"Amanda James is one of the very finest students I have taught, from the time I started in the Fall of 1970 to the present day. She is intelligent, disciplined, trustworthy. Her attitude towards her studies is one of seriousness and commitment to success.” “She was able to maintain the highest level of achievement in the extremely taxing major of Chinese Language and Literature, while pursuing with equal success training in the Air Force ROTC program. Upon graduation, she was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Air Force, winning two awards, while simulataneously being invited to join Phi Beta Kappa, the supreme academic honor society." --Jonathan Chaves
As a graduate of the Columbian College at GW with a major in Chinese, I am so glad to have the opportunity to return to Beijing, where I studied abroad last year. I will be a 2010-2011 Princeton-in-Asia fellow working for a non-profit organization called the JUMP! Foundation. I recently attended orientation at Princeton University where I met over 100 other fellows who will be teaching at schools and universities or working in the fields of journalism, international development and business in seventeen Asian countries. In my fellowship next year, I look forward to combining my studies of Chinese language and culture and the skills I gained interning at two non-profits in DC. If you would like to read more about Princeton-in-Asia, you can visit http://piaweb.princeton.edu/, and if you would like to read my blog that I will be keeping in Beijing, you can find it at http://lizheller.blogspot.com/. I'd like to thank Professor Jonathan Chaves, my academic advisor and professor in the Chinese department, for making my experience at GW so great!
Mr. Caleb Dependahl, a GW student double majoring in Asian Studies and Chinese language and literature, participated in the 9th Chinese Bridge Proficiency Competition and won the third place prize and special performance award. He impressed audience with his sense of humor as well as his exceptional speaking skills. Here is the speech part of his competition (videotaped by Phyllis Zhang).
At the reception after the contest in the Education Office of Chinese Embassy in Washington DC, Caleb was asked to give his talent show performance again. His Chinese fluency and humor impressed everyone. (Left, Xu Lin,Director General of Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters, China. Photo by Gengyun Wei, a Hanban visiting teaching fellow, who coached Caleb for this competition.)
with contributions from Caleb Dependahl and Amanda James
Photos by Phyllis Zhang and Gengyun Wei
The 9th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition at the Washington site was held on April 16 at the University of Maryland. Twenty American students from eight universities competed in this event. Two GWU students, Caleb Dependahl (戴永凯）and Amanda James (蒋爱梦）participated in the competition. Caleb won the Third Place Prize and also a Special Performance Award (the only one among the six winners to win this special performance award). Amanda received Honorable Mention. Their excellent performance impressed all the participants and audience. The First Place Prize winner was David Hunsaker from Brigham Young University.
Amanda James, Chinese Language & Literature Major at GWU.
"Participating in the 2010 Chinese Bridge Competition was a fantastic experience. I spent several weeks preparing for the presentation, studying questions about Chinese language and culture, and getting ready for the talent portion of the contest, but even in putting in all that time I had a blast! Wei Laoshi put in a huge amount of time and effort to help me prepare, and getting together with her to study and go over things was so much fun and really rewarding. Not only was preparing fun, but it also expanded my knowledge of Chinese culture and helped me improve my Chinese language skills. The competition itself was great as well. There were twenty different students there from all over the country and all with different backgrounds. It was fun getting the chance to talk with them and hear about their experiences with Chinese and see their presentations. Some had lived in China for several years, and others had only just started studying in college a few years ago, so there were people there at varying levels, but we could all understand each other and our learning experiences and enjoy each others presentations and talents. I truly had a great time, learned a lot, and met some fantastic people!" --Amanda
Caleb Dependahl, Asian Studies; Chinese Lang. & Lit. Double Major at GWU
"大家好！ I can honestly say it was an honor to represent The George Washington University at the 9th annual Chinese Bridge competition. I have felt completely welcome and at home in the Chinese Department since my first week at GW. As I started preparing for the competition, I felt that I was not only participating to improve my Chinese, but that it was also a small opportunity for me to thank everyone in the Chinese Language Department.
I started preparing for the 汉语桥 competition at least two months before the event. From day one I practiced under the guidance of Wei Laoshi (魏耕耘老师). I know for a fact that if it weren't for her, I never would have attempted the performance I later gave and succeeded in. I don't know how many hours I spent preparing alone and with Professor Wei, but it all paid off in the end!
