Reporters, including some from China, observe a Mandarin language class at Walter Payton College Prep. The Chinese president will visit the school during his upcoming two-day trip to Chicago. (Chris Walker, Chicago Tribune / January 15, 2011 |
「芝加哥論壇報」說，中國國家主席胡錦濤這次訪美將在芝加哥停留兩天，行程包括參觀芝加哥與中國合作推動中文教學的中心「沃特‧佩頓大學預校」(Walter Payton College Prep)。
芝加哥公立學校號稱擁有美國最成功的中文教學計畫，而佩頓預校附設的孔子學院為學校和老師提供支援，以協助應付芝加哥和其他地方對漢語教學迅速擴大的需求。
胡錦濤20日和21日來訪，使芝加哥公立學校成為國際焦點。芝加哥孔子學院新院長盧珍(譯音Jane Lu)說：「我們的學生都很熱心學習。」
一些學生表示學中文是為了配合未來的事業發展。一名高中生說：「我想當醫生。說中文的人很多，因此學會中文將能幫助更多人。」
有些學生是想成為世界公民。15歲的威廉斯(Ferrin Williams)說：「我打算環球旅遊，而中國是我最先想去的地方之一。」
芝加哥孔子學院前任院長戴靜山(Robert Davis)，讚許芝加哥市長戴利(Richard Daley)和市政府率先與中國接觸，並體認藉著教育建立夥伴關係的潛能。
2006年戴利與美國各地教育代表前往中國，以實地瞭解漢語教學。佩頓預校就在那一年成立孔子學院，並成為唯一設在公立中小學的孔子學院。
戴靜山10年前協助佩頓成立漢語教學計畫時，想不到學生會急遽暴增。1999年開始提供中文課時，只有大約12個學生。現在芝加哥有42所公立學校提供中文課，共有1萬2000名學生。中文也成為芝加哥公立學校第二熱門的外語課。
現任大學理事會漢辦關係計畫執行主任的戴靜山說，根據最新統計資料，2004年美國有2萬192名學生學中文，2008年增加到5萬9880人。
Read more: 世界新聞網-北美華文新聞、華商資訊 – 芝加哥展現中文教學成果
For educators, the highlight of Chinese President Hu Jintao‘s coming two-day trip to Chicago will be his visit to Walter Payton College Prep, where a partnership between the city and China is paving the way for a generation of Chinese speakers.
Chicago Public Schools
boasts one of the most successful Chinese-language programs in the country, and Walter Payton Prep, home to the Confucius Institute, serves as its hub.
"It’s a testament to Chicago’s vision," said Robert Davis, former director of the institute. "This is a great honor for Chicago."
The Confucius Institute is a project of Chicago Public Schools in partnership with Shanghai’s East China Normal University and the Hanban, an organization affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education that strives to make Chinese language and cultural instruction accessible to foreign students.
The institute provides support to schools and teachers as they respond to a growing demand for Chinese language instruction in Chicago and beyond.
The Chinese president’s visit Thursday and Friday is drawing an international spotlight to CPS.
Speaking in her native tongue to members of the Asian media Friday, the Confucius Institute’s new director, Jane Lu, explained the institute’s role as a resource that supports Chinese instruction in Chicago and beyond.
"Our students are so enthusiastic to learn," she said.
China-born teacher Louis Wu led 19 second-year Mandarin-language students through a classroom exercise Friday to demonstrate that enthusiasm. The teens are among 150 enrolled in Chinese at the school.
The students, as diverse as the school’s language offerings, recited sports-themed vocabulary words while going through the motions of a golf swing, a layup and a spike.
Some students said Chinese plays a part in their professional aspirations.
"I want to be a doctor," said sophomore Morgan Holmes, of Chatham. "So many people speak Chinese. If I learn it, I will be able to help more people."
Others are aspiring world citizens.
"I plan on traveling around the world, and China is one of the first places I want to go," said Ferrin Williams, 15, whose name in class is Wong Fei Rong.
Davis credits Mayor Richard Daley and the city with being among the first to reach out to China and recognize the promise in a partnership rooted in education.
In 2006, Daley and educators from around the country traveled to China to learn about Mandarin language instruction. The same year, the Confucius Institute — the only institute of its kind to be housed in a K-12 public school — opened at Payton.
"It’s right here. Students see it," said Principal Mike Hermes. "That influence has (led to) huge growth in our Chinese program."
Still, 10 years ago when he was helping develop the Chinese language program at Payton, Davis never imagined demand would balloon as quickly as it has.
About a dozen students enrolled in Chinese classes in 1999, the first year they were offered.
Chinese "wasn’t on most people’s radar yet," Davis said.
This year, 42 Chicago public schools offer Chinese language courses to 12,000 students — up from 2,500 students in 2005, making it the second-most popular foreign language choice among CPS students.
Two years ago, when sophomore Marquis Williams told his mother he was enrolling in Chinese, she worried a little.
"I said, ‘Why Chinese, of all languages? I would think that would be hard,’" said Felicia Roby.
"It’s not easy, but I picked Chinese because I wanted a challenge," said the 16-year-old from Humboldt Park whose dream job is to become a chef.
Davis, now executive director of Hanban Relationship and Initiatives at the College Board, says that according to the most recent data available, the number of U.S. students studying Chinese increased to 59,880 in 2008 from 20,192 in 2004.
The College Board also found that participation in the advanced placement Chinese language and culture programs has nearly doubled, making it the organization’s fastest-growing world language program.
However obvious the growing influence of China and the importance of the country’s language, the decision to offer Mandarin or expand existing Chinese-language offerings is not always an easy one for school districts.
In the face of possible teacher layoffs, Glenbard Township High School District 87 started offering Chinese-language class at two of its four west suburban high schools in 2010.
"Students are interested in this. They and their families recognize that this is going to be an area of growth," said Peg Mannion, community relations coordinator for Glenbard, the third largest high school district in Illinois. "We talk about being college ready and job ready. Well, Mandarin fits right in to that."
I am a parent of one of the young students pictured in this photo. He has had some wonderful teachers at Payton, including Ms. Lu and Mr. Wu, for Honors Mandarin I and II respectively. We are very grateful for the dedicated teachers at Payton and in CPS as a whole.