tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44901500208668955082023-11-16T08:28:28.575-08:00GreenTeaPopGreenTeaPop is the spot to explore and share items of Chinese culture and languaage. Visit us at www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-25724019196216032602012-03-09T11:21:00.004-08:002012-03-09T11:32:51.459-08:00Pink Frog Chinese Fashion!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSDn8ECzOb71vemAGz6obHYo-TyOljlIewMgMbHky-KIZXGdir8jVfKG5pPYDogmr2KN30H7BAPCFiJS4R3kNs8a8WNxAmSXQd5XPfUgYhkKt930OBcanNPMFljNUZSRDf4gvsOQHlTTX/s1600/baby+bodysuits.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSDn8ECzOb71vemAGz6obHYo-TyOljlIewMgMbHky-KIZXGdir8jVfKG5pPYDogmr2KN30H7BAPCFiJS4R3kNs8a8WNxAmSXQd5XPfUgYhkKt930OBcanNPMFljNUZSRDf4gvsOQHlTTX/s400/baby+bodysuits.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717982439491734562" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90SV_jv-jLcrht7hyqCzvGeoVnaYbkoeGFMpqcScwI72QjefmxQ3WXRJXQKmbET35UHaTZOBInQ0UFwP0mDCGR7Q6d04NMXlwpElmFgxYKfgCu30XUvdFgZzSa4pC4xLpZstY4P6jfEwf/s1600/web+dragon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90SV_jv-jLcrht7hyqCzvGeoVnaYbkoeGFMpqcScwI72QjefmxQ3WXRJXQKmbET35UHaTZOBInQ0UFwP0mDCGR7Q6d04NMXlwpElmFgxYKfgCu30XUvdFgZzSa4pC4xLpZstY4P6jfEwf/s400/web+dragon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717982290976191138" /></a><br />Designer, radio host, and CLSC faculty member Lin Lan has created a series of adult and children's clothing based on Chinese zodiac themes. <br /><br />For more info, please see http://www.pinkfrognyc.com/ or email her at pinkfrognyc@gmail.com. <br /><br />10% goes to CLSC for each tee; 20% goes to CLSC if one order is more than 12 tees.<br /><br />For information on Chinese zodiac signs, please see below!<br /><br />Rat: <br />It says that "Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rat are quick-witted, clever, charming, sharp and funny. They have excellent taste, are a good friend and are generous and loyal to others considered part of its pack. Motivated by money, can be greedy, is ever curious, seeks knowledge and welcomes challenges. Compatible with Dragon or Monkey."<br />Years Corresponding to RAT: <br />1900 1912 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 2020<br /><br />Ox:<br />It says that "Another of the powerful Chinese Zodiac signs, the Ox is steadfast, solid, a goal-oriented leader, detail-oriented, hard-working, stubborn, serious and introverted but can feel lonely and insecure. Takes comfort in friends and family and is a reliable, protective and strong companion. Compatible with Snake or Rooster."<br />Years Corresponding to OX: <br />1901 1913 1925 1937 1949 1961 1973 1985 1997 2009 2021<br /><br />Tiger:<br />Tiger are authoritative, self-possessed, have strong leadership qualities, are charming, ambitious, courageous, warm-hearted, highly seductive, moody, intense, and they’re ready to pounce at any time. Compatible with Horse or Dog."<br />Years Corresponding to TIGER: <br />1902 1914 1926 1938 1950 1962 1974 1986 1998 2010 2022<br /><br />Rabbit:<br />It says that "Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rabbit enjoy being surrounded by family and friends. They’re popular, compassionate, sincere, and they like to avoid conflict and are sometimes seen as pushovers. Rabbits enjoy home and entertaining at home. Compatible with Goat or Pig."<br />Years Corresponding to RABBIT: <br />1903 1915 1927 1939 1951 1963 1975 1987 1999 2011 2023<br /><br />Dragon:<br />It says that "A powerful sign, those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Dragon are energetic and warm-hearted, charismatic, lucky at love and egotistic. They’re natural born leaders, good at giving orders and doing what’s necessary to remain on top. Compatible with Monkey and Rat."<br />Years Corresponding to DRAGON: <br />1904 1916 1928 1940 1952 1964 1976 1988 2000 2012 2024<br /><br />Snake:<br />It says that "Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Snake are seductive, gregarious, introverted, generous, charming, good with money, analytical, insecure, jealous, slightly dangerous, smart, they rely on gut feelings, are hard-working and intelligent. Compatible with Rooster or Ox."<br />Years Corresponding to SNAKE: <br />1905 1917 1929 1941 1953 1965 1977 1989 2001 2013 2025<br /><br />Horse:<br />It says that "Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Horse love to roam free. They’re energetic, self-reliant, money-wise, and they enjoy traveling, love and intimacy. They’re great at seducing, sharp-witted, impatient and sometimes seen as a drifter. Compatible with Dog or Tiger."<br />Years Corresponding to HORSE: <br />1906 1918 1930 1942 1954 1966 1978 1990 2002 2014 2026<br /><br />Sheep/Goat:<br />It says that "Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Goat enjoy being alone in their thoughts. They’re creative, thinkers, wanderers, unorganized, high-strung and insecure, and can be anxiety-ridden. They need lots of love, support and reassurance. Appearance is important too. Compatible with Pig or Rabbit."<br />Years Corresponding to SHEEP: <br />1907 1919 1931 1943 1955 1967 1979 1991 2003 2015 2027<br /><br />Monkey:<br />It says that "Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Monkey thrive on having fun. They’re energetic, upbeat, and good at listening but lack self-control. They like being active and stimulated and enjoy pleasing self before pleasing others. They’re heart-breakers, not good at long-term relationships, morals are weak. Compatible with Rat or Dragon."<br />Years Corresponding to MONKEY: <br />1908 1920 1932 1944 1956 1968 1980 1992 2004 2016 2028<br /><br />Rooster:<br />It says that "Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rooster are practical, resourceful, observant, analytical, straightforward, trusting, honest, perfectionists, neat and conservative. Compatible with Ox or Snake."<br />Years Corresponding to ROOSTER: <br />1909 1921 1933 1945 1957 1969 1981 1993 2005 2017 2029<br /><br />Dog:<br />It says that "Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Dog are loyal, faithful, honest, distrustful, often guilty of telling white lies, temperamental, prone to mood swings, dogmatic, and sensitive. Dogs excel in business but have trouble finding mates. Compatible with Tiger or Horse."<br />Years Corresponding to DOG: <br />1910 1922 1934 1946 1958 1970 1982 1994 2006 2018 2030<br /><br />Boar/Pig:<br />It says that "Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Pig are extremely nice, good-mannered and tasteful. They’re perfectionists who enjoy finer things but are not perceived as snobs. They enjoy helping others and are good companions until someone close crosses them, then look out! They’re intelligent, always seeking more knowledge, and exclusive. Compatible with Rabbit or Sheep."<br />Years Corresponding to BOAR: <br />1911 1923 1935 1947 1959 1971 1983 1995 2007 2019 2031<br />Also, there are 3 more dragon tees($28.00/each) & dragon babies bodysuits($12.00/each) (please see the attachment):<br />Happy Year of the Dragon, 2012!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-59016651640851677322012-03-01T17:05:00.003-08:002012-03-01T17:10:50.136-08:00Dragon-themed Rolls-Royce for the Year of the Dragon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_J0Ix5hQluie1jpNlo83w2-eT6WT4JfkL7kS_hUgpAIcRd13HGlkNlkr17lDvYZHlWGBotF2vBiC-LsZZSUAn_dvterjcDRcQ8wwCvtL-oFFml5bRNilVyQobMCtqARkzhMFVKhTW-zp/s1600/rolls_royce_phantom_year_of_the_dragon-300x168.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_J0Ix5hQluie1jpNlo83w2-eT6WT4JfkL7kS_hUgpAIcRd13HGlkNlkr17lDvYZHlWGBotF2vBiC-LsZZSUAn_dvterjcDRcQ8wwCvtL-oFFml5bRNilVyQobMCtqARkzhMFVKhTW-zp/s400/rolls_royce_phantom_year_of_the_dragon-300x168.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715100938032467554" /></a><br />From: http://www.epmchannel.com/2012/03/01/rolls-royce-year-of-the-dragon/<br /><br />European luxury manufacturers have discovered a fresh new audience: China. The booming economy in the far-east has awoken a desire for European upper-class splendour. Huge names like Ferrari, Bentley, and Rolls Royce are now successfully positioning themselves in the Chinese market with great success.<br /><br />Exclusive for China<br /><br />The importance of the Chinese market is perfectly illustrated by Rolls Royce’s new “Year of the Dragon” special-edition model. It’s a new version of the Rolls Royce Phantom (in production since 2003) aimed specifically at far-eastern buyers. The British manufacturer's venture into the far east is further testimony to the widespread appeal of their 400 000 to 470000 Euro luxury limousines.<br /><br />Rolls Royce in red<br /><br />Perhaps the most obvious characteristic of the “Year of the Dragon” edition is its specially developed metallic red paint. A golden stipe with a striking dragon logo stretches over the length of the limousine. The interior is finished in matching red leather, and the dragon logo is also found on the seating headrests - quite a change from the normally subtle Rolls Royce colors. A “Year of the Dragon – 2012” script that runs along the door panels provides the finishing touch.<br /><br />Specifications remain unchanged<br /><br />The technical aspects of the “Year of the Dragon” edition Phantom remain unchanged: a 12-cylinder motor (6740 cm2) provides 338 kw/ 460 hp at 5350 rpm, with the maximum torque of 720 Newton meters reached at 3500 rpm. Details about when the special edition will go on sale and what it will cost remain a mystery. We can however assume that it will be released sometime during this, the year of the dragon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-8298071608188869512012-01-22T16:27:00.001-08:002012-01-22T16:33:16.569-08:00CLSC's 10th Annual Chinese New Year Festival!For more pictures please visit us on Facebook at Chinese Language School of Connecticut. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBl5RGyTNGWzCrWlisY618NpQFyhLLcMzOLlNa8KF9-QyxaSInmMs60eEF2V9Gmef4Xg984x5_o6ToTHSEKtk2vpEX5OZPp5Sbds_5nNH9mLWmBRTKocQXY9R2vh3jv0un6QD51n5KZ59F/s1600/DSC08033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBl5RGyTNGWzCrWlisY618NpQFyhLLcMzOLlNa8KF9-QyxaSInmMs60eEF2V9Gmef4Xg984x5_o6ToTHSEKtk2vpEX5OZPp5Sbds_5nNH9mLWmBRTKocQXY9R2vh3jv0un6QD51n5KZ59F/s400/DSC08033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700618747947956930" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXLlvl2ExSHjtRTRZnOEHdYKYiFGrKb1JGs5isMlh5u1XqKBYal8KlSDepPvxxQeNA1mdDB627kGD-OYuC_0v2tX9tPU9e1n16PiZjKCEjErqLJlatQE7OFVraM4xHKIu9QUySBFz4IWz/s1600/DSC08030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXLlvl2ExSHjtRTRZnOEHdYKYiFGrKb1JGs5isMlh5u1XqKBYal8KlSDepPvxxQeNA1mdDB627kGD-OYuC_0v2tX9tPU9e1n16PiZjKCEjErqLJlatQE7OFVraM4xHKIu9QUySBFz4IWz/s400/DSC08030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700618558031290162" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIE0NKgM7PpqQDkwpS7KCnUFTAx_nnHr7s6qzL3Vjo8MU7GItZxhjUTWZLYEBSLuBP_POfkFXeVyC3zpn0zeWP-wwTdRMTwO34Pq0WvXaeRMbHu_OlEqFzj4VqFcFEeNsztJsH409qLCzP/s1600/DSC08022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIE0NKgM7PpqQDkwpS7KCnUFTAx_nnHr7s6qzL3Vjo8MU7GItZxhjUTWZLYEBSLuBP_POfkFXeVyC3zpn0zeWP-wwTdRMTwO34Pq0WvXaeRMbHu_OlEqFzj4VqFcFEeNsztJsH409qLCzP/s400/DSC08022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700618357957006114" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikExVS1ZDFp0gdUM0sp-WWdQ7CON8h3lIJ-l_iKb-Jk3CKFyOBw8K11kMBURgqrjwSTs9qlH0_KKnKZSa-oVddwCwZICTYo0s3O8CMqykE_FxtPzkVNi2GCQh_m3wFa3JtAJVvXJ02ynBh/s1600/DSC07999.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikExVS1ZDFp0gdUM0sp-WWdQ7CON8h3lIJ-l_iKb-Jk3CKFyOBw8K11kMBURgqrjwSTs9qlH0_KKnKZSa-oVddwCwZICTYo0s3O8CMqykE_FxtPzkVNi2GCQh_m3wFa3JtAJVvXJ02ynBh/s400/DSC07999.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700618275791854194" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkJeogn0PllwMuhBSIsiSW4rtOaNL1pdlNsgK-YjqlZAw0Z-la6Ua88VHFnreRulBrjMWJfEPZF6hLPS_HuP1xSqb_nimPoW2XLWA0favzJ45xOnP4WInAV6yXVNaUbm5OOY6OU3NH1Ly/s1600/DSC07994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkJeogn0PllwMuhBSIsiSW4rtOaNL1pdlNsgK-YjqlZAw0Z-la6Ua88VHFnreRulBrjMWJfEPZF6hLPS_HuP1xSqb_nimPoW2XLWA0favzJ45xOnP4WInAV6yXVNaUbm5OOY6OU3NH1Ly/s400/DSC07994.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700618128976483346" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08TZ-Vkn2mY3Sl5oxmKaTbLBDDWCNLIXfjv1NiCufZbZCZNZXqdwaahluBIV1MWb2Fwsgw8Y6H1jx1DQTX8XPJ5SkmdmNDHTgJ_NmjeItUoH-uS4ku7R2m28HlRDbbNJimuXnPg_fvKtV/s1600/DSC07979.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08TZ-Vkn2mY3Sl5oxmKaTbLBDDWCNLIXfjv1NiCufZbZCZNZXqdwaahluBIV1MWb2Fwsgw8Y6H1jx1DQTX8XPJ5SkmdmNDHTgJ_NmjeItUoH-uS4ku7R2m28HlRDbbNJimuXnPg_fvKtV/s400/DSC07979.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700617962004797346" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-21355419563225305102012-01-21T10:52:00.000-08:002012-01-21T10:56:06.438-08:00Chinese New Year Movies to Watch<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPAEfsd5tBJXXtd_5DPVDKrVQLkQfHwaLINObEbq83SZE62iHf2wBNy3jSYPZmM2V6T-HcfkivgFDDlgV6-Zp6cZR6PRJUI65HpyKLIlju6TKYBvQaqPNsti77Og1OWLrEjNCgmCe3zeW/s1600/chinese+wedding.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPAEfsd5tBJXXtd_5DPVDKrVQLkQfHwaLINObEbq83SZE62iHf2wBNy3jSYPZmM2V6T-HcfkivgFDDlgV6-Zp6cZR6PRJUI65HpyKLIlju6TKYBvQaqPNsti77Og1OWLrEjNCgmCe3zeW/s400/chinese+wedding.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700160903715254610" /></a><br />http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2012/01/20/chinese-new-year-movies-to-watch/<br /><br />With the coming Year of the Dragon, Hong Kong is getting into the festive mood with the release of two Chinese New Year comedies.<br /><br />“All’s Well Ends Well 2012” (八星抱喜) and “I Love Hong Kong 2012” (2012我愛HK喜上加囍) continue the time-honored annual tradition of wrapping all-star casts, zany antics, singing and dancing into feel-good family movies.<br /><br />The long holiday break is typically a major movie-going period in Hong Kong, with the Chinese New Year comedy tracing its origins back more than 70 years. Much of the comedy is derived from poking fun at local pop culture and current events.<br /><br />In “I Love Hong Kong 2012,” for example, there’s a take-off on a memorable scene from the hit Taiwan movie “You Are the Apple of My Eye,” recently crowned the highest-grossing Chinese-language film in Hong Kong history.<br /><br />It’s also an opportunity for stars best known for dramatic roles to kick off their shoes and have some fun. In “All’s Well Ends Well 2012,” martial-arts star Donnie Yen (甄子丹) plays a washed-up rock singer (yes, he sings and plays guitar), turning his image as an action hero on its head. And Chapman To (杜汶澤) delivers a bull’s-eye impersonation of Hong Kong director Peter Chan, one of the industry’s most recognizable filmmakers.<br /><br />Actor-producer Raymond Wong, a three-decade veteran of local comedies, is the creative force behind the “All’s Well Ends Well” series, which began 20 years ago with stars such as Maggie Cheung (張曼玉) and Stephen Chow (周星馳). This year’s movie is the seventh in the series, four of which have been produced since 2009.<br /><br />Mr. Wong told The Wall Street Journal last year that he expected to give the series a break after “All’s Well Ends Well 2011,” but nothing speaks louder than success. Last year’s entry pulled in 167.7 million yuan ($26.5 million) at the mainland China box office, according to media-research firm EntGroup, making it a holiday hit. Mr. Wong says now that he couldn’t ignore the approval from an eager audience and plowed ahead to produce this year’s entry.