Summer 2007Connecticut

Marty Abbott, ACTFL Director of Education Carol Chen-Lin, Director of Choate

Rosemary Hall Program Janice Dowd, Project Director Yu-Lan Lin, Executive Director of CLASS Yuanchao Meng, Coordinator of Summer

Choate Rosemary Hall Program Rita Oleksak, Glastonbury Director of

Foreign Languages

Two groups ◦ July 5 – 13◦ July 15 – 26

Training ◦ Standards◦ ACTFL Performance Guidelines◦ MOPI ◦ Strategies for using the target language◦ Practice teaching with Glastonbury High School

students

Classes at Choate Rosemary Hall and Glastonbury High School (a half hour distance between schools)

Choate Rosemary Hall: 4 classes (two beginner, one intermediate, one advanced)

Glastonbury: 3 classes (beginner, intermediate, and advanced)

Many teachers expressed the desire to return the next year to learn more.

In 2008, we would like to provide them with◦ A deeper understanding of the Standards and

standards-based lessons, focusing on the three modes of communication

◦ Concrete uses of technology◦ Hands-on teaching and observation of other

teachers◦ A practicum experience◦ Assessment and rubrics

Teachers also created their own opportunities. They networked and still send emails asking for advice or giving advice (copying many of the program organizers).

Teachers comment in emails on reading and re-reading materials given to them.

Many students were going to continue their study at their respective schools.

Many students wanted to come back the next year.

Students continued to correspond with the teacher in Chinese after the program ended.

Many teachers return to China over the summer. Finding staff at times was difficult for teacher training and for teaching students; employed some graduate students.

Other teacher trainers and teachers are involved in overseas projects.

Need to train more leaders in Chinese language pedagogy

Mixture of levels among teachers◦ Some spoke English fluently; some were still

working on oral skills◦ Some still working on their writing skills ◦ All non-native Chinese speakers were advanced—

they participated in the MOPI training and were interviewed during the weekend course

◦ Great environment for non-native speakers to improve their Chinese—they were immersed in the language

Student levels◦ Beginners◦ Intermediate◦ Advanced◦ Heritage speakers◦ Student assistants

The first few days of class, some students changed level