Miami, November 7, 2013 – A prominent resource for all things China, Miami Dade College’s (MDC) prestigious Confucius Institute, in partnership with the Chinese Language Teacher Association-Florida Chapter (CLTA-FL), will host its annual professional development workshop for area Chinese language teachers on Sunday, Nov. 10. The program will take place at Florida International University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) Building. The event, which includes lunch, is free for CLTA members and $25 for non-members. All Chinese language educators and anyone interested in Chinese language instruction are encouraged to attend and can register at http://www.clta-fl.net.
Titled “Integrating Culture and Arts into the Chinese Language Curriculum,”this year’s program is geared towards the cultural understanding and professional development of K-12 and college Chinese language teachers. CI faculty members will give presentations on the ways that art forms—such as music, gardening and architecture, among others—can serve as tools that facilitate classroom instruction and drive student performance on Chinese language proficiency tests. The sessions will also provide methods of creating dynamic learning environments, Chinese proficiency testing (YCT/HSK) preparation, best practices, and ways to cultivate authentic cultural immersion in the classroom–all by way of arts integration.
Since its inception in 2010, the Institute has been a much-needed resource center for Chinese language educators and the region at large. With only a small percentage of school-based Chinese language programs in South Florida, the need to sustain the offering of critical language-instruction such as Chinese is steep. The annual workshop addresses this need by strengthening already existing Chinese language programs and improving the expertise of Chinese language instructors through state-of-the-art technology and pedagogical resources.
“With innovative programs that integrate arts and culture into language instruction, we equip Chinese language educators with the tools they need to maximize learning,” said CI Director Dr. Jim Yu. “The Institute empowers these educators to consistently produce outstanding educational outcomes throughout the region.”
CI’s 2013 Chinese Language Teacher Training Workshop
- WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 10, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- WHERE: FIU School of International and Public Affairs Building, Room 100 11200 SW 8 St.
For more information, please contact Dr. Jim Yu at xyu@mdc.edu or 305-237-7581.