Developing Global Competence for a Changing World

Learning Chinese inNew York Schools

A Report From the New York Task Force on Chinese Language and

Culture Initiatives

About the Report

The Importance of the New York-China Relationship

Learning Chinese in New York: Opportunities and Challenges

Goals and Recommendations

Growth of New York State’s Exports

Tourism

Daily flights to Hong Kong, Beijing Shanghai and Taipei – more than any other in Eastern U.S.

27.3% market share as a destination for Chinese visitors to the U.S.

40 million Chinese with financial resources to visit the U.S.; this number to reach 100 million by 2020

In 2007, Chinese visitors spent $2.56 billion in the U.S.; that’s $6,000 per visitor

Languages Other than English Spoken in New York Homes

Sending and Housing University Students

Artistic and Cultural Exchanges

Learning Chinese in New York: Opportunities and Challenges

National trend in growth of Chinese

State and city initiatives

New York City situation

Challenges

National Trends

2005-2008, 200% increase in the number of Chinese programs

32% increase of students taking AP Chinese from 2007 to 2008 (3261 in 2007; 4311 in 2008)

What Other States and Cities Are Doing

Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin have made expanding Chinese a priority

At least 12 states now have Memoranda of Understanding with Mainland China and/or Taiwan

Connecticut has over 100 schools linked with schools in Shandong Province; Indiana, North Carolina, and Vermont are pursuing similar large-scale school partnership

Chicago has 12,000 students learning Chinese, 3 in every hundred; that ratio in NYC is about 5 in every thousand

In PerspectiveChinese in New York

Major Challenges

Lack of public awareness and policy leadership.

Decentralized decision-making so that choices about which languages to offer lie with individual school districts in the state or with building principals in New York City, making it hard to build capacity in less commonly taught languages.

Lack of a pool of qualified teachers.

Task Force Goals and Recommendations - Overview

1. A Call to Action: Raise awareness of the importance of modernizing New York’s education system for the new global realities

2. Develop a Strategic Plan: Using Chinese as an example for all world languages, create a roadmap to build capacity across the state for effective Chinese language programs PK-16

3. Enhance Teacher Preparation and Support: Recruit and prepare high quality Chinese language teachers, and provide mentoring and professional development

4. Expand Cross-Cultural Collaborations between New York and Chinese-speaking regions: Ensure that students can expand and use their knowledge of Chinese language and culture in the real world

Goal 1: A Call to Action

Leaders from the policy, education, business and parent communities should:

•Create a state and city international education initiative, with an effective leader, bringing together stakeholders to raise awareness of the importance of modernizing New York’s education system for the new global realities

•Utilize available multimedia and technology resources to promote awareness and information-sharing

Goal 2: Develop a Strategic Plan

A task force should be convened to:

• Collect system-wide data on existing language programs, identifying gaps

• Develop a “roadmap” with specific goals, beginning in elementary school, including:

• Online opportunities• Statewide curriculum framework• Performance assessment • Program evaluation standards

Goal 3: Enhance Teacher Preparation and Support

• Districts, teacher preparation institutions and state agencies should work together to recruit, train, certify, and mentor additional teachers, drawing particularly on the state’s heritage and native speakers of Chinese

• State and City agencies should develop and clearly communicate straightforward pathways to certification

• Higher education institutions should create teacher preparation and professional development programs and increase awareness of scholarship opportunities

• Heritage language communities should assist in dissemination of information and recruitment

Goal 4: Expand Cross-Cultural Collaborations

Leaders from the policy, education, business, and parent communities should expand cross-cultural collaborations, including by:

• Creating in-person or virtual exchanges

• Forming collaborative relationships

• Funding scholarships

Task Force Goals and Recommendations - Overview

1. A Call to Action: Raise awareness of the importance of modernizing New York’s education system for the new global realities

2. Develop a Strategic Plan: Using Chinese as an example for all world languages, create a roadmap to build capacity across the state for effective Chinese language programs PK-16

3. Enhance Teacher Preparation and Support: Recruit and prepare high quality Chinese language teachers, and provide mentoring and high quality professional development

4. Expand Cross-Cultural Collaborations between New York and Chinese-speaking regions: Ensure that students can expand and use their knowledge of Chinese language and culture in the real world