<br /><br />More In Chinese New Year<br /><br />Chinese New Year Movies to Watch<br />Weekend Plans in Singapore: CNY at Marina Bay<br />Weekend Plans in Beijing: CNY Ballet<br />A Dragon's Year, From Cufflinks to Kicks<br />Preparing for the Year of the Dragon, in Pictures<br />Eric Tsang, another veteran of Hong Kong movies, is the star of the “I Love Hong Kong” movies — this is the second in the young series — and numerous other Lunar New Year comedies. The success of last year’s “I Love Hong Kong” — it came in at No. 8 on the top 10 box-office films for 2011, earning 26.7 million Hong Kong dollars (US$3.4 million) — guaranteed the production of this year’s movie.<br /><br />Messrs. Tsang and Wong have a long history with Chinese New Year comedies. They have even collaborated on several movies, including on one of the most memorable and commercially successful New Year comedies ever: “Aces Go Places” in 1982. That movie and four others are part of a retrospective at the Hong Kong Film Archive next week celebrating the Chinese New Year comedy.<br /><br />This year, Mr. Wong says that he is again ready to give the “All’s Well Ends Well” franchise a break. So what can audiences expect from him next year? He’s contemplating a return to the “Aces Go Places” series.<br /><br />Like Scene Asia on Facebook for the latest updates.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-6173521908991728642012-01-03T13:45:00.000-08:002012-01-03T13:47:31.607-08:0010th Annual Chinese New Year Festival!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINUis1Kxt-5YVTrV-cF3pOllvt8YxdAZW-Mvik1oBuP0oi2aNpoLxK5Yu6HQoKYH65OEUSNVUujirXD3aQBj-TPp8pu97ma7eT4JW3pcpjkjfsBXa04TJMLHHhHZclJOvnAerM53Zcael/s1600/Grant+and+Dragon+Troupe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINUis1Kxt-5YVTrV-cF3pOllvt8YxdAZW-Mvik1oBuP0oi2aNpoLxK5Yu6HQoKYH65OEUSNVUujirXD3aQBj-TPp8pu97ma7eT4JW3pcpjkjfsBXa04TJMLHHhHZclJOvnAerM53Zcael/s400/Grant+and+Dragon+Troupe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693525541410321810" /></a><br />photo caption: Greenwich High School sophomore Grant Wang, 15, Greenwich, leads his Dragon Troupe, including Derek Wang, 10, Greenwich, Jack Rowley, 8 Bedford, NY, Kyle Lum, 5, Harrison, NY, Brandon Lum, 8, Harrison, NY, Henry Lagani, 6, Mamaroneck, NY, Ryan Chang, 9, Pelham, NY. <br /><br /><br />Chinese Language School of Connecticut Celebrates <br />10th Annual Chinese New Year Festival <br /> <br /> -- Anniversary event will showcase Chinese food, art, and culture --<br /> <br />“We are excited and thrilled to be able to offer this wonderful event to the community, and celebrate our school’s 10th anniversary at the same time,” Anita Lai, Chair, Chinese New Year Festival 2012<br /><br /> <br />Riverside, CT, January 10, 2012 – A host of special VIP guests, Chinese acrobats, martial artists, dancers and traditional Chinese musical performers will pay tribute to ten years of Chinese language-learning at the Chinese Language School of Connecticut at the school’s 10th Annual Chinese New Year Festival. <br /><br />This year’s Festival will be held Sunday, January 22, 2011, from 12:00-3:00pm at the Stamford Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, 2701 Summer Street, Stamford, CT. For information and tickets please visit: www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org. <br /><br />Chinese New Year Festival Chair, Anita Lai, of Greenwich, CT, said, “It’s especially fortunate that our 10th anniversary falls in a ‘Dragon’ year. In Chinese culture, the sign of the Dragon is a very auspicious sign. It represents wealth, strength, leadership, passion, bravery, and innovation, a good year to celebrate in!”<br /><br />CLSC Board co-Chair, Pelham resident Jeffay Chang, said, "The Chinese Language School of Connecticut understands the importance of having children experience the culture to better appreciate the language. We are again looking forward to our school’s 10th Annual Lunar New Year Festival!”<br /><br />New Canaan resident and Chinese New Year Parents Committee Chair, Janet Leung Fonss, exclaimed, “Food, culture, entertainment, and FUN!! The annual CLSC New Year's celebration showcases everything wonderful about our school. There is no better way to experience Chinese culture and language. Our children look forward to this fabulous event every year!"<br /><br />New Canaan resident and Chinese New Year volunteer, Samantha Connell noted, "My children have been students at The Chinese Language School of Connecticut for six years now and they love attending the annual Chinese New Year Festival. Being part of the rich cultural heritage makes learning the language come alive for my children.”<br /><br />This year’s Chinese New Year Festival will usher in the year of the dragon with musical performances, martial arts, and Chinese acrobatics by the Chinese DBA Performing Arts troupe http://www.chineseperformingarts.us and will feature a lion dance, traditional dancers, children’s activities, children’s arts and crafts, Asian vendors, and an all-you-can-eat, authentic Chinese buffet luncheon included with the price of admission. <br /><br />CLSC President and Board member Susan Serven, of New Canaan, said “It’s been an honor and a privilege working with such a wonderful team of volunteers on each of our last 10 Chinese New Year Festivals. We’ve gone from a small, CLSC-family event, to an elegant, large scale gala, with fabulous food and top-tier entertainment. I know I speak for everyone when I say we wish CLSC another wonderful 10 years!”<br /><br />The non-profit, fully accredited Chinese Language School of Connecticut (CLSC) (www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org) teaches Mandarin Chinese as a second language to children and adults in their weekday and weekend classes, private and small group tutoring, iVuChinese online distance learning, Before and After School programs, cultural workshops, summer classes, and AP Prep sessions. CLSC is the only fully-accredited supplemental Chinese language program in the U.S. which uses U.S. teaching methods in order to engage children in learning Chinese. <br /><br />For information on the Chinese Language School of Connecticut’s programs, please visit www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org or email them at info@ChineseLanguageSchool.org. For interesting articles on Chinese language learning and Chinese culture, please visit http://GreenTeaPop.blogspot.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/ChineseLanguageSchoolofConnecticut<br /><br /> * * *Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-37339325803080212502011-12-16T06:41:00.000-08:002011-12-16T06:44:07.399-08:00"Control" is Character of the Year in ChinaInteresting that the Chinese character for "control" is the word of the year in China. This seems to indicate a growing expectation that inflation and price hikes should be kept under control. <br /><br />You can listen to the following piece at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/language_tips/cdaudio/2011-12/16/content_14278789.htm<br /><br />New character took control in 2011<br />[ 2011-12-16 15:43 ]<br /><br /><br />进入英语学习论坛下载音频<br /><br />The Chinese character kong 控, a word that generally means control, has been selected as the 2011 character of the year in China.<br /><br />The word was chosen after recommendations from Internet users, expert reviews and online polling that was jointly organized by the National Language Resource Monitoring and Research Center under the Ministry of Education, the State-run Commercial Press, and the China Youth Daily, a report in the newspaper said on Thursday.<br /><br />Two million Internet users took part in the selection, the report said.<br /><br />Kong, replacing the character zhang (meaning price hikes)from last year, symbolizes a logical consequence of the government launching proper macro-economic policy to keep the hikes under control, said a statement issued by the organizers.<br /><br />A statement on Wednesday after a three-day central economic work conference attended by senior leaders said the country would maintain the steady macro-economic policy and measures to control inflation, stabilize prices and regulate the property market.<br /><br />The selection of kong indicates the public's expectations and the government's efforts to respond to the expectations, the organizers' statement said.<br /><br />Moreover, the use of kong as shorthand for a homophone of the English word "complex" to express a special liking, is also getting popular this year, which reflects a more diversified lifestyle of the Chinese people, the statement said.<br /><br />In this respect, the word kong usually follows a noun or verb. For instance, weibo kong refers to those people who like to use micro blogs very much and spend a lot of time micro-blogging.<br /><br />The phrase shang bu qi, which means too delicate to bear a blow, was chosen as the phrase of the year, revealing the public's sensitivity to personal and social problems, and their call for justice and equity.<br /><br />Also, "debt" and "euro debt crisis" were voted the international word and phrase of the year, showing the public's growing awareness of a globalized world, the report said.<br /><br />.....................................................Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-29995558316602430712011-12-15T06:38:00.000-08:002011-12-15T06:40:33.909-08:00Carter recalls his lifelong fascination with ChinaBEIJING - When a 7-year-old farmboy in Plains, Georgia, opened a package from his seafaring uncle nearly eight decades ago, he found a delicate model of a wooden Chinese junk - and at that moment a lifelong fascination with China was born.<br /><br />From: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-12/15/content_14267665.htm<br /><br /><br />Occasional friction won't derail ties between China and the US, former US president Jimmy Carter said in an interview with China Daily in Beijing on Wednesday. [Photo by Wu Zhiyi / China Daily] <br /><br />"My uncle was in the US Navy here," former US president Jimmy Carter told China Daily on Wednesday, "and he would send me souvenirs from seaports where his ship visited. I got that package from Hong Kong, and others from Shanghai and from Qingdao. I still have that ship, it's in the bedroom of my boyhood home.<br />"Then later when I was in the submarine force in 1949, I came here as a young naval officer to visit the same seaports, and I was intrigued with the people of China," he said, noting that when he became president he began the process of normalizing relations with China that began in the Nixon administration.<br /><br />"So it's been a long process in my life, involving China and my love for the Chinese people."<br /><br />That sort of exchange was the reason Carter has been in China for the past week, marking the 40th anniversary of Ping-Pong Diplomacy at a series of events.<br /><br />At a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People that he attended with Vice-President Xi Jinping, Carter said: "It was a very historic moment. But it was that breakthrough just with ping-pong players - that is people-to-people - that was really more important than the decisions of political leaders. And I think that is a stability that is going to prevail in the future."<br /><br />On Wednesday morning the former president was taping a television spot at the US embassy to support President Barack Obama's campaign for 100,000 Strong - a push to have 100,000 US students studying in China four years from now.<br /><br />"Now we have 165,000 Chinese students in American universities, and about 13,000 American students in Chinese universities. And in the future, they will be the leaders of our two countries. And they will also be knowing more about each other and the reasons for harmony and cooperation and mutual respect."<br /><br />Carter said that despite his decades of interaction with China, he's learning about it all the time.<br /><br />He said one reason for his current visit is China's interest in working with the Carter Center in Africa, for instance, in healthcare programs.<br /><br />A meeting with a Chinese official, who is in charge of healthcare assistance to Africa, informed Carter of the many programs that China has in Africa to improve healthcare there, involving malaria and many other diseases.<br /><br />"This was a surprise to me, and I think this is one thing that the rest of the world doesn't acknowledge - or know about - is how extensive China's programs are in improving the quality of lives of people in Africa and in poor countries elsewhere."<br /><br />Carter is not overwhelmed by issues of discord between the two countries, from regulating the value of the renminbi to US arms sales to Taiwan.<br /><br />He noted that rhetoric gets ratcheted up from time to time, "especially during US election years". And while some in Congress want to punish China for not moving as far as the United States would like on currency revaluation, Carter said flatly that such a bill would not pass both houses of Congress. "And if it did, President Obama would veto it."<br /><br />"I think the more rational people in the US Congress - and in the White House - understand that this slight difference of opinion over the value of the Chinese currency is relatively insignificant. I've observed this very closely myself. Five years ago, it took about eight RMB to equal one US dollar. Now it just takes six of them. That's a 22 percent change in the value of the Chinese currency just in the last five years. So change is taking place - not because of comments from Washington but because the Chinese leaders in politics and economics agreed this is best for China.<br /><br />"Decisions about the US currency should be made in Washington, and decisions about the Chinese renminbi, the yuan, should be made in Beijing."<br /><br />"We'll always have differences, with our cultural approaches and our political backgrounds, our ancient histories," Carter said.<br /><br />"But still, the ties that bind us together are much more important than any differences that might arise."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-67897801823345941432011-11-29T15:45:00.001-08:002011-11-29T15:50:20.019-08:0010th Annual Chinese New Year Festival!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNmNlgn1j5c5UZs3VthWDfYy5-X2xhtZ753kAtR7ndqmj7VSbMAi2_H0vQWYjCyqg9i_Kt6T3oJGJG0acHE2qwG6VD0OTI0JqSQNp2drq08K6XUa0IHXFyDnBSG0R17hv1yYO45SWupuk/s1600/flier.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 311px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNmNlgn1j5c5UZs3VthWDfYy5-X2xhtZ753kAtR7ndqmj7VSbMAi2_H0vQWYjCyqg9i_Kt6T3oJGJG0acHE2qwG6VD0OTI0JqSQNp2drq08K6XUa0IHXFyDnBSG0R17hv1yYO45SWupuk/s400/flier.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680569307589476610" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-57434647417223219092011-11-12T11:07:00.000-08:002011-11-12T11:09:35.186-08:00What's in a Chinese Name?<h1 style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/world/asia/picking-brand-names-in-china-is-a-business-itself.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Picking%20Brand%20Names%20in%20China%20Is%20a%20Business%20Itself&st=cse" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; ">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/<wbr>11/12/world/asia/picking-<wbr>brand-names-in-china-is-a-<wbr>business-itself.html?