|
|
|
|
 |
Ask the Superintendent - June 6, 2007
Have you ever noticed how many things we use or
buy in the course of a day are marked Made in China?
Everything from electronics, appliances, tools,
clothing, decorations, and even American craft items
flood the consumer market.
At the risk of sounding like a teacher, China is the
world's fourth largest country in terms of total
land area with 3,705,386 sq. miles and ranks as the
world's most populous nation with over 1.31 billion
people. By comparison, the United States is third in
the world in total land area with 3,718,691 sq.
miles and third in population with just over 300
million people. Interestingly there are 250 million
people in China studying English and only 50,000
people in the United States studying Chinese.
Beginning this fall, we are going to do our small
part in changing that latter number by offering
Mandarin Chinese to a group of sixth grade students.
Eight schools, of which Goshen is one, have received
the United States Department of Education Foreign
Language Assistance Grant, which is a three-year
grant offering sixth grade students an opportunity
to study the language of Mandarin Chinese. The class
is a full year traditional foreign language offering
delivered via state-of-the art e-learning hardware
and software. The students will be taught by a New
York State certified teacher whose primary classroom
will be located in the Videoconferencing Lab at the
Orange-Ulster BOCES Harriman Learning Center.
From this location, the teacher will meet with one
or two classes at a time for instruction. Materials
will be made available to students through a teacher
created website with the assistance of a teacher
aide. The students will have the opportunity to meet
in person with their teacher at least once a month.
Communication with the teacher will take place
during videoconferences, via the course management
system and through e-mail. Students will be
introduced to written and spoken Mandarin Chinese
and will also have time to explore the Chinese
culture. One of the highlights of this course will
be the ability to interact with students in China
via videoconferencing. You may recall we have
already had a videoconference between Scotchtown
Avenue students and their counterparts at a school
in Hong Kong earlier this year.
This grant will also allow four third grade teachers
at the Goshen Intermediate School an opportunity to
participate in extensive training at O/U BOCES on
the best way to teach Chinese culture. China, as we
have seen, is making its mark in the world as an
economic power, both as a producer and consumer of
products. As China grows in world influence, it is
certainly wise for us to learn more about its
customs.
Roy Reese
Superintendent of Schools
|
|
|
|
