Confucius Institute at Alfred University Hosts the 3rd National Conference on Chinese Immersion Programs

Submitted by ciau on Tue, 10/08/2019 - 04:15

On September 28, 2019, the 3rd National Conference on Chinese Immersion Programs was hosted by the Confucius Institute at Alfred University (CIAU). Nearly fifty experts, scholars and Chinese teachers attended the conference, coming from China, Canada and across the U.S. (California, Washington, Utah, Michigan, Maryland, New York, Vermont, Maine, and Washington, D.C.). The theme of this year’s conference was "Qualification, Cooperation and Innovation in Chinese Immersion Instruction".

Distinguished guests attending the opening and closing ceremonies of the conference in Nevins Theater, Powell Center, included Beth Ann Dobie, provost of Alfred University, Xulong Lai, Vice President of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Nancy Furlong, Director of AU’s Division of Modern Languages, Daisy Wu, Director of CIAU, and Wilfred Huang, former Director of CIAU.

Professor Wilfred Huang and Professor Nancy Furlong making opening remarks

Provost Beth Ann Dobie reviewed the achievements of CIAU in recent years. She spoke highly of the tai chi classes, the guzheng ensemble, and Chinese classes for their roles in promoting mutual cultural understanding while building bridges and friendships. CIAU provides AU students and the community with many opportunities to learn about Chinese culture and language.

Provost Beth Ann Dobie making opening remarks

Professor Xulong Lai extended his congratulations to the conference participants and his gratitude for the efforts of CIAU. He said that China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) will continue to support the development of CIAU.

Professor Xulong Lai making speech

Keynote addresses were given by Dr. Guofang Li from the University of British Columbia; Dr. Juefei Wang, Professor Emeritus, University of Vermont, and Program Director of the Freeman Foundation; Dr. Wenying Zhou from Michigan State University; and Dr. Chan Lü from the University of Washington.

Dr. Li talked about "Culturally Relevant Chinese Immersion Teaching". Her address defined the concept of "culture" in immersion teaching and put forward the relevant principles of cultural teaching and its application in Chinese immersion teaching. She pointed out that Chinese teachers need to present appropriate Chinese elements and stories to American Chinese learners.

Dr.Guofang Li making keynote address

Dr. Wang’s topic was "Chinese Language Instruction in the United States: Conditions and Challenges". He began by discussing characteristics of the American educational system, reviewed the history of American foreign language teaching, and pointed out the two major challenges to Chinese teaching: educational funding and the level of faculty. He noted that the Confucius Institute and Chinese teachers should know the challenges, look for areas of improvement, and strive to make changes.

Dr. Juefei Wang making keynote address

Dr. Lü gave a speech entitled "Academic Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension in a Chinese Immersion Program”. She shared data on Chinese immersion teaching in America and explained the Chinese vocabulary in combination with the characteristics of Chinese phonetic vocabulary and grammar.

Dr. Chan Lü making keynote address

The keynote speakers also had in-depth interactive exchanges with the attendees, answering the questions raised by the teachers in detail.

Panel discussion

In the afternoon, the attendees conducted in-depth and enthusiastic discussions on immersion Chinese teaching theory, classroom management, and cultural exchange. Several Chinese teachers shared their experiences regarding Chinese pedagogics and classroom management, music and games, and mind maps. For example, Eric Chipman from the Confucius Institute at the University of Utah introduced principles and specific teaching methods for combining listening, speaking, reading and writing with purposeful Chinese teaching. Yi Zhang, a Chinese teacher from the North Syracuse School District, talked about how to apply mind maps to Chinese immersion classes.

After the presentation sessions, Dr. Wenying Zhou gave a workshop entitled, "Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling". She believes that the most effective gateway to language acquisition is through fun. The key to fun is that the language elements taught are not only easy to understand, but also very interesting. She demonstrated the concept of "Total Physical Response" and its application, giving conference participants an opportunity to practice their storytelling skills.

Dr. Wenying Zhou making workshop

The conference provided a platform for researchers, teachers and administrators of Chinese immersion programs to promote the sustainable development of Chinese teaching in the United States.

In the evening, a concert, East Meets West, was held in Miller Theater. The guests, experts and teachers who attended the conference and many AU teachers and students came to the concert, as well as people living in surrounding communities.

Group photo

Provost Beth Ann Dobie welcomed the audience to the program.

A Tai Chi fan performance kicked off the concert. Teachers and students from Geneva City School District performed the Chinese children's songs, Looking for a Friend and Counting Ducks. David Fuller from the guzheng class played a solo, Evening Songs on the Fishing Boat, followed by Swordsman from the AU Guzheng Ensemble. The lovely China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) Dance Troupe performed Why Are the Flowers So Red and Oriental Jasmine. AU Chinese students read a traditional Chinese poem, Drinking Wine. Famous folk music artists from New York City, Tao Chen and Li Liu, played a traditional guqin and bamboo flute piece, Flowing Waters. Tao Chen also delighted the audience with fascinating facts about the Chinese bamboo flute and a bit of history regarding New Song of the Herdsmen and Trace of Bamboo. Jialin Fang, a volunteer with CIAU, served as accompanist for him and for a violin duet arranged by Daisy Wu played by two Alfred-Almond Central School students, Candy Zhou and Isabel Metz. The AU Chorus’s renditions of Scarborough Fair, Usuli Boat Song and The Youth Dance brought the concert to a climax. The wonderful performances invoked enthusiastic applause, showing the harmony between Chinese and American music, as well as the appreciation of Chinese and American people for one another.