_r=1&scp=<wbr>1&sq=Picking%20Brand%20Names%<wbr>20in%20China%20Is%20a%<wbr>20Business%20Itself&st=cse</a></h1><h1 style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Picking Brand Names in China Is a Business Itself</span></h1><h6 style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(128, 128, 128); font-size: 1em; ">By <a title="More Articles by Michael Wines" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/w/michael_wines/index.html?inline=nyt-per" rel="author" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">MICHAEL WINES</a></h6><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia, serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "></span><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">BEIJING — After a hard day’s labor, your average upscale Beijinger likes nothing more than to shuck his dress shoes for a pair of Enduring and Persevering, rev up his Precious Horse and head to the pub for a tall, frosty glass of Happiness Power.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">Or, if he’s a teetotaler, a bottle of Tasty Fun.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">To Westerners, that’s Nike, BMW, Heineken and Coca-Cola, respectively. And those who wish to snicker should feel free: the companies behind these names are laughing too — all the way to the bank.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">More than many nations, <a title="More news and information about China." href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/china/index.html?inline=nyt-geo" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none; ">China</a> is a place where names are imbued with deep significance. Western companies looking to bring their products to China face a problem not unlike that of Chinese parents naming a baby boy: little Gang (“strong”) may be regarded quite differently than little Yun (“cloud”). Given that China’s market for consumer goods is growing by better than 13 percent annually — and luxury-goods sales by 25 percent — an off-key name could have serious financial consequences.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">And so the art of picking a brand name that resonates with Chinese consumers is no longer an art. It has become a sort of science, with consultants, computer programs and linguistic analyses to ensure that what tickles a Mandarin ear does not grate on a Cantonese one.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">Art “is only a very, very tiny piece of it,” said Vladimir Djurovic, president of the Labbrand Consulting Company in Shanghai, which has made a business of finding names for Western companies entering the Chinese market.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">Maybe. But there is a lot of artistry in the best of the West.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">The paradigm probably is the Chinese name for Coca-Cola, Kekoukele, which not only sounds like Coke’s English name, but conveys its essence of taste and fun in a way that the original name could not hope to match.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">There are many others. Consider Tide detergent, Taizi, whose Chinese characters literally mean “gets rid of dirt.” (Characters are important: the same sound written differently could mean “too purple.”)</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">There is also Reebok, or Rui bu, which means “quick steps.” And Colgate — Gao lu jie — which translates into “revealing superior cleanliness.” And Lay’s snack foods — Le shi — whose name means “happy things.” Nike (Nai ke) and BMW (Bao Ma, echoing the first two sounds of its English and German names) also have worn well on Chinese ears.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">Still, finding a good name involves more than coming up with clever homonyms to the original English.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">“Do you want to translate your name, or come up with a Chinese brand?” said Monica Lee, the managing director of the Brand Union, a Beijing consultancy. “If you go for phonetic sounds, everyone knows where you are from — you’re immediately identified as a foreign brand.”</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">For some products, having a foreign-sounding name lends a cachet that a true Chinese name would lack. Many upscale brands like Cadillac (Ka di la ke), or Hilton (Xi er dun), employ phonetic translations that mean nothing in Chinese. Rolls-Royce (Laosi-Laisi) includes two Chinese characters for “labor” and “plants” that more or less have become standard usage in foreign names — all to achieve a distinct foreign look and sound.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">But on the other hand, a genuine Chinese name can say things about a product that a mere collection of homonyms never could. Take Citibank, Hua qi yinhang, which literally means “star-spangled banner bank,” or Marriott, Wan hao, or “10,000 wealthy elites.” Or Pentium, Ben teng, which means “galloping.” Asked to introduce Marvel comics to China, the Labbrand consultants came up not long ago with “Man wei” — roughly phonetic, foreign-sounding and eminently suited to superheroes with the meaning “comic power.”</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">To introduce Clear dandruff shampoo to young Chinese, who are already inundated with foreign brands, Ms. Lee’s firm decided to focus on the shampoo’s image. “It’s not about where this product comes from; it’s about the benefit it can bring to you,” she said. The ultimate choice, Qing Yang, combines the Chinese words for “clear” and for “flying,” or “scattering to the wind.”</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">“It’s very light, healthy and happy,” Ms. Lee said. “Think of hair in the air.”</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">“Clear” is one of a select number of Chinese words that carry unusually positive connotations, and that find their way into many brands’ names. Others include “le” and “xi,” or happy; “li,” meaning “strength” or “power”; “ma” or horse; and “fu,” translated as “lucky” or “auspicious.”</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">Thus the name for Heineken beer, Xi li, and the many automobile brands — Mercedes, BMW, even Kia — that include a horse in their Chinese names (one Kia sedan is named Qian li ma, or “thousand-kilometer horse,” an allusion to strength).</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">Precisely why some Chinese words are so freighted with emotion is anyone’s guess. But Denise Sabet, the vice general manager at Labbrand, suggests that the reasons include cultural differences and the Chinese reliance on characters for words, rather than a phonetic alphabet. Each character is a collection of drawings that can carry meanings all their own.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">Then again, some meanings are best avoided.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">Microsoft had to think twice about bringing its Bing search engine here because in Chinese, the most common definitions of the character pronounced “bing” are “disease,” “defect” and “virus” — rather inauspicious for a computer product. The revised name, Bi ying, roughly means “responds without fail.”</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">Peugeot (Biao zhi) sounds enough like the Chinese slang for “prostitute” (biaozi) that in southern China, where the pronunciations are especially close, the brand has inspired dirty jokes. And in China, the popular Mr. Muscle line of cleaners has been renamed Mr. Powerful, (Weimeng Xiansheng). The product’s maker said in an e-mail that it had forgotten why.</p><p style="font-size: 1.2em; ">But it could be that when it is spoken, the name Mr. Muscle has a second, less appealing meaning: Mr. Chicken Meat.</p><div><p style="font-style: italic; ">Adam Century and Li Bibo contributed research.</p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-5252887562963480072011-11-08T08:53:00.000-08:002011-11-08T08:59:15.935-08:00China's great gender crisis<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwKOeJJauzr5RHidyMg2FnMOGmjB1-4R1C3jCcNubv0aWgBzvvU2YWCCJnfSL5kJXXSqsAOSeSUxoGdyPywrgRcqJUsrSwi2ORqSXLGRqS6Ruk2H6GLFetKLUPR54C36NWkFOp6JlX9eM/s1600/A-newborn-babies-lie-on-a-007.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwKOeJJauzr5RHidyMg2FnMOGmjB1-4R1C3jCcNubv0aWgBzvvU2YWCCJnfSL5kJXXSqsAOSeSUxoGdyPywrgRcqJUsrSwi2ORqSXLGRqS6Ruk2H6GLFetKLUPR54C36NWkFOp6JlX9eM/s400/A-newborn-babies-lie-on-a-007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672670396185423538" /></a><br /><div><em style="font-family: Tahoma; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Chinese families have long favoured sons over daughters, meaning the country now has a huge surplus of men. Is it also leading to a profound shift in attitudes to women?</span></em></div><div><em style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></em></div><div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/02/chinas-great-gender-crisis?CMP=EMCGT_031111" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(108, 139, 158); ">http://www.guardian.co.uk/<wbr>world/2011/nov/02/chinas-<wbr>great-gender-crisis?CMP=EMCGT_<wbr>031111</a></span></h1><div>His parents knew exactly what they wanted from their son: they called him Famiao, or "produce descendants". Yet when their first grandchild arrived, they refused to step across the courtyard of the family home to see the new baby. Qiaoyue was a girl.</div><div>When finally obliged to meet her, "they didn't even wash her face or comb her hair. I was furious," says their daughter-in-law, Chen Xingxiao.</div><div>"My father-in-law's friends would ask him, 'How come you haven't brought your grandchild out for a walk?' He would say, 'If it was a boy I would have done. She's a girl, so I won't.'"</div><div>Chen's righteous anger is perhaps more surprising than her in-laws' disdain. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/china" title="More from guardian.co.uk on China" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(108, 139, 158); ">China</a>'s preference for sons stretches back for centuries. Infanticide, the abandonment of girl babies and favourable treatment of boys in terms of food and health has long produced a surplus of men. In the past two decades, the gap at birth has soared: the advent of ultrasound scans has allowed people to abort female foetuses, even though sex-selective abortion is illegal.</div><div>In the early 1980s there were 108 male births to every 100 female, only slightly above the natural rate; by 2000 that had soared to 120 males, and in some provinces, such as Anhui, Jiangxi and Shaanxi, to more than 130. The result is that more than 35 million women are "missing". Though China is not the only country affected – India's situation is similar – it has by far the widest gap; its one-child policy has exacerbated the problem.</div><div>The effects of the discrepancy are only now emerging in full. The country has tens of millions of men<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/02/china-village-of-bachelors" title="" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(108, 139, 158); ">who are destined to die single</a>. Some fear that the excess will lead to increased sexual violence, general crime and social instability. Yet campaigners see the first signs of hope, as more parents come round to Chen's way of thinking. <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-08/16/c_131052436.htm" title="" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(108, 139, 158); ">Official statistics released this summer</a> suggest the sex ratio at birth (SRB) has fallen slightly for two years running, to just over 118 males in 2010.</div><div>China's <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/population" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Population" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(108, 139, 158); ">population</a> and family planning chief, Dr Li Bin, said it showed the discrepancy "has been preliminarily brought under control"; while experts are more cautious, they agree that the figures offer some hope. The country's new Five Year Plan sets an ambitious target of cutting the ratio to 112 or 113 by 2016. Could China at last be poised to close the sex gap?</div><div>No one is claiming victory quite yet: in fact, the government has just pledged to get tougher, launching a new drive against sex-selective abortion. It is increasing safeguards – such as the requirement that two doctors are present at each ultrasound – and toughening punishments. Institutions, as well as individuals, will be held responsible for breaches; the worst offenders risk having their medical licences withdrawn.</div><div>"[In the short term] cracking down on illegal foetal sex testing and sex-selective abortions is very important and effective," says Professor Li Shuzhuo, of the Institute for Population and Development Studies at Xi'an Jiaotong University. But he acknowledges medical staff often find ways to indicate a baby's sex, despite the law. They may nod or shake their head; or use a full stop or comma at the end of medical notes – to indicate that parents have achieved their goal or must continue efforts to have a boy.</div><div>Other experts fear that cracking down on sex-selective abortion could lead to unsafe, illicit abortions or infanticide if the underlying wishes of the parents remain unchanged. In other words, the battle for China's baby girls will ultimately depend on changing preferences. But as Li points out, that is a long-term struggle, and society pays a high price in the meantime.</div><div>The roots of son-preference lie deep in Chinese culture. Traditionally, the bloodline passes through the male side. Women also "marry out", joining their husband's families and looking after their in-laws, not their own parents. For a long time, a son was your pension. Having a girl was wasteful. "Even though son-preference is not rational from the viewpoint of society as a whole, it is a rational choice for an individual," says Li.</div><div>Chen's home lies near lush rice paddies, where farmers in wide-brimmed straw hats bend double. The community used to rely on agriculture and believed a boy was necessary for the heaviest work in the fields.</div><div>"I can't really blame [my in-laws]; their view was a common one. We have a saying, 'The better sons you have, the better life we can have,' because men have more strength and can carry out more work," says Chen.</div><div>In fact, official policy has adapted to these assumptions. China's strict birth-control rules, introduced just over 30 years ago to curb a soaring population, restrict most couples to one birth. But there are several exemptions. Ethnic-minority families are allowed more than one child; couples who are both only children are permitted to have two. The most striking example is the exception made for rural households. While their urban counterparts are generally restricted to one birth, rural couples are allowed a second - if their first is a girl. The statistics show just how important producing at least one son is: the sex ratios for second and third births are vastly more skewed than for first children.</div><div>When Chen's daughter was born, a little over 30 years ago, the consequences of the ultrasound had yet to be felt in Shengzhou. But by 1982, 124 boys were being born for every 100 girls. Five years later that figure had risen again, to 129.</div><div>Then something striking happened: the ratio dropped steeply. By 1996 it was 109.5. Soon after, according to statistics, it returned to the natural level.</div><div>You do not have to look far for part of the explanation. Shengzhou is, it boasts, International Necktie City of the 21st Century, making 350m ties a year – or 40% of the world's supply – as well as huge quantities of gas stoves and cone diaphragms for speakers.