On December 16, Committee of 100 hosted a reunion for Bay Area-based teachers who participated in the 2012 China study tour program. Nine teacher-participants reflected on their China experience and its impact on their teaching methodology, as well as their views on China. C-100 Southern California Regional Vice Chair Stewart Kwoh presented an overview of C-100 programs and C-100 Member Leslie Tang Schilling provided a history of C-100’s Summer Teachers Institute. C-100 Bay Area members Daniel Chao and Lawrence Low read reflections on behalf of teachers not present during the program.
EDUCATION EXCHANGE
C-100 and Wanxiang Corporation Pioneer Clean-Tech Teaching Scholars Program in China
The
C-100 - Wanxiang Teaching Scholars Program - under the U.S. State Department’s
100,000 Strong Initiative - marked the first collaboration between the Committee
and Wanxiang America Corporation. Built on the foundation of the Committee’s
Summer Teachers Institute, this year’s partnership with Wanxiang initiated a
new phase in C-100’s Educational Exchange Program with the integration of China’s
renewable energy developments and the inclusion of science teachers in the
program.
Committee of 100 Receives $250,000 from Wanxiang Corporation for “100,000 Strong” Teachers Program
During Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping recent visit to the United States, the State Department announced a $250,000 grant from the Wanxiang Corporation to the Committee to send California middle and high school teachers on a study tour to China. As a component of the State Department’s “100,000 Strong” Initiative, the Committee of 100 Wanxiang Teaching Scholars Program is based on a signed memorandum of understanding between Wanxiang and C-100.
The 2012 C-100 Summer Institute on China will be an intensive four-week program from June 18 to July 14, combining a week of lectures and instructional strategy planning in San Mateo with three weeks of travel and study in China. This year, in keeping with the Wanxiang sponsorship, the theme will be “Renewable Energy—Science and Policy.” The Wanxiang Group is a multinational Chinese auto parts and electric car manufacturer.
To date, Wanxiang has pledged $4.5 million in support of the “100,000 Strong” Initiative to increase the number of Americans studying in China. Read about recent gifts to support the 100,000 Strong Initiative in this February 24 State Department fact sheet.
California science and social science middle and high school teachers are invited to apply before March 23 for the 2012 Summer Institute. For information, contact: Karen Williams, San Mateo County Office of Education, (650) 802-5554, or kwilliams@smcoe.k12.ca.us.
The Fourth C-100 Summer Institute: A “Life-changing” Experience for Northern California Teachers
This summer, sixteen Northern California middle and high school teachers participated in the Committee’s fourth Summer Teachers Institute, a five-week immersion in Chinese culture, history and language. Described by program evaluator Nancy Sato as “a life-changing event that improved their understanding and interest in China, which will continue the rest of their lives,” the Institute has had a positive impact on hundreds of students and is already reflected in Bay Area classrooms. One teacher, Manuel Lopez, from Everett Alvarez High School in Salinas, told C-100 Senior Associate for Education Karen Leong Clancy: “I am currently in the process of changing my approach to teaching economics because of the study tour. In essence, I have become a China junkie. I will forever be in debt to the many people that invested in how I think about China.”
C-100 Summer Institute participants with one of their many Chinese hosts, officials of the Jingzhou Municipal Government.
C-100 Education Initiative: C-100-Sponsored Coalition Organizes First Annual Southern California Mandarin Teachers Conference
Chinese language teaching in Southern California schools got a big boost on June 4 with the First Annual Mandarin Teachers Conference, attracting over 130 teachers and administrators for a day of networking and workshops on Mandarin teaching strategies.
The conference, held at the Mendez Learning Center in Los Angeles, was presented by the Mandarin in Schools Committee, a coalition of educators dedicated to expanding the teaching of Mandarin in K-12 schools. The coalition was convened several years ago by the Committee of 100 Southern California Region, led by C-100 Vice Chair Stewart Kwoh. One of its first successes , as reported in Committee Bridges, was the 2008 adoption of a Los Angeles Board of Education resolution to expand Mandarin learning opportunities for Los Angeles students.
Rep. Judy Chu (in red jacket) and C-100 Vice Chair Stewart Kwoh (at far right) with educators.
In an impressive show of support for the work of the Mandarin Schools Committee, the conference was addressed by U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, who spoke about the importance of foreign language acquisition; California Assemblyman Mike Eng; Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent John Deasy; and LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia. East West Bank was the key financial supporter of the conference.
In Beijing, 300 Attend C-100 Leadership Scholarship Symposium, 38 Students Win Scholarships
The eminent Tsinghua University, as part of its centenary this year, co-hosted the 2011 Leadership Scholarship Symposium and Awards Dinner on April 25 in Beijing. A number of Committee of 100 members also took part in Tsinghua’s 100th anniversary celebration at the Great Hall of the People.
2011 LSP and LSP (Art) scholarship recipients with C-100 members [middle row].
