Central Catholic administrators, students delve into Chinese culture |
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Wednesday, 12 August 2009 01:00 |
TOLEDO—Central Catholic High School’s principal, Michael Kaucher, and director of curriculum, Marie Arter, were among 400 United States educators who traveled to China June 22-July 1 to learn about Chinese culture and language in an effort to build and expand Chinese language programs in U.S. schools.
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| Central Catholic’s director of curriculum, Marie Arter, and principal, Mike Kaucher, visited the Great Wall of China during their recent educational tour of the country. (Photo courtesy of Central Catholic High School) |
The weeklong educational tour represented a rare opportunity for school decision-makers to experience China firsthand, learn about the culture and see the dramatic pace of change under way in the world’s most populated nation. The Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters sponsored the trip in partnership with the College Board.
Beyond the benefit of cultural enrichment, this tour is expected to provide incentives and strategies for the U.S. educators to support the growth of Chinese programs in their own schools and districts.
Educators had the opportunity to meet with Chinese education leaders, build sister school and city ties and network with other U.S. school leaders who are bringing Chinese language programs to their districts and schools. Delegates visited Beijing and traveled in small groups to other cities and provinces to meet with local education commissions.
“Central Catholic High School will be offering Chinese to our International Baccalaureate students in the fall,” said Ms. Arter. “This trip has helped me to focus on the similarities between our countries in this global community.”
Central Catholic was designated an International Baccalaureate World School in February 2009.
In July, six Central Catholic students who are participating in the International Baccalaureate program this fall traveled to China to participate in the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp for U.S. high school students.
The students included Danielle Barnes, Elizabeth Burnard, Connor Langenderfer, Jason Mossing, Zachary Sullivan and Gabrielle Vasquez, and the group also included a Central Catholic French teacher, Mary Sue Timar, and an Ottawa Hills student, Sean Stein.
The Chinese Bridge Summer Camp is designed to promote exchange between the youth of China and the U.S. and enhance the U.S. high school students’ understanding of Chinese language and culture.
During their trip, the Central Catholic students studied in traditional classrooms, participated in sports and cultural activities and explored various Chinese historical points of interest. Their trip was also sponsored by Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters.
Since 2006, the College Board and Hanban have collaborated on a multi-year initiative to build and expand Chinese language programs in U.S. schools. In addition to the educational tour, which has been offered annually the past four years, the collaboration features other programs especially intended to help educators create or grow a Chinese language and culture program in their schools or districts.
Established by the Chinese government in 1987, Hanban is the nation’s official agency authorized to promote Chinese language and culture internationally.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 January 2010 13:59 |