</div><div>Its factories offer plenty of jobs for daughters, allowing them to make a hefty economic contribution to the household. Across the country, manufacturers have frequently preferred female employees, regarding them as more careful and less troublesome.</div><div>Many rural families have less land than they used to; and machinery is available to work the soil, making brute strength less important. China is beginning to develop a welfare system. And development has brought other changes – couples who move into cities have more exposure to new ideas, and less pressure from extended families, say experts.</div><div>Old habits and beliefs are eroding. In villages as well as towns, conjugal ties between husband and wife have become more important, while the filial links between parent and child have become less so. Young couples are more likely to live apart from relatives. Few parents can now count on a dutiful daughter-in-law caring for them; and many are noticing that daughters are doing a better job.</div><div>Chen admits that she was initially disappointed when her daughter was born. "Of course, I wanted to have a boy. But after giving birth, I thought: 'I don't care. This is my baby,'" she says.</div><div>"I looked around me; one of my neighbours had five sons and one daughter. One day, when he was 60 or 70, he wanted some money from his sons for living costs. He cooked a tableful of dishes and bought wine and invited his sons. But none of them agreed to give the money to him. He was furious and smashed the table with his stick. And I thought: 'Well, sons are useless.'"</div><div>Meanwhile, she noticed, daughters were returning to visit their parents, bringing gifts and money. Despite strong pressure from her husband and in-laws, she refused to have another child: Qiaoyue was enough for her.</div><div>Anthropologist Yunxiang Yan's work suggests that others in China are drawing similar conclusions – and that it is changing their attitude towards girls.</div><div>"You can see clearly that a trend of treating sons and daughters equally is slowly emerging in some regions and developing in others," says Yan, of the University of California, Los Angeles.</div><div>Some even think that son preference may partially correct itself. The surplus of men has increased competition for brides, meaning families must buy ever more expensive housing to ensure their sons can marry – increasing the economic attractiveness of daughters.</div><div>The government has spent an estimated 300 million yuan (£29.5m) trying to precipitate this shift in preferences. Li is the lead consultant in the Care for Girls programme, which combines carrot and stick with educational projects.</div><div>There are punishments for sex-selective abortions and extra subsidies for couples who do not use their right to a second child after having a daughter. One county in Fujian has built houses for daughter-only families.</div><div>But Ru Xiaomei, deputy director of the international liaison department at the <a href="http://www.npfpc.gov.cn/" title="" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(108, 139, 158); ">National Population and Family Planning Commission</a>, says the programme is designed to promote female equality in general. So there are roadside signs telling villagers that girls can continue the family line; focus-group discussions for mothers-in-law; help packages for women starting businesses and extra encouragement for girls to enter schools. Officials have even tried to promote the idea of men marrying into women's families, rather than vice versa.</div><div>A pilot programme in 24 areas, selected for their very high imbalances, saw the average ratio fall from almost 134 in 2000 to just under 120 in 2005 – still high, as the experts involved acknowledge, but a substantial improvement. It has since been rolled out across China; Li says it is hard to know how exactly how much of a difference it is making, but is confident it has shown results across the country.</div><div>Others have concerns: Dr Lisa Eklund of Sweden's Lund University suggests <a href="http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/o.o.i.s?id=12683&postid=1950819" title="" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(108, 139, 158); ">in a recent thesis on son preference</a> that parts of the programme could backfire. Capitalising on gender norms – such as the idea that women are caring – may increase sympathy for girls in the short term, but in the long run reinforce stereotypes – and, thereby, son preference.</div><div>Similarly, the social and economic incentives "are partially based on the assumption that having daughters creates vulnerability ... They convey the message that daughters are not as valuable as sons, and that families with only daughters are in need of financial support," she warns.</div><div>Whatever the merits of individual policies, government intervention has helped to rebalance births. In the early 90s, South Korea had Asia's highest ratio at birth; by 2007, it had a normal rate. Experts suggest that reforming the family law system, expanding female employment and increasing urbanisation were key.</div><div>"I think that the preference for sons is decreasing in China, especially in the more affluent coastal areas, where the SRB shot up fastest earlier," says Dr Monica Das Gupta of the World Bank, <a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1354952" title="" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(108, 139, 158); ">who has been tracking son preference in Asia</a>. "But you shouldn't expect to see the sharp decline you saw in South Korea, because South Korea is a small, homogeneous country ... The new ideas swept through the country very quickly. In China it will take longer because of its size and internal differentiation."</div><div>Professor Yuan Xin, of Nankai University's Population and Development Institute, warns that it will take at least 10 or 20 years' more work to end a preference that dates back thousands of years. Others think that is optimistic.</div><div>Chen says she has witnessed attitudes in Shengzhou shift in the past few decades. Even her in-laws have been won over, because her daughter treats them so well. "I'm not boasting, but I think I took the lead," she says. "There's been a very positive trend, but I won't say things have changed totally."</div><div>Recently, a neighbour agreed to have a second child under intense pressure from her husband's family, joking that she was damned if the next child was a girl. "It was twin daughters," says Chen ruefully. "The mother-in-law still wants boys.</div></div></div><div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0); "><strong>.....</strong></span></div><div style="font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-12559143877718405192011-09-16T11:58:00.000-07:002011-09-16T12:13:12.503-07:00Legends of the Silk Road at Cos Cob Library<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaZjFG1ib4Fc5CrlYXFqhkcvM8WaVIFArxeBX0QtDzrk-XjeNLOtYRgyEIClGxH1Pmu1rQZpPnmhg1S3A-daGQafL8jRjb40eGa92JDZk7sTP9rP-dFciuwOdacVDrznKQIPU0I7m9Gk_/s1600/DSC07677.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaZjFG1ib4Fc5CrlYXFqhkcvM8WaVIFArxeBX0QtDzrk-XjeNLOtYRgyEIClGxH1Pmu1rQZpPnmhg1S3A-daGQafL8jRjb40eGa92JDZk7sTP9rP-dFciuwOdacVDrznKQIPU0I7m9Gk_/s400/DSC07677.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653037483533431698" /></a><p class="MsoBodyText3" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Chinese Language School of Connecticut Presents Children’s Chinese Artwork at Cos Cob Library<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText3" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText3" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span">--Cos Cob Library graciously hosts students’ art work as a special display in their community room through September 30.--<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><span style="line-height: 150%; ">Greenwich, CT, September 17, 2011</span></u><span style="line-height: 150%; ">– The Cos Cob Library is host to a new display of children’s Chinese artwork, which is being exhibited in their Community Room through <span>September 30, 2011, sponsored by the Chinese Language School of Connecticut. </span><span>(<a href="http://www.chineselanguageschool.org/">www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org</a>)<i>, </i>the non-profit, Riverside, CT-based provider of Chinese language programs to students, schools and corporations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="line-height: 150%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="line-height: 150%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span">This year’s theme is “Inventions from the Middle Kingdom,” based on Simon Winchester’s book, “The Man Who Loved China.” The first day of the show coincided with the Library's annual Open House and book fair this past Saturday, September 10th. On display is a sampling of students’ work from kindergarten through sixth grade. Mr. Richard Campbell, the ex-president of the Cos Cob Library Association who facilitated the show was on hand to assist in hanging of the large panels and assorted canvases.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="line-height: 150%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="line-height: 150%; "><span class="Apple-style-span">CLSC VP Art & Culture, Katy Chen Myers explained, “We are so grateful for the Cos Cob library’s support of our children’s art and culture programs. CLSC’s curriculum integrates Chinese history, art and culture, and includes hands-on learning projects for students via weekly workshops, so each student can learn experientially, through art. The Greenwich community is very fortunate to have the Cos Cob library’s resources available to children, teens, and families.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="line-height: 150%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 150%; ">Ms. Myers continued, “</span><span style="line-height: 150%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Each year, teachers at CLSC prepare an in-depth art and culture study for students of all levels. This past year's theme was the study of the Silk Road during the Tang and Yuan Dynasties, two of the major trading periods of the Silk Road in Chinese history. Colorful images of the Eight Immortals, plum blossoms, landscapes of the Steppes, silk worms on mulberry trees and caravans of camels and mules laden with treasures cover the walls in the library's community room, giving the viewer a glimpse of the trade along the fabled Silk Road during the 9th and 13th centuries. Students at CLSC used mediums such as acrylic paint, foam, ink, paper, fabric and assorted materials to create the artwork on display while learning about geography, trade, art, politics, along with China's contributions to the world during this important period of history. Visitors can view the artwork during regular Library hours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:13.5pt; margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:150%;tab-stops:4.5pt"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 150%; "> </span><span style="line-height: 150%; ">The non-profit, fully accredited Chinese Language School of Connecticut (CLSC) (<a href="http://www.chineselanguageschool.org/">www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org</a>) teaches Mandarin Chinese as a second language to children and adults in their weekday and weekend classes, private and small group tutoring, iVuChinese online distance learning, Before and After School programs, cultural workshops, summer classes, and AP Prep sessions.<span> </span>CLSC is the only fully-accredited supplemental Chinese language program in the U.S. which uses U.S. teaching methods in order to engage children in learning Chinese. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <h2 style="margin-right:13.5pt;line-height:150%;tab-stops:4.5pt"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></h2> <h2 style="line-height:150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="line-height: 150%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; ">For information on the Chinese Language School of Connecticut’s programs, </span><span style="line-height: 150%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; ">please</span><span style="line-height: 150%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; "> visit <a href="http://www.chineselanguageschool.org/"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:none">www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org</span></a> or email them at info@ChineseLanguageSchool.org.</span><span style="line-height: 150%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; "> For interesting articles on Chinese language learning and Chinese culture, please visit <a href="http://greenteapop.blogspot.com/">http://GreenTeaPop.blogspot.com</a> and on Facebook at </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 150%; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: normal; "><span style="color: rgb(59, 89, 152); "><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChineseLanguageSchoolofConnecticut">facebook.com/ChineseLanguageSchoolofConnecticut</a>.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; "><o:p></o:p></span></h2> <h2 style="margin-right:13.5pt;line-height:150%;tab-stops:4.5pt"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></o:p></span></h2> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:13.5pt;line-height:150%;tab-stops:4.5pt"><span style="line-height: 150%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><b> </b></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:13.5pt"><span style="color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span> </span><span> </span>*<span> </span><span> </span>*<span> </span><span> </span>*<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:150%"><span style="line-height: 150%; "><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"><b> </b></span></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-45591164262502781422011-09-11T14:13:00.000-07:002011-09-11T14:20:56.610-07:00Long Way Home by Flora Wong<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oahyphenhyphenCnlVrWiVMXFKN3ZD1HLS1lj9fCr1rQHSg7kzmv4MVl7l34ky_GeWk807O9vOHqbWrodfEVjRPFwdsPug_wXKpuEaRW1JuQTpQoM-Z8vTyE5QwO16j0-lph0JcdsJPjs0DwDWwEsQ/s1600/5825766.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 381px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oahyphenhyphenCnlVrWiVMXFKN3ZD1HLS1lj9fCr1rQHSg7kzmv4MVl7l34ky_GeWk807O9vOHqbWrodfEVjRPFwdsPug_wXKpuEaRW1JuQTpQoM-Z8vTyE5QwO16j0-lph0JcdsJPjs0DwDWwEsQ/s400/5825766.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651213668507832866" /></a><br />Flora Wong's new book, Long Way Home,is an interesting read about a young girl in 1930s and1940s China who moves to Montana after an arranged marriage. Info is here: www.LongWayHomeBook.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-77145799171135188382011-08-30T07:43:00.000-07:002011-08-31T08:46:05.491-07:00A Jewish Girl in Shanghai During WWII<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFm-HDnXhMUBYR02xnfV3SyBpDUv0Sil4JuNZgnMjfEfTWeb11Q5BftDQWRksZDShR4M35L2Z8JqE1KWYRjiWnSkiRQBK_XqCq355bx7WQP65x8eY_0YqYemmUuaIVtrHkzdUyraTD0DD/s1600/Shanghaiwatch.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFm-HDnXhMUBYR02xnfV3SyBpDUv0Sil4JuNZgnMjfEfTWeb11Q5BftDQWRksZDShR4M35L2Z8JqE1KWYRjiWnSkiRQBK_XqCq355bx7WQP65x8eY_0YqYemmUuaIVtrHkzdUyraTD0DD/s400/Shanghaiwatch.