Berkeley Language Center Spring 2006 Lecture Series
The K-16 Chinese Flagship Program: A Model for the Future
by Madeline Spring, UO Chinese Flagship K-16 Academic Director, Center for Applied Second Language Studies, University of Oregon, Eugene OR
The Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) at the University of Oregon and the Portland Public School District (PPS), co-beneficiaries of a generous National Security Education Program (NSEP) grant, are collaborating to develop a language and content rich K-16 Mandarin Chinese learning experience for students. This unique program is the first in the nation and will serve as a national model for future NSEP programs. The expectation is that Flagship scholars will learn, grow, challenge, and support each other through the challenges of balancing a demanding course load that includes learning new academic content, at all levels, while advancing Chinese language skills. They will also be actively involved in sharing the target culture with the larger university community.
The National Flagship Language Program is an impetus for changing how languages are taught in the United States. One of the key features of this project is reduplicability. From its inception, we have sought to design the Oregon-based program in Chinese so that it can be re-created elsewhere. In addition we anticipate that many of the program design elements will be transferable to the instruction of other languages. In this talk I will provide a description of the program model and discuss some factors involved in this type of program, such as curriculum development and articulation, teacher training and mentorship, and assessment.
Monday, May 1, 2006
4-6pm, 370 Dwinelle Hall