Expanding Chinese Expanding Chinese Language Capacity in Language Capacity in

Washington State: Washington State: RecommendationsRecommendations

Notes for Washington LearnsNotes for Washington LearnsBy Michele Anciaux Aoki, Ph.D.By Michele Anciaux Aoki, Ph.D.

April, 2006April, 2006

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Recommendations for Recommendations for Developing TeachersDeveloping Teachers

Develop a cross-disciplinary M.A. in the Teaching Develop a cross-disciplinary M.A. in the Teaching of Chinese at the University of Washington.of Chinese at the University of Washington.

Offer summer institutes to prepare teachers of Offer summer institutes to prepare teachers of Chinese (from the U.S. and China) through a Chinese (from the U.S. and China) through a collaboration between China and our state collaboration between China and our state colleges and universities.colleges and universities.

Create a new Certificate in Early Language Create a new Certificate in Early Language Teaching and Learning to be offered through Teaching and Learning to be offered through state community colleges.state community colleges.

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Recommendations for Recommendations for Rigorous High School CurriculumRigorous High School Curriculum Align recommended high school Align recommended high school

graduation requirements to college graduation requirements to college admissions standards by adding "Two admissions standards by adding "Two credits (or equivalent proficiency) in a credits (or equivalent proficiency) in a World Language" to the recommended World Language" to the recommended high school graduation requirements in high school graduation requirements in HB2706 “Rigorous High School HB2706 “Rigorous High School Curriculum” when it is reintroduced next Curriculum” when it is reintroduced next session in the Legislature.session in the Legislature.

Work with the UW to develop appropriate Work with the UW to develop appropriate proficiency assessments for students to proficiency assessments for students to demonstrate “equivalent proficiency.”demonstrate “equivalent proficiency.”

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Recommendations for Recommendations for State-Level LeadershipState-Level Leadership

Fund a full-time position at the Fund a full-time position at the Office of Superintendent of Public Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to support World Instruction to support World Languages and International Languages and International Education.Education.

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Specific ResponsibilitiesSpecific Responsibilities

• Collecting and disseminating information about best practices Collecting and disseminating information about best practices in language learning, teaching, and assessment, including in language learning, teaching, and assessment, including experiences in the award-winning language immersion experiences in the award-winning language immersion programs in our regionprograms in our region

• Working with the state-funded Digital Learning Commons to Working with the state-funded Digital Learning Commons to provide a technology-based portal to resources on learning provide a technology-based portal to resources on learning Chinese (and other languages and cultures)Chinese (and other languages and cultures)

• Offering training in high-quality language proficiency Offering training in high-quality language proficiency assessment to teachers and schoolsassessment to teachers and schools

• Helping language teachers align their curriculum and Helping language teachers align their curriculum and assessments to the voluntary World Language Standards assessments to the voluntary World Language Standards adopted by Washington stateadopted by Washington state

• Assisting teachers and schools in developing strong virtual Assisting teachers and schools in developing strong virtual exchanges with China through programs like iEARN exchanges with China through programs like iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) (International Education and Resource Network)