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647046769807946114" /></a>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(220, 255, 255); font-size: medium; "><pre><span class="Apple-style-span">Shanghai, 1939. Little Rina and her younger brother Mishalli have fled here from Europe, awaiting reunion with their parents. Hungry and penniless, she swaps her mother’s necklace for warm pancakes and soon forges a friendship with the young vendor, Zhou A-Gen. They share their cultures and help one another cope with loss and conflict as Japanese thugs and German troops grip the city. All the while, the fate of Rina and Mishalli’s parents in Europe remains unclear… </span></pre><pre><span class="Apple-style-span">Director Wang Genfu’s screen adaptation of the graphic novel by Wu Lin is the first Chinese animated film to portray the Holocaust. Artfully rendered, this moving and enlightening film offers us a glance of Shanghai’s Hongkou district, where some 35,000 Jewish refugees found safe haven during WWII.</span></pre><pre><span class="Apple-style-span">Date: October 16, 2011, 5pm</span></pre><pre><span class="Apple-style-span">Speaker: Evelyn Pike Rubin, resident of Shanghai during WWII; Co-sponsor: Carmel Academy. 80 minutes</span></pre><pre><span class="Apple-style-span">Location: Carmel Academy, 270 Lake Avenue, Greenwich Perfect for ages 11 and up. Presented by JCCGreenwich.org. See below for link where people can register and buy tickets. <a href="http://www.jccgreenwich.org/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detail&evid=56&Itemid=7&year=2011&month=10&day=16&title=a-jewish-girl-in-shanghai&uid=2ff590512ecd78b13ccb9b7921add37d" target="_blank">http://www.jccgreenwich.org/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detail&evid=56&Itemid=7&year=2011&month=10&day=16&title=a-jewish-girl-in-shanghai&uid=2ff590512ecd78b13ccb9b7921add37d</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></pre></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-73159378246945118662011-08-17T11:11:00.000-07:002011-08-17T11:13:01.149-07:00Should My Kid Learn Mandarin Chinese?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >·<span > </span></span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span >August 17, 2011, 8:00 AM ET</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><b></b></span><span lang="en-us"><b></b></span><span lang="en-us"><b><span >Should My Kid Learn Mandarin Chinese?</span></b></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span ><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=f70ef69603&view=att&th=131d8201784a8c38&attid=0.1&disp=emb&zw" alt="Picture (Device Independent Bitmap)" /></span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p><ul dir="LTR"><ul dir="LTR"><p dir="LTR" align="RIGHT"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span >Philip P. Pan</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span >Tom Scocca</span></span></p></ul></ul><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span >I started to truly appreciate the power of early childhood Chinese-language education when our son, at the age of two, started speaking English wrong. “The blue of cup,” he would say, meaning his blue cup.</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >This wasn’t a random preschool linguistic hiccup, we realized. He was trying to use Chinese syntax: “of” was standing in for the Mandarin particle “de” to turn the noun “blue” into an adjective. And his odd habit of indicating things by saying “this one” or “that one”–he was rendering the Chinese “zhege” and “neige” in English. That is, he was speaking Chinglish.</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >The usual arguments in favor of Mandarin education say that he should be on his way to conquering the world. An extra language, the theory goes, supplies extra brainpower, and Chinese in particular is a skill that will prepare young children to compete in the global 21st-century marketplace of talent.</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >Fun, right? If building an optimized little academic and economic performer were all there is to it, we’d have pulled him out of bilingual preschool long ago. Luckily, the reality of having a little Chinese learner underfoot is messier and more entertaining than that.</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >Our son’s head start in Chinese was mostly an accident. He was born in Beijing because my wife and I were living and working there, and he arrived before we could get back to New York for the delivery. So his first influences were Chinese nurses and the sound of Mandopop on the night-shift radio in the newborn unit.</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >He spent the first year and a half of his life in the Chinese capital, the seat of standard Mandarin. This is a point of pride for him now, at age four, though in fact he mostly was exposed to his second-generation Chinese-American mother’s lax Taiwan accent and the Sichuan countryside accent of our nanny, who amused him by chanting old schoolhouse rhymes about the glory of Mao.</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >That early input, followed by half-days of Chinese preschool in New York, hasn’t yet produced a junior trans-Pacific CEO. If you’re considering Mandarin as part of a program of intensive child-improvement, it’s worth remembering that children aren’t so easy to improve.</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >Adding a second language means a child can play dumb in two languages at once. Or play smart: “Daddy can’t speak Chinese,” he says sometimes, when Daddy speaks rudimentary Chinese to him. Then he demands to borrow my smartphone, so he can look up Chinese characters in the dictionary software.</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >Lately, he refuses to address his Chinese-born grandparents by their usual titles, insisting on “Grandma” and “Grandpa” in English. But he serenades them with Chinese songs from school, with flawless schoolteacher diction and a gusto that would startle his actual teachers if they heard it. And he is more obedient in Mandarin than in English–when an order comes in Chinese, he has learned, his parents are serious about it.</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span ><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=f70ef69603&view=att&th=131d8201784a8c38&attid=0.2&disp=emb&zw" alt="Picture (Device Independent Bitmap)" /></span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span >Mostly, though, Mandarin in the hands of a toddler is not a practical tool. Trying to justify it that way is a bit like the efforts to put a dollar value on liberal-arts education. Chinese is, like math or music, a distinct system of representation, another way to think about the world. You may learn a language because you need to, but you stick with it because it is interesting to think about.</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >In Beijing, as China prepared for the 2008 Olympics, I used to visit an English class for senior citizens. Officially, the purpose was instrumental: to increase the number of English-speaking residents for the benefit of the foreign tourists during the Games. The students’ questions for me, however, were more esoteric: What was the English for an electrified bus? For saying thunderstorms were coming? For “hidden microphone”? When I came back two years after the Olympics, the class was still full.</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >So like his other bilingual friends, our son is capricious about how and when to use his own abilities. Have I toweled him off enough? “Chabuduo,” I say, meaning “close enough.” “Chabuduo!” he says, and keeps saying it off and on for days. Language is a playground. He calls up Mandopop videos on YouTube, and snubs American pop. He shakes down a Brazilian babysitter for bits of Portuguese, and asks for Dora the Explorer’s Spanish to be translated to English.</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >If he came from Boston, I tell him, his animated heroine would be Dor-er the Explorah. “I’m from Beijing,” he says, in English. “I pronounce things correctly.”</span></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><i></i></span><span lang="en-us"><i></i></span><span lang="en-us"><i><span >Tom Scocca is the author of “</span></i></span><span lang="en-us"></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beijing-Welcomes-You-Unveiling-Capital/dp/1594487847/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); "><span lang="en-us"><i></i></span><span lang="en-us"><i></i></span><span lang="en-us"><i><u><span >Beijing Welcomes You: Unveiling the Capital City of the Future.</span></u></i></span><span lang="en-us"></span></a><span lang="en-us"><i></i></span><span lang="en-us"><i></i></span><span lang="en-us"><i><span >” He is the managing editor of Deadspin and a columnist for Slate, and he lives in New York.</span></i></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p><p dir="LTR"><span lang="en-us"><span >Copyright 2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved</span></span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-75351821800493079382011-08-15T15:20:00.000-07:002011-08-15T18:00:53.590-07:00Wall Street Journal "Big Innovation" Program Picks Chinese Language School of Connecticut as a Finalist<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div class="wrap padding-left-big" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 15px; "><div class="articleHeadlineBox headlineType-newswire" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; zoom: 1; width: 563px; float: left; "><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Century Schoolbook', 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; width: auto; line-height: 1.1075em; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/biginnovation/">http://blogs.wsj.com/biginnovation/</a></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Century Schoolbook', 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; width: auto; line-height: 1.1075em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Century Schoolbook', 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; width: auto; line-height: 1.1075em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Chinese Language School of</span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Century Schoolbook', 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; width: auto; line-height: 1.1075em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Connecticut</span></h1><div><span class="Apple-style-span">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/biginnovation/2011/08/15/chinese-language-school-of-connecticut/">http://blogs.wsj.com/biginnovation/2011/08/15/chinese-language-school-of-connecticut/</a></span></div></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; "> <strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; ">
<br />Business: </strong>Chinese Language School of Connecticut
<br /><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; ">Headquarters:</strong> Riverside, Conn.
<br /><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; ">Industry: </strong>Education
<br /><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; ">Product/service:</strong> Mandarin Chinese as a Second Language
<br /><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; ">Number of full-time employees:</strong> 6 <strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; ">
<br />Year begun:</strong> 2002</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; "><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; ">What was the challenge your business was facing as a result of the economy?</strong></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; ">Our company, the Chinese Language School of Connecticut, had lost about 15% of its revenue each year from 2008 through the first half of fiscal year 2011 from regular programs, and both corporate and individual fundraising were down dramatically.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; "><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; ">What was the innovative idea you put in place?</strong></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; ">We launched iVuChinese, our online distance-learning program, in July, 2011. iVuChineseused disruptive, simple-to-download and widely-available technology to access our online Chinese learning tools while students are online with a native speaking, fully trained, CLSC instructor.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; "><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; ">What significant milestone has this innovative idea lead to since Jan. 1, 2009?</strong></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; ">iVuChinese has hit goals in several ways: by increasing projected tutoring revenue by 25% this year alone; by expanding our programs and allowing anyone across the globe who has a personal computer and a set of headphones to learn Chinese using our award-winning, fully accredited curriculum; and by promoting all of our programs since iVuChinese has been picked up by many different media sites, schools, and forwarded to hundreds of individuals.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; "><strong style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; ">Please explain your innovation at greater length.</strong></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; ">We adopted our two daughters from China in 1996 and 2000. Our older daughter, Emily, started asking, “How do I say ‘dog’ in Chinese? How do I say ‘flower’?” I realized how important it was to allow her to understand her native language and culture, so I worked with a native Chinese-speaking friend to start Chopstix, in 1999. Chopstix was a volunteer-run preschool Chinese program that donated all net proceeds to U.S. nonprofits working with children in Chinese orphanages.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; ">When Emily was 5, I enrolled her in a traditional, “cultural” Chinese school, where we were the only non-Chinese speakers. She still loved learning Chinese, but this experience gave me the opportunity to work with some of the professional, highly dedicated colleagues I met there to form the nonprofit, dual-accredited Chinese Language School of Connecticut, in 2002. CLSC teaches Mandarin Chinese using U.S.-based immersion techniques and age-appropriate, interactive activities to students ages 18 months to adult via various programs.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; ">CLSC hummed along from 2002 through 2008. We started to see a slowdown early in 2008, but it really wasn’t until 2009 that many of our programs began to be undersubscribed. At the same time, China’s emergence as a global powerhouse, with economic growth far surpassing the rest of the world, was becoming clear to most educated people, so our tutoring program began to expand dramatically. This continued through 2010, but in early 2011 we realized that our current, “local school” business model was not sustainable in the current business environment.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; ">So, in spring of 2011, we started to develop and test our iVuChinese online distance-learning program. iVuChinese offers students (ages 7 to adult) the opportunity to learn Chinese using only a personal computer and a set of headphones. They may work with a custom-designed program, or can access our online Chinese programs, but are working one on one with a native speaking Chinese CLSC faculty member the whole time. iVuChinese allows students to practice speaking, reading, writing and listening to Chinese, all while online with their instructor.