Resources for Starting a Chinese Language Program

Recently, Improving Early Language Programs listserv members have suggested some resources for starting a Chinese language program (and for enhancing an existing one):

---
You will be able to find a lot of information from the following organizations:

1. Asia Society and College Board's Chinese Language Initiatives, regarding ways to start a Chinese program, teacher recruitment, curriculum design, assessment, etc. Both links are here for your reference: http://asiasociety.org/education/chinese-language-initiatives & http://professionals.collegeboard.com/k-12/awards/chinese .

2. Many universities have Confucius Institute, or Chinese flagship programs, where you might be able to obtain more assistance in starting a Chinese program. In Ohio, a lot of secondary schools rely on The Ohio State University's Chinese flagship program at http://k12chineseflagship.osu.edu.

3. A lot of state departments on education have already designed programs for Chinese, including curriculum and some lesson plans. Here is the link to Ohio Department of Education's Chinese program information: http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=1701&ContentID=50516&Content=110448. This particular one is for K-4 program, however, you or you Chinese teacher might be able to adapt it to high school levels.

4. At a national level, CLASS (Chinese Language Association of Secondary and Elementary Schools) is the only Chinese teachers' organization for secondary and elementary schools. You can post your job listing for a Chinese teacher through CLASS.

Ping Wu. Re: [nandu] Starting a Chinese Program. Improving Early Language Learning listserv (nandu@caltalk.cal.org, 8 Jan 2012).

---
You may have more success contacting Chinese language professionals directly at Chinese language associations. Some of these websites list telephone numbers and email addresses to contact:

I. CHINESE LANGUAGE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

1. CATA--Chinese American Teachers Association.
http://www.cateachers.org

2. CLTA--Chinese Language Teachers Association.
http://clta-us.org and the Greater New York chapter of CLTA:
http://www.clta-gny.org

Check for the CLTA chapter in your state.

3. CLASS--Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools.
http://classk12.org

4. NCACLS--National Council of Associations of Chinese Language Schools.
http://www.ncacls.org

5. TACT--The Association of Chinese Teachers.
http://www.tactsf.org

6. TCSOL--Teachers of Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages.
http://www.tcsol.us/research

II. Also, you can also check for Chinese language professionals at other language organization websites, such as the ACTFL or MLA.

III. Don't forget that you might be able to get "outside" funding for your program through Chinese businesses, chambers of commerce and trade associations from Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore--check out the TCSOL site to get more ideas.

IV. There are also the Chinese instructors/professors at local colleges and universities. They also have valuable contacts in academia, who just might "know someone who knows someone", who can help to fund your program and find teachers. Also, the foreign language departments of the universities can also work cooperatively with your school district, and supply advanced undergraduate and graduate students as teaching interns.

Dell, C. [nandu] Starting a Chinese Program. Improving Early Language Learning listserv (nandu@caltalk.cal.org, 9 Jan 2012).