We are delighted to report that our readers have told us that they enjoy reading the profiles of exemplary schools across the United States. This month we are pleased to profile the Chinese American International School (CAIS), a private, independent school in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley neighborhood.

Founded in 1981, CAIS is the earliest Mandarin-English dual-language immersion school in the United States. The school now enrolls 520 students in grades pre-K through eight. CAIS follows a 50/50 Chinese/English model in the early childhood and lower school divisions and a 30/70 model in the middle school grades. Classes in grades pre-K through five are staffed by both a lead teacher and a teaching associate. CAIS also has a strong international and experiential learning program, in which over 100 students go to mainland China and Taiwan each year. CAIS was a recipient of the Goldman Sachs Award for Excellence in International Education in 2004.

Our analysis of readership and use of the CELIN web pages shows that many people are accessing information about Chinese language programs in schools by using the CELIN program directory. We will continue to enhance our service to the field through this resource. Beginning this month, you will receive emails from CELIN staff inviting you to update your program information if you are listed in the directory. If your program is not yet included, please send us just your contact information about you or your program, and we’ll follow up with you. Please also spread the word about the directory to your colleagues, parents, and community members.

Please let us know what we can do to help promote the success of your programs, communities, and students.

–Shuhan Wang and Joy Peyton

Instructional Videos for Chinese Language Teachers
Part of Asia Society's professional development series for educators, these instructional videos for Chinese language teachers aim to share best practices in the field of Chinese language teaching. Learn more.

This month, we are featuring Ms. Yiyu Liu's Grade 6 Novice-Mid Chinese Class at Blake Middle School in Medfield, Massachusetts. In the video below, you can see her in action in her classroom. You can also find her accompanying lesson plan.
 

Online Resources

A Focus on Fun Spurs Language Learning
By Heather Clydesdale
Cathy Zhang saw the line between work and play dissolve when she happened upon two groups of five-year-old students absorbed in writing a story in Chinese during their free time. This was not an accident; rather it was the result of the educational philosophy of the Chinese International School (CIS) in Hong Kong. Zhang, who serves as head of Chinese learning at CIS Primary, explains that when students are engaged in higher-level learning, language is only a by-product, and a lifelong love of learning is the main achievement. Read on!

China's Top Five Phrases From 2015
Via Wall Street Journal
With the end of the year come lists of all sorts: top baby names, top photos, top words, top celebrities, et cetera. Wall Street Journal went one step further; their China Real Time team compiled the top five Chinese phases from 2015, ranging from "Internet Plus" to "Focus on my aura" (or "God wants to check the air quality")! Read their article for all of the top five phrases, along with their origins and meaning.

News and Opportunities from the Field
In this January issue, you will find various and interesting resources including registration and call for proposal to educational conferences, opportunity to host a guest teacher, and summer study abroad and camp opportunities for high school students.
 

Registration Now Open for the 2016 National Chinese Language Conference: Be an early bird and register for the 2016 NCLC by February 12 to get the most savings! Join us in Chicago, Illinois, on April 28–30 for the 9th annual NCLC. Learn more and register today!

Host a Guest Teacher: The Chinese Guest Teacher Program is designed to help U.S. schools develop Chinese language and culture study programs and to promote international exchange between the United States and China. Since 2007, the Chinese Guest Teacher Program has placed more than 1,000 visiting teachers in hundreds of schools nationwide. All guest teachers are qualified, experienced teachers from China. After a rigorous selection and training process, they serve as full-time Chinese language instructors in U.S. schools. Application deadline: February 5, 2016.

Call for Proposals: IIE Summit 2016: The 2016 IIE Summit on Generation Study Abroad will take place on October 23–25, 2016, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. The summit aims to go beyond the traditional panel format by exploring innovative action plans, exchanging effective tools and experimenting with new approaches to further advance our mutual goal. Proposals should reflect the spirit of innovation across one of four themes. Proposal submission deadline: February 16, 2016.

Concordia Language Villages: Summer "villages" combine language immersion, cultural activities, and fun camp activities, and are offered for students aged 7–18 in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Programs are one, two, four, or six weeks long, with the four-week program offering one year of high school language credit. Scholarship deadline: February 26, 2016.

Pearl S. Buck International China program for high school seniors and college students: Students travel to China and immerse themselves in the culture, customs, language, geography, and history through an array of experiences that will help prepare students for success in the 21st century. Students will get firsthand experience of Chinese culture and customs while living with host families in Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, which is situated on the southern bank of the lower Yangtze River between Shanghai and Nanjing. The program dates are July 10–August 4. Learn more.

Duke Summer Academy for High School Students: A three-week (July 16–August 5), non-credit-bearing program offered by Duke University attracts students who represent the next generation of global citizens from around the world. Enroll in this elite program and immerse yourself in an international experience designed to provide an academic and residential environment through which you will gain a global perspective on multiple areas of interest for young leaders. Learn more.




China Learning Initiatives Team
Asia Society

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