I wasn't sure what to expect from my fellow competitors at the Chinese Bridge competition. I had only heard that the year before there was a very clear line between the students with advanced Chinese and beginner level Chinese. I was pleasantly surprised to find several other students with a higher level of Chinese like me! The competition was very competitive and very close. In the end I finished amongst the top competitors, but more importantly, I have become close friends with some of the other students I met. Furthermore, my performance at the Chinese Bridge competition has led to several other opportunities that I never even expected!
I strongly encourage any student with interest to participate in the next Chinese Bridge competition. Through it, I discovered talents that I never knew I possessed, and realized that my potential in Chinese is far greater than I was aware of. It's difficult to truly communicate to American students the value of knowing the Chinese language. If I've learned anything thus far, it is that you never know where Chinese may take you!" -- Caleb
Gengyun Wei, Coordinator of the GW Competition Team
Ms. Gengyun Wei or Wei laoshi [center], was the coordinator of the GW competition team. A star teacher at her home school (Beijing Language and Culture University), Wei laoshi has been teaching at GWU as a Visiting Teaching Fellow for two academic years (2008-09, 2009-10). She also coordinated the first GW team for this international event in Spring 2009, and won a Third Place Price. This year, Wei laoshi spent a lot of time with the two GW competitors, helping them improve their presentations and language performance. She enjoyed working with these two excellent students. "My time was well spent and worthwhile! Nothing could make me happier than when I saw how they were appreciated by so many people at the Competition. That gave me the greatest joy for being a teacher!"
Other GW faculty members also attended the competition to cheer for the competitors. Ms. Jun Zhang (far left) was Caleb's teacher last fall. Ms. Gengyun Wei (second from left) was Caleb's tutor for this competition. Ms. Miaochun Wei (center) helped videotape part of the event, and Prof. Hongyuan Dong served as judge of this event with four other Professors from other universities. Prof. Phyllis Zhang, Director of the GW Chinese language program, also attended the morning session of the competition.
Project IMUSE (Initiating Mutual Understanding through Student Exchange) is a nonprofit organization offering undergraduate and graduate students around the United States with a unique fellowship opportunity in China. Each fellow will spend 10 days with other fellows from around the US and China, exploring US-China relations by attending events, learning from each other, and exploring their role in the future of their countries.
Fellowship delegates will be provided will full living accommodations in Beijing for two weeks as they participate in a series of group discussions, cultural activities, speaker events, and guided tours that will promote both their understanding of China and of their Chinese peers. All events will be conducted in English and no Knowledge of Chinese is necessary. Please refer to the website for more information:
We're thrilled to announce our new year-long program in Yunnan Province, China, departing in August 2010. Volunteers in the program will serve as full-time English language teachers in universities or middle schools in Yunnan in direct partnership with the provincial government, focusing on developing and building confidence in students' spoken English ability. Our volunteers will receive housing in teachers' apartments provided by the host schools, as well as a month-long orientation in China at the beginning of service.
A non-profit, non-governmental organization, WorldTeach facilitates long-term teaching opportunities for volunteer teachers in the developing world. The experience of living and working abroad in a host community is a chance to make a lasting impact while exploring another corner of the globe, gaining valuable cross-cultural and language skills.
More information about the year-long Yunnan program, including a program profile, country information, FAQs, sample placements and volunteers stories, can be found on the China Yunnan Year page on our website at: http://www.worldteach.org/programs/china_yunnan_year/
Please don't hesitate to contact us with any inquiries about our programs at info@worldteach.org.
WorldTeach Center for International Development Harvard University 79 John F. Kennedy St., Box 122 Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
The Sigur Center Cordially Invites Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors Interested in Asia To An:
Undergraduate Open House
Learn about Asia-specific fellowships, scholarships, summer study abroad opportunities, career and academic advising, Sigur Center activities, and the Elliott School's BA and MA Asian Studies degree programs!
If you are a freshmen, sophomore, or junior of any major interested in Asia and want to learn more about the Asian Studies program and other opportunities, we invite you to attend this Open House to learn more!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 4:00 - 5:00 PM Chung-wen Shih Conference Room Sigur Center for Asian Studies 1957 E Street, NW, Suite 503
The China Education Initiative (CEI) is currently recruiting graduating seniors to serve as fully-paid teaching fellows for the 2010-2012 term.