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; ">We launched iVuChinese in July 2011, and results so far have been terrific. iVuChinese will allow CLSC to meet our objectives this year of both hitting our financial goals, but also by allowing even more students to explore the exciting challenge of learning Chinese.</p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div class="mastertextCenter" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 2281px; "></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-71229478522655946372011-08-01T08:35:00.000-07:002011-08-01T08:37:26.784-07:00Video on Chinese Characters<span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; ">This is pretty good; would be even better with pinyin so non-speakers could know how to pronounce, and would be great with translations and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "> pinyin of the Chinese they're speaking. ;-)</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'courier new'; line-height: 14px; font-size: medium; "><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VhOCX5WLpw&feature=autoshare">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VhOCX5WLpw&feature=autoshare</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-80974638432375401012011-07-27T10:39:00.000-07:002011-07-27T10:41:59.663-07:00How to Raise A Global Kid? Have them learn Mandarin ChineseNewsweek: <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/2011/07/17/american-kids-immersed-in-chinese-asian-education.html">http://www.newsweek.com/2011/07/17/american-kids-immersed-in-chinese-asian-education.html</a><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; "><header style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; position: relative; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><h1 property="dc:title" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 17px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 30px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; line-height: 36px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">How to Raise a Global Kid</h1><h2 class="subhead" property="dc:description" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 18px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px; font-family: 'Georgia Italic', Georgia; font-style: italic; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Taking Tiger Mom tactics to radical new heights, these parents are packing up the family for a total Far East Immersion.</h2></header><div class="body parsys" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><div class="parbase image section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><div class="art " style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 0; clear: both; position: relative; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><img title="china-harvard-c002-miller" alt="china-harvard-c002-miller" class="cq-dd-image" src="http://www.newsweek.com/content/newsweek/2011/07/17/american-kids-immersed-in-chinese-asian-education/_jcr_content/body/image.img.jpg/1310799206397.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><p class="caption" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Happy Rogers was the only American in her graduating class at Nanyang Primary School in Singapore.</p></div></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Happy Rogers, age 8, stands among her classmates in the schoolyard at dismissal time, immune, it seems, to the cacophonous din. Her parents and baby sister are waiting outside, but still she lingers, engrossed in conversation. A poised and precocious blonde, Hilton Augusta Parker Rogers, nicknamed Happy, would be at home in the schoolyard of any affluent American suburb or big-city private school. But here, at the elite, bilingual Nanyang Primary School in Singapore, Happy is in the minority, her Dakota Fanning hair shimmering in a sea of darker heads. This is what her parents have traveled halfway around the world for. While her American peers are feasting on the idiocies fed to them by junk TV and summer movies, Happy is navigating her friendships and doing her homework entirely in Mandarin.</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Fluency in Chinese, she says—in English—through mouthfuls of spaghetti bolognese at a Singapore restaurant, “is going to make me better and smarter.”</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">American parents have barely recovered from the anxiety attacks they suffered at the hands of the Tiger Mom—oh, no, my child is already 7 and she can’t play a note of Chopin—and now here comes Happy’s father, the multimillionaire American investor and author Jim Rogers, to give them something new to fret about. It is no longer enough to raise children who are brave, curious, hardworking, and compassionate. Nor is it sufficient to steer them toward the right sports, the right tutors, the right internships, and thus engineer their admittance to the right (or at least a good enough) college. According to Rogers, who in 2007 left New York’s Upper West Side to settle in Singapore with his wife, Paige Parker, and Happy (Beeland Anderson Parker Rogers, called Baby Bee, was born the next year), parents who really care about their children must also ponder this: are we doing enough to raise “global” kids?</p></div><div class="advertising section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><div class="ad ad-300 left " dartad="{siteID: '', size: '300x250', zone: '', tile: '', disable: 'false'}" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 30px; margin-bottom: 30px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; float: left; line-height: 0; display: block; width: 300px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh%3Dv8/3b51/3/0/%2a/s%3B216091290%3B0-0%3B0%3B47018334%3B4307-300/250%3B32417172/32435048/1%3B%3B~sscs%3D%3fhttp://twitter.com/newsweek" target="_blank" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(179, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><img width="300" height="250" border="0" src="http://s0.2mdn.net/2179615/twitter_300x250.jpeg" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></a></div></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">“I’m doing what parents have done for many years,” Jim Rogers says. “I’m trying to prepare my children for the future, for the 21st century. I’m trying to prepare them as best I can for the world as I see it.” Rogers believes the future is Asia—he was recently on cable television flogging Chinese commodities. “The money is in the East, and the <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/07/12/debt-ceiling-d-j-vu-how-the-gop-and-democrats-switch-sides-amid-hype-hypocrisy.html" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(179, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">debtors</a> are in the West. I’d rather be with the creditors than the debtors,” he adds.</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">It has become a convention of public discourse to regard rapid globalization—of economies and business; of politics and conflict; of fashion, technology, and music—as the great future threat to American prosperity. The burden of meeting that challenge rests explicitly on our kids. If they don’t learn—now—to achieve a comfort level with foreign people, foreign languages, and foreign lands, this argument goes, America’s competitive position in the world will continue to erode, and their future livelihood and that of subsequent generations will be in jeopardy. Rogers is hardly the only person who sees things this way. “In this global economy, the line between domestic and international issues is increasingly blurred, with the world’s economies, societies, and people interconnected as never before,” said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan in remarks in the spring of 2010 at the Asia Society in New York. “I am worried that in this interconnected world, our country risks being disconnected from the contributions of other countries and cultures.”</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Despite Duncan’s articulate urgency (and the public example of Rogers and a few others like him), America is so far utterly failing to produce a generation of global citizens. Only 37 percent of Americans hold a passport. Fewer than 2 percent of America’s 18 million college students go abroad during their undergraduate years—and when they do go, it’s mostly for short stints in England, Spain, or Italy that are more like vacations. Only a quarter of public primary schools offer any language instruction at all, and fewer high schools offer French, German, Latin, Japanese, or Russian than they did in 1997. The number of schools teaching Chinese and Arabic is so tiny as to be nearly invisible.</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Meanwhile, 200 million Chinese schoolchildren are studying English. South Korean parents recently threw a collective hissy fit, demanding that their children begin English instruction in first grade, rather than in second. Nearly 700,000 students from all over the world attended U.S. universities during the 2009–10 school year, with the greatest increases in kids from China and Saudi Arabia. “Not training our kids to be able to work and live in an international environment is like leaving them illiterate,” says David Boren, the former U.S. senator and current president of the University of Oklahoma. The gap between our ambition and reality yawns wide.</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">There is no consensus on remedies. According to a white paper issued in 2009 by the Institute on International Education, most colleges and universities say they want to increase participation in study-abroad programs, but only 40 percent are actually making concerted efforts to do so. Long immersion programs are expensive, and in an environment of tough statewide budget cuts, students and professors are too crunched for time to make international experience a priority. Educators disagree on which kinds of experiences are most advantageous for kids—or even what advantageous means. Is it enough for a teenager who has never traveled farther than her grandma’s house to get a passport and order a pint in a London pub? Or does she have to spend a year in Beijing, immersed in Mandarin and economic policy? Is the goal of foreign experience to learn a language or gain some special expertise—in auto engineering or peace mediation? Or is it to be of service to others by giving mosquito nets to poor children in an African village?</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Jim Rogers sees an America in decline, and his solution has been to immerse himself in the countries and cultures that are ascendant. “We think we’re the world leader, but we’re not,” he says. “I don’t like saying that. I’m an American. I vote. I pay taxes. But the level of knowledge is not very high, and that’s going to hurt us, I’m afraid.” In the Rogers family’s five-bedroom bungalow, there is no TV. Instead, there are more than a dozen globes to look at and maps to ponder, a nanny and a maid who speak only Mandarin to the kids, bicycles to ride, and a new karaoke machine so the girls can learn Chinese songs.</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">A generation ago and as far back as Thomas Jefferson, a certain kind of child from a certain kind of family went abroad because it was done; a sojourn in Europe was as crucial to becoming a cultivated person as knowing the works of Mozart or Rembrandt. The point was to see the Great Museums, of course, but also to breathe the air—to learn to converse in another tongue, to adapt to the rhythms of another place. Hemingway did this, of course, but so did Benjamin Franklin and Johnny Depp. This is what Pamela Wolf, who just returned to New York City with her husband and children from a year in Barcelona, did. She enrolled her teenagers in an international school, where they made friends with kids from around the world and learned to speak fluent Spanish. Her children have a global perspective not only because of their language skills but also because arriving in a new place, knowing no one, forced them to be resilient. “It’s pushing yourself out of your comfort zone,” Wolf says. “It builds a very compassionate child. While, yes, grades and academics are as important to me as anyone, you need resilience to understand and have sympathy for other people.”</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Such lengthy sojourns, though, are available to only a few: the very adventurous or the very rich. Wolf and her husband are both self-employed. “Financially,” she says, “we have the great privilege of earning money while we’re away.”</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Without resources and connections, a foreign experience can be a misery. Two years ago, Maribeth Henderson moved from San Antonio with her husband, her college-age son, and her adopted 5-year-old daughter, Wei Wei, to a remote part of China, in Guangdong province. Wei Wei didn’t learn much Mandarin—her school taught mainly Cantonese—and Henderson felt lonely and alienated. “It was so Chinese that I couldn’t assimilate and feel comfortable,” she says. “I couldn’t speak the language; it was hard for us to even order food in a restaurant. If you ordered a chicken, they would literally hand you a chicken. You were lucky if it wasn’t alive.” Henderson abandoned ship, returning to Texas with Wei Wei ahead of schedule and leaving her husband and son in Guangzhou. Now, though, she’s planning to try again. This summer she and Wei Wei will move to Beijing, and Henderson hopes the big city will ameliorate her former isolation. About her goal—helping Wei Wei learn Chinese—Henderson has no doubts. “For children to be competitive and successful in a global economy,” she says, “it’s important for them to be bilingual.”</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">For parents who want to give their children global experience while keeping them safely on the straight and narrow American path of PSATs, SATs, and stellar extracurriculars, there’s an ever-growing field of options. Immersion schools have exploded over the past 40 years, growing from none in 1970 to 440 today, according to the Center for Applied Linguistics, and Mandarin, especially, is seen among type-A parents as a twofer: a child who learns Mandarin starting at 5 increases her brain capacity and is exposed to the culture of the future through language. (One mom in San Francisco laughs when she recalls that her daughter learned about Rosa Parks and the Montgomery bus boycott in Chinese.) The education entrepreneur Chris Whittle and colleagues recently announced plans for the new Avenues school, to open in New York City in September 2012 and designed to compete with the city’s most exclusive (and expensive) private schools. Its curriculum will be fully bilingual—parents choose a Mandarin or Spanish track when their kids are 3—providing the Happy Rogers experience but with all the conveniences of home. “We think that any child that graduates from high school a monoglot is automatically behind,” Whittle says. Fourteen months before the school’s doors open, Avenues has already received 1,200 applications.