Creating Effective K-12 Chinese World Language Programs in Urban US School Districts: The Chicago Public Schools Model

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Creating Effective K-12 Chinese World Language
Programs in Urban US School Districts The
Chicago Public Schools Model

• Chicago Public SchoolsOffice of Language and
  Cultural EducationChicagos Chinese Connections
  (C3) ProgramRobert Davis, Director

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Chicago Public SchoolsAt a Glance

• 623 Schools citywide
• 481 Elementary Schools
• 115 High Schools
• 420,982 students
• 44,417employees
• 85.6 students from low income families
• 57,740 ELLs (13.7)

• 80,954 students studying a world language
• 26,205 Elementary
• 54,749 High School
• 16 Languages Offered
• Arabic, Bosnian, Cantonese, French, German,
  Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin,
  Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu,
  American Sign Language

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Chinese World Language Program in Chicago Public
Schools

• Began in 1999
• Pre K 12 Program
• 17 elementary schools
• 11 high schools
• 6,000 students
• 38 full time teachers
• All teachers meet NCLB qualifications
• Full support from Chicagos Mayor and business
  community
• Recognized as model program by the Han Ban
• Largest such program in USA

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Why Chicago?

• Why not Chicago?
• Full support from Mayor Daley and City of Chicago
  Offices
• Strong administrative support and vision in CPS
• Full support from Chicagos business and cultural
  community
• Active collaboration with Chicagos bilingual and
  newcomer community
• Sister cities with Shanghai and Shenyang
• Strong tradition of bilingual and second language
  education
• Increased focus on Chicago as a major
  international destination
• Strong network of teachers

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Why Mandarin Chinese?

1. Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in
   the world, with over 2 billion speakers in
   Mainland China alone. 21 of the people in the
   world read Chinese while 8.3 read English.
2. Most requested language from Chicago parents
3. Most requested language from Chicagos business
   community
4. Identified as a Critical Language
5. Unlike the majority of alphabetic languages,
   which use only the left brain, learning Chinese
   and Chinese characters requires the use of both
   sides of the brain, stimulating both analytical
   and creative thinking.
6. The future is now, dont wait

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Who Studies Chinese in Chicago?

• Elementary
• 35.44 African American
• 34.98 Hispanic
• 19.11 White
• 9.88 Asian
• 0.53 Native American
• 0.07 Multi-racial
• High School
• 34.01 Asian
• 31.56 Hispanic
• 20.83 African American
• 12.71 White
• 0.72 Multi-racial
• 0.17 Native American

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What is the Goal of K-12 Chinese WL Program?

• To provide students from every racial and
  economic background with the tools to be active
  players in the global marketplace
• To expand traditional offerings in K-12 to
  include more content on China and East Asia
• To meet our communities needs
• To create a community of language learners and
  instructors
• To integrate Chinese into the regular curriculum
• To meet both Illinois and national learning
  standards
• To raise the profile of Chicago as an
  international city and the hub of US-China
  business and cultural activity

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Challenges

• Misconceptions
• Illinois State Board of Education Certification
  Issues
• Lack of certified teachers in the USA
• Teacher recruitment from China
• Lack of excellent teaching resources for Chinese
• Funding Issues
• Encouraging students

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What Makes the Curriculum Unique?

• Made by teachers, for teachers
• Emphasis on differentiated instruction
• A complete K-12 Chinese curriculum for
  non-Chinese speaking learners
• Teacher friendly - Easy to use
• Practical Modify the Illinois Learning
  Standards to fit the special characteristics of
  Chinese Language
• Meets both Illinois and National Standards
• Integrates Chinese WL content into the general
  K-12 curriculum
• Integrates culture, encourages collaboration

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Identifying Resources

• The City of Chicago
• Chicagos Business Community
• (e.g. Motorola, SOM Architecture)
• The Confucius Institute in Chicago
• Sister Cities International
• The Han Ban
• Chinese Education Consulate in Chicago
• Partner Schools in China
• China American Service League
• Chinese Mutual Aid Association
• Volunteers
• Midwest US-China Association

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Media Features48 Features Since 2005
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Looking Forward

• Launch K-12 curriculum
• Expansion of program
• Chinese Summer Language Institute in Shanghai
• STARTALK student and teacher programs
• Teacher to Teacher Program
• City of Chicago Office in Shanghai
• Increased fundraising

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How to Find Out More

• Confucius Institute in Chicago
• www.confuciusinstitutechicago.org
• Chicago Public Schools
• www.cps.k12.il.us
• Office of Language and Cultural Education
• www.olce.org
• Media www.confuciusinstitutechicago.org/media
• E-mail confucius_at_cps.k12.il.us

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THANK YOU!!!!XIE XIE NINMEN!!!

• Special thanks to CAIS and to our corporate
  sponsors
• Motorola Foundations and
• Skidmore, Owings and Merrill