The China Education Initiative (CEI)
Established in 2008 under the auspices of the Ford Foundation, Princeton University, and Tsinghua University, CEI is an innovative non-profit organization taking a unique approach to eliminating educational inequity in China by enlisting the US and China's most promising future leaders in the effort. Through the institution of a US-China Teaching Fellows program, CEI meets the pressing need for exceptional teachers in China's understaffed low-income rural schools, while fostering a constituency of young leaders positioned to advance the cause of educational equity and effect long-term systemic change.
The China Education Initiative:
·Provides exceptional and enthusiastic teachers to schools in need. CEI recruits, trains, and supports outstanding graduates from premiere Chinese and US universities, assigning them as Teaching Fellows two-year posts in understaffed low-income schools;
·Works at the forefront of China-US relations as the first and only program to pair Chinese and American university graduates in a long-term service initiative;
·Promotes cross-cultural collaboration by partnering US and Chinese Teaching Fellows in four-person teams (2 US and 2 Chinese Fellows), and connecting their economically disadvantaged and often socially isolated students to a world outside – yet intimately linked to – their own communities;
·Fosters an internationally connected cohort of young leaders who understand firsthand the challenges facing students in low-income Chinese communities, and who share the insight and conviction to advance the cause of educational equity.
Global & National Partnerships - CEI works closely with a network of renowned US, Chinese, and international partners, and is:
·The only program in China collaborating with Teach America’s global partner, Teach For All;
·The first non-governmental accredited full-time teacher sourcing channel in China, as designated by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Education;
·Drawing on Princeton in Asia's more than 100 years of experience as a partner institution;
·Working in partnership with China's premiere teaching training and pedagogy research institution, Beijing Normal University, and with the Dartmouth College Teacher Education Program, to implement a comprehensive teacher training and support system;
·Operating under the strategic guidance of McKinsey & Company.
CEI is offering a unique opportunity for promising future leaders to serve in two-year teaching fellowships in China's most indigent rural schools, while living and working side-by-side with their Chinese counterparts.
For those who are not graduating seniors, we are also currently recruiting for Campus Coordinators. To apply sumbit a cover letter and resume by March 31st, 2010 to internships@chinaeducationinitiative.org
The application deadline, March 10, 2010, is fast approaching! To submit an online application or to find more information, please visit our website at www.chinaeducationinitiative.org
You may want to try this Chinese-English dictionary on your iPhone or iPod Touch. It's called Pleco. It works pretty well. We hope you will appreciate this app. Here is the website: http://www.pleco.com/
Check out this program if you are interested in visiting Taiwan and study Mandarin... ------------------------
Explore Taiwan - Language and Culture Tour Explore Taiwan & Taipei Experience Traditional & Modern Culture Exercise Mandarin Chinese Expand your view on Taiwan Exchange knowledge with the Local People and Customs Earn the Certificate of Study upon program completion
2010 TLI Summer Immersion Program
Period: 4-week study, 2 sessions available - July (Jul 5 - 30) and August (Aug 2 - 27)
Courses: 15 hrs per week of Chinese classes and 9 hrs of cultural excursions
Local Field Trips: Taipei City tours including Ximending commercial circle, 101 Tower, Baitou hot spring, Gongguan-Taida tea house
Out-of-Town Trips: Shengkeng Old Town (Tofu DIY Workshop), Jiufeng Old Town (Gold Mining), Sansia Folk Arts (Indigo Dye Workshop), Yilang Traditional Arts Center (Life in the old days)
The 2010 TLI Summer Immersion Program is designed for all levels of adult students who wish to participate in both Mandarin classes and cultural activities. The July session begins Jul 5 - 30 and the August begins Aug 2- 27. Every morning begins the group Mandarin classes beginning 9:30 am - 12:20 pm (M-F) followed by afternoon cultural excursions taking place 1:30 pm - 4:20 pm. The weekly excursions consist of field trips (i.e., 3 hrs) to cultural institutions within Taipei City limits and half-day tours (i.e., 6 hrs) to nearby towns and surrounding cities. Experiential Learning Approach, as one of the key program features of TLI culture course, makes learning more transferrable to real-life applications by moving inside cultural workshops to relating institutions and scenic spots of interest.
