in Chinese language teaching – it is the beginning of an ongoing process of field building with the goal of establishing high quality, sustainable Chinese language programs in all regions of the U.S., and one important step toward strengthening Americans’ understanding of China.
About Asia Society and Hanban's Partnership
Hanban and Asia Society have collaborated over the past few years to promote educational initiatives aimed at strengthening the teaching and learning of Chinese language and culture in the United States. Hanban has partnered with the Asia Society in recognition of its network of connections in US education and real experience designing and developing schools that promote global competency for American students.