</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Study abroad is now a prerequisite on some college campuses, and a few professional schools, especially in business and engineering, have begun to require international study as part of their curricula. Nursing students at a community college in Utah must all spend a month at a hospital in Vietnam as part of their training. But Margaret Heisel, director of the Center for Capacity Building in Study Abroad, believes that a real global education comes from a long stay in a strange place; it gives kids skills that no amount of study can teach.</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">My own experience proves this point. During my sophomore year in high school, my father, a university professor, moved our entire family to Amsterdam for his sabbatical year and enrolled my brothers and me in local public schools. During that glorious year, I rode my bike through city streets, learned to roll a cigarette one-handed, and eventually spoke Dutch like a 15-year-old native. (I can still say “That’s so stupid” and “This is so boring.”) We saw Stonehenge and the Rijksmuseum and drove to Burgundy for the grape harvest, but the real impact of that adventure was that I learned a degree of self-reliance—a 15-year-old girl needs to make friends and will cross any cultural boundary to do so—that I didn’t know I had.</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">“I think it’s liberating to some extent,” Heisel says. “It touches people in places that being in a familiar place doesn’t. It requires versatility, flexibility. It’s a different culture and it’s pressing on kids in different ways.” Baby Bee is equally at home on visits to the U.S. and in Singapore, where her father rides her to school each day on his personal pedicab. There she sings the Singapore national anthem and pledges the Singapore flag. “She’s no different from the Chinese kids,” says her teacher, Fu Su Qin. “And her Chinese is just as good.”</p></div><div class="text parbase section" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; display: block; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22.5px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><i style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">With reporting by Lennox Samuels in Singapore</i></p></div></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-26182338864198555262011-07-18T07:50:00.000-07:002011-07-18T07:55:39.930-07:00Far East MovementFrom Greenwich Time, July 18, 2011<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.greenwichtime.com/default/article/A-Far-East-movement-Chinese-school-launches-1470070.php/">http://www.greenwichtime.com/default/article/A-Far-East-movement-Chinese-school-launches-1470070.php/</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; "><div class="hst-articletitle articletitle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://www.greenwichtime.com/img/utils/rule_dots.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; "><h1 class="headline" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.5em; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(17, 17, 17); ">A Far East movement: Chinese school launches online tutoring program</h1><h5 class="byline" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 0.92em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="name" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Nicole Narea, Special Correspondent</span></h5><h5 class="timestamp" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 0.92em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); ">Published 07:46 p.m., Sunday, July 17, 2011</h5></div><div class="hst-galleryitem clearfix" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; "><div class="header clearfix" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; "></div><ul class="clearfix" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; display: block; "><li id="hst_galleryitem_index1" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: 630px; text-align: center; "><a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><img id="greenwichtime-photo-1122886" src="http://www.greenwichtime.com/mediaManager/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=1122886&width=628&height=471" alt="Madison Kung, 7, of Harrison, N.Y., a student of the Chinese Language School of Connecticut, works from a laptop at the Second Congregational Church in Greenwich Monday, July 11, 2011. The school recently introduced a new online tutoring program that allows students from all over Connecticut to take classes from home. Photo: Helen Neafsey / Greenwich Time" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-color: black; border-right-color: black; border-bottom-color: black; border-left-color: black; height: 354px; " /></a><div class="caption" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 0.92em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-align: left; ">Madison Kung, 7, of Harrison, N.Y., a student of the Chinese Language School of Connecticut, works from a laptop at the Second Congregational Church in Greenwich Monday, July 11, 2011. The school recently introduced a new online tutoring program that allows students from all over Connecticut to take classes from home. Photo: Helen Neafsey / Greenwich Time </div></li></ul></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; "><div class="hst-articletext" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><div id="fontprefs_top" class="georgia md" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; vertical-align: baseline; "><div id="text-pages" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><div class="page" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Seven-year-old <a href="http://www.greenwichtime.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Madison+Kung%22" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(45, 101, 92); text-decoration: none; ">Madison Kung</a> barely looks up from the screen of his iMac computer when his mother, Terri, calls his name. The Looney Tunes-like sound effects coming from the laptop speakers would suggest that he is engrossed in a video game. On the contrary -- it is his Chinese homework.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">The <a href="http://www.greenwichtime.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Chinese+Language+School+of+Connecticut%22" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(45, 101, 92); text-decoration: none; ">Chinese Language School of Connecticut</a> has taught Mandarin as a second language to non-native students ranging from toddlers to adults since its creation in 2002, but, as it enters its 10th year of operation, the Riverside-based school is launching a new online learning system called iVuChinese.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">The iVuChinese curriculum utilizes Better Chinese, an independent study website that provides homework assignments and lesson plans that correlate to textbooks for students ages 8 and above. It centers on interactive learning rather than simply rote memorization, offering games, stories and songs for each lesson.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">"Once you complete something like homework, it adds a trophy to your collection," said Madison, a devout fan of Better Chinese. "They're really cool. I have a lot of them, but I've been studying for two terms already."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">In addition, students can benefit from private instruction through Skype as part of the iVuChinese curriculum. Tutors can critique a student's pronunciation and intonation using a microphone, as well as operate a screen-sharing feature that allows a student to see exactly what is displayed on the tutor's computer during a lecture. Tutoring sessions mimic the experience a student would have if they were physically sitting next to a tutor and can be conducted anywhere with an Internet connection.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">"There is a student that is studying this summer who is using a tablet pen to draw characters, reviewing his stroke order, making sure his tones are correct, reviewing things he has learned over the year all through Skype," Program Director Terri Kung said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">She describes Skype tutoring sessions as "highly individualized." Tutors work closely with parents and students to adjust their lesson plans accordingly, taking into consideration age, level and learning style.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">"We are unique because we teach our tutors how to teach American students and non-native speakers," said Principal <a href="http://www.greenwichtime.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Daisy+Laone%22" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(45, 101, 92); text-decoration: none; ">Daisy Laone</a>, who conducts regular, "intensive" training workshops for the school's tutors.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Therefore, Kung views iVuChinese as an indispensable resource for Madison to maintain his current level of proficiency over the summer and supplement the school-year curriculum. Furthermore, it allows him to continue to develop an appreciation for Chinese culture.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">"My husband was raised in Taiwan. I worked abroad for many years. We appreciate knowledge of other cultures and languages," she said. "It good exposure for Madison to other ways of thinking." When you learn in a different language, you start to think in a different language and a different way."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Based on the school's increasing number of students, it would seem that other parents are also beginning to see the benefits of learning Chinese.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">"Everybody sees China as the economy of the future. We have seen an uptick in inquiries since the Prime Minister <a href="http://www.greenwichtime.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=news&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Wen+Jiabao%22" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(45, 101, 92); text-decoration: none; ">Wen Jiabao</a> visited the States," Kung said. "No matter what he decides to do with it, it will always be good for my son to have Chinese in his back pocket."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">To learn more about iVuChinese or CLSC's other Chinese language programs for children or adults, visit them at www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org or contact info@chineselanguageschool.org.</p></div></div></div></div><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><br />Read more: <a href="http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/A-Far-East-movement-Chinese-school-launches-1470070.php#ixzz1ST7WcZkc" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; ">http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/A-Far-East-movement-Chinese-school-launches-1470070.php#ixzz1ST7WcZkc</a></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-45918808689093214262011-07-11T14:53:00.000-07:002011-07-11T15:14:09.155-07:00The Magic of Learning ChineseGreat article on learning Chinese, and the Chinese Language School of Connecticut's impact on tech innovations in Chinese language learning. <div><br /></div><div><a href="http://greenwich.patch.com/articles/east-meets-west?ncid=M255">http://greenwich.patch.com/articles/east-meets-west?ncid=M255</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; "><div class="body article NS_1s79r3nhqa" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><div class="user_content pie-clearfix" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.385em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.857em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 1.154em; ">East Meets West</h1></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="body article NS_1s79r3nhqa" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><div class="user_content pie-clearfix" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p class="subhead" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">The magic of Mandarin Chinese in Greenwich.</p><p class="subhead" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; "><br /></p></div></div><div class="standard_template template NS_1s79r3nhqa" id="article_template" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; "><div class="asset_container" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 26px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px; display: inline; float: right; "><div class="asset_block collapsed patch-reset NS_2o46t4a4c7" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 14px; padding-right: 14px; padding-bottom: 14px; padding-left: 14px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: 275px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-right-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-bottom-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-left-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; z-index: 1; "><div class="collapsed current_asset" asset="{"id":6925878,"title":"GHS Students Celebrate the Chinese New Year","asset_subclass":"photo","asset_type":"photo","thumbnailed":true,"canonical_type":"photo","urls":{"thumbnail":"http://o5.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/thumbnail/88x95/crop/88x88+0+3/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/88b13f3c526e1c63c606d8ee7ff57e90","collapsed":"http://o5.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/273x203/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/88b13f3c526e1c63c606d8ee7ff57e90","expanded":"http://o5.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/600x450/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/88b13f3c526e1c63c606d8ee7ff57e90"},"crop_x":null,"crop_y":null,"crop_w":null,"crop_h":null,"expanded_photo_dimensions":"419x450","crop_dimensions":"419,419,0,15","scale_when":1.0,"orig":"88,88","dimensions":"419x450"}" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; cursor: pointer; "><div class="current_asset_image photo" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://greenwich.patch.com/images/spinner_large.gif); background-color: rgb(246, 246, 246); height: 205px; text-align: center; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: relative; background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><div class="centering_div" style="margin-top: -2px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -20px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: 313px; "><a id="photo_6925878" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; "> <img alt="" src="http://o5.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/273x203/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/88b13f3c526e1c63c606d8ee7ff57e90" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: middle; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: inline; " /> </a><div class="page_right_arrow page_arrow" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "></div></div></div></div><div class="asset_browser collapsed" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><div class="thumbnails" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: 275px; float: left; white-space: nowrap; "><div class="asset_thumbnail_header" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgb(136, 136, 136); ">PHOTOS (4)</div><div class="photo_box thumbnail_box" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; width: 275px; "><div class="asset_box arrow left disabled" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: 10px; cursor: pointer; position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; height: 49px; background-image: url(http://greenwich.patch.com/images/global/arrow_left.png); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); left: 0px; visibility: hidden; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "></div><div class="photo_view_pane asset_scroll_panel" asset_ids="[6925878,6946382,6946383,6946384]" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 13px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><div class="photo_thumbnails" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: 100000px; "><div class="photo_6925878 thumbnail data_element photo thumbnail_size NS_1tkc7q1iij" asset="{"urls":{"thumbnail":"http://o5.