Fee: US$ 1,017 all-inclusive (Registration fee, textbook, accompanying material, culture course handouts, mini-itinerary, transportation to scenic spots, tour guide and accidental insurance).
Certificate: All participants will receive the Certificate of Study upon program completion.
Promotion: No registration fee (US$ 17) for early birds. Sign up before May 3, 2010 to receive the promotional offer!
Best regards, Jessica Kuo Director of International Communications Taipei Language Institute 4F, No. 50, Roosevelt Road, Sec. 3 Taipei, Taiwan 100, ROC Tel: (886-2) 2367-8228 ext. 820 Fax: (886-2) 2363-4857 E-mail: tli.taipei@msa.hinet.net Website: http://www.tli.com.tw
Think China offers high school and college students an opportunity to intern with a top company in Shanghai, China for five weeks during the summer. They also participate in evening and weekend excursions while attending seminars, workshops, and participating in community service projects. All of this will give them an opportunity to continue speaking Chinese while preparing them for being members of a global society and increasing their marketability for universities and their future careers.
Forwarded from the headquarters of Chinese Language Teachers Association (CLTA)
Teach English & Study Mandarin in Shenzhen
Spend a year teaching English and learning Chinese in Shenzhen. This large, well-established, government-sponsored program is now in its13th year. Shenzhen is a Mandarin-speaking city. It is the only program of its kind. Preparatory training at Peking University includes the TEFL in ChinaCertificate training and Mandarin classes (4 levels available) in August. Teach English September - June in a Shenzhen public school, and continue your study of Mandarin in our own courses, taught by Shenzhen University faculty.
Salary, housing, and contract bonus Housing & tours during the training On-Site Coordinators Airline tickets reimbursed Paid 3-week vacation Jan/Feb
Requirements: College degree (by July 2010), native speaker of English with citizenship USA / Canada / UK / Ireland / Australia / New Zealand
All majors are welcome. Teaching experience is not required. Prior study of Chinese is not required.
For information and an application: www.chinaprogram.org E-mail: china.program@gmail.com
The Associated Colleges in China (ACC) is now recruiting FULBRIGHT-HAYS fellows to participate in our ACC Field Studies Program in the summer of 2010. This is a full scholarship program designed for your advanced level students.
The quickly-approaching application deadline is March 1, 2010. Attached is a flyer about this scholarship opportunity for you to pass along to your Chinese language students who are at advanced level and are interested in studying in China through a different venue.
For more information please visit www.allianceglobaled.org
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Scholarships available for Summer and Fall 2010 China Programs
The Alliance for Global Education is pleased to announce study abroad scholarship funding from the IFSA Foundation that will allow us to award scholarships of up to $6,000 for the 2010 summer and fall programs. These will be need-based; students from non-traditional majors or minority backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
There are also additional study abroad scholarship funds available for disbursement in smaller amounts. Students who have been accepted into an Alliance program are eligible to apply for study abroad scholarship awards of up to $2,000 per student for the fall term and up to $1,000 per student for the summer term. Awards are based on financial need.
The Alliance offers intensive Chinese language, language and area studies, and international business programs in China. Programs are located in Xi'an, Shanghai, and Beijing.
Scholarship deadlines:
Summer 2010 term - deadline is April 1 Fall 2010 term- deadline is March 15
For more information, please visit: www.allianceglobaled.org/application_and_financial_info/scholarships/
Application deadlines for Alliance programs in China: Summer 2010 term- deadline is March 1 Fall 2010 term- deadline is April 15
The Alliance for Global Education currently offers the following academic programs:
*Xi'an: Art, History, and the Silk Road at Xi'an International Studies University
*China Now: Development, Politics, and Social Change at Beijing Language and Culture University
*International Business at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
*Intensive Language at Fudan University
*Contemporary Chinese Society and Language at Fudan University
*Engineering and Society: Summer Term in Shanghai at Fudan University
Explore this newly launched website to enrich your Chinese learning experience with a variety of forms: online lessons, audio & video, tests, and much more....