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/thumbnail/88x95/crop/88x88+0+3/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/88b13f3c526e1c63c606d8ee7ff57e90","collapsed":"http://o5.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/273x203/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/88b13f3c526e1c63c606d8ee7ff57e90","expanded":"http://o5.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/600x450/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/88b13f3c526e1c63c606d8ee7ff57e90"},"id":6925878,"title":"GHS Students Celebrate the Chinese New Year","asset_subclass":"photo","asset_type":"photo","thumbnailed":true,"canonical_type":"photo","crop_x":null,"crop_y":null,"crop_w":null,"crop_h":null,"expanded_photo_dimensions":"419x450","crop_dimensions":"419,419,0,15","scale_when":1,"orig":"88,88","dimensions":"419x450"}" asset_attachment="{"short_url":"http://patch.com/A-kbjP~p-clSB0","title":""}" id="photo_6925878" style="margin-top: 2px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; float: left; display: block; "><a class="photo_thumbnail" href="http://o5.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/600x450/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/88b13f3c526e1c63c606d8ee7ff57e90" id="photo_thumbnail_6925878" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; "><img alt="" class="asset_image" height="88" src="http://o5.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/thumbnail/88x95/crop/88x88+0+3/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/88b13f3c526e1c63c606d8ee7ff57e90" width="88" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: text-bottom; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; width: 43px; height: 43px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-right-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-bottom-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-left-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); " /></a></div><div class="photo_6946382 thumbnail data_element photo thumbnail_size NS_1tkc7q1iij" asset="{"urls":{"thumbnail":"http://o2.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/thumbnail/117x88/crop/88x88+15+0/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/3668963b14b4ea2aac0100217f8c2ae4","collapsed":"http://o2.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/273x203/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/3668963b14b4ea2aac0100217f8c2ae4","expanded":"http://o2.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/600x450/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/3668963b14b4ea2aac0100217f8c2ae4"},"id":6946382,"title":"CLSC teacher Xianxian Feng with a class of students","asset_subclass":"photo","asset_type":"photo","thumbnailed":true,"canonical_type":"photo","crop_x":null,"crop_y":null,"crop_w":null,"crop_h":null,"expanded_photo_dimensions":"600x450","crop_dimensions":"450,450,75,0","scale_when":1,"orig":"88,88","dimensions":"600x450"}" asset_attachment="{"short_url":"http://patch.com/A-kbjP~p-cmgYR","title":""}" id="photo_6946382" style="margin-top: 2px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; float: left; display: block; "><a class="photo_thumbnail" href="http://o2.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/600x450/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/3668963b14b4ea2aac0100217f8c2ae4" id="photo_thumbnail_6946382" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; "><img alt="" class="asset_image" height="88" src="http://o2.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/thumbnail/117x88/crop/88x88+15+0/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/3668963b14b4ea2aac0100217f8c2ae4" width="88" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: text-bottom; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; width: 43px; height: 43px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-right-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-bottom-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-left-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); " /></a></div><div class="photo_6946383 thumbnail data_element photo thumbnail_size NS_1tkc7q1iij" asset="{"urls":{"thumbnail":"http://o3.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/thumbnail/117x88/crop/88x88+15+0/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/57ca417ea1efa9e541037217ffaa0ff","collapsed":"http://o3.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/273x203/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/57ca417ea1efa9e541037217ffaa0ff","expanded":"http://o3.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/600x450/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/57ca417ea1efa9e541037217ffaa0ff"},"id":6946383,"title":"Students of the Chinese Language School of CT with their teacher Xianxian Feng","asset_subclass":"photo","asset_type":"photo","thumbnailed":true,"canonical_type":"photo","crop_x":null,"crop_y":null,"crop_w":null,"crop_h":null,"expanded_photo_dimensions":"600x450","crop_dimensions":"450,450,75,0","scale_when":1,"orig":"88,88","dimensions":"600x450"}" asset_attachment="{"short_url":"http://patch.com/A-kbjP~p-cmgYS","title":""}" id="photo_6946383" style="margin-top: 2px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; float: left; display: block; "><a class="photo_thumbnail" href="http://o3.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/600x450/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/57ca417ea1efa9e541037217ffaa0ff" id="photo_thumbnail_6946383" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; "><img alt="" class="asset_image" height="88" src="http://o3.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/thumbnail/117x88/crop/88x88+15+0/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/57ca417ea1efa9e541037217ffaa0ff" width="88" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: text-bottom; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; width: 43px; height: 43px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-right-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-bottom-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-left-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); " /></a></div><div class="photo_6946384 thumbnail data_element photo thumbnail_size NS_1tkc7q1iij" asset="{"urls":{"thumbnail":"http://o4.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/thumbnail/117x88/crop/88x88+15+0/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/2156e63c4e0aec9fdb394fc49845eecd","collapsed":"http://o4.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/273x203/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/2156e63c4e0aec9fdb394fc49845eecd","expanded":"http://o4.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/600x450/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/2156e63c4e0aec9fdb394fc49845eecd"},"id":6946384,"title":"Chinese Language School of CT students with teacher Xianxian Feng","asset_subclass":"photo","asset_type":"photo","thumbnailed":true,"canonical_type":"photo","crop_x":null,"crop_y":null,"crop_w":null,"crop_h":null,"expanded_photo_dimensions":"600x450","crop_dimensions":"450,450,75,0","scale_when":1,"orig":"88,88","dimensions":"600x450"}" asset_attachment="{"short_url":"http://patch.com/A-kbjP~p-cmgYT","title":""}" id="photo_6946384" style="margin-top: 2px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; float: left; display: block; "><a class="photo_thumbnail" href="http://o4.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/resize/600x450/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/2156e63c4e0aec9fdb394fc49845eecd" id="photo_thumbnail_6946384" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; "><img alt="" class="asset_image" height="88" src="http://o4.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/PATCH/thumbnail/117x88/crop/88x88+15+0/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/2156e63c4e0aec9fdb394fc49845eecd" width="88" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: text-bottom; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; width: 43px; height: 43px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-right-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-bottom-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); border-left-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); " /></a></div></div></div><div class="asset_box arrow right disabled" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; width: 10px; cursor: pointer; position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; height: 49px; background-image: url(http://greenwich.patch.com/images/global/arrow_right.png); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(222, 222, 222); right: 0px; visibility: hidden; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "></div></div></div><div class="float-right" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; float: right !important; "><span class="icon_small icon-add" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: middle; display: inline-block; text-indent: -119988px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-align: left; background-image: url(http://assets1.patch-assets.com/images/sprites/icon_small-85b34efc01.png); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; height: 18px; width: 19px; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "></span> <span class="add_your_own" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.909em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 0.786em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.818em; color: rgb(119, 182, 0); "><a href="http://greenwich.patch.com/articles/east-meets-west?ncid=M255#modal_dialog:add_asset_modal_dialog" class=" link_to_login_modal_dialog" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(119, 182, 0); cursor: pointer; ">Add your photos & videos</a></span></div><div class="spacer" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "></div></div></div><div style="text-indent: -119988px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div></div><div class="main_text" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">'Ni Hao' my friends - your children are learning a whole new language!<br /><br />Pick up a newspaper, read a book about the global economy, stop and think about the next 100 years. Clearly, China will have a significant influence on pretty much every facet of our lives, our children’s lives and our grandchildren’s lives. With its booming industry and rapidly expanding cities, it has been predicted by many that China will soon become the world's biggest economy, surpassing the U.S. There are various dialects of Chinese already being spoken by billions worldwide, but according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, there are only 60,000 K-12 students in the United States that are studying Chinese. Compare this with the 300 million students in China currently studying English.<br /><br />Here in Greenwich, many of us are lucky if we speak another language and most likely, it is the French or Spanish that we struggled to learn in high school. But, for about 130 Greenwich High School students, they are facing the future straight on and acquiring the language skills essential to competing in the global economy - they are studying Mandarin Chinese.<br /><br />According to the The American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages, "Language and communication are at the heart of the human experience. The United States must educate students who are linguistically and culturally equipped to communicate successfully in a pluralistic American society and abroad. This imperative envisions a future in which ALL students will develop and maintain proficiency in English and at least one other language, modern or classical."<br /><br />Greenwich Public Schools' World Language Program "works to equip students linguistically and culturally to communicate and function in a "flat world" both as individuals and within a group,' according to the GPS website.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">According to the website, "World Language study develops an awareness of other people's views, an understanding of their unique ways of life and a recognition and respect for their diversity and contributions to the world at large. Linguistic proficiency combined with cultural knowledge will enable students to interact in a variety of real-life situations."<br /><br />Marcia Schenker, Greenwich Public Schools world languages program coordinator, says GHS offered its first Chinese course 5 years ago. For the past two years, GHS had about 130 students in seven sections, ranging from level 1-4 and, for the first time starting last year, an AP course. Additionally, GHS won a grant given by the <a href="http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG7nEDWBdOCh0AlgpXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE1M3AxdDZlBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA01TWTAxM18xNzY-/SIG=144kvulom/EXP=1310174307/**http%3a/asiasociety.org/education-learning/chinese-language-initiatives/asia-society-confucius-classrooms-network" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; ">Confucius Classroom Network </a>for $10,000, which was used for books, materials and special events for students and professional learning for staff.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">While other area high school programs including <a href="http://greenwich.patch.com/listings/greenwich-academy" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; ">Greenwich Academy</a>, <a href="http://greenwich.patch.com/listings/brunswick-school-2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; ">Brunswick School</a>, <a href="http://greenwich.patch.com/listings/convent-of-the-sacred-heart-2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; ">Convent of the Scared Heart</a>, <a href="http://newcanaan.patch.com/listings/new-canaan-high-school" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; ">New Canaan High School </a>, <a href="http://wilton.patch.com/listings/wilton-high-school-2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; ">Wilton High School</a> and<a href="http://westport.patch.com/listings/staples-high-school" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; "> Staples High School </a>in Westport all have Chinese language offerings, Greenwich High School was the first. It was thanks to parent and community advocacy which led to the adoption Mandarin into the GPS curriculum.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">While the Mandarin language has 21 consonants and 16 vowels, they can be combined together to create more than 400 mono-syllabic sounds. Therefore, becoming accustomed to the Mandarin pronunciation helps with both speaking and listening skills. While the thought of learning Mandarin Chinese may seem daunting, there are some features which make Mandarin easy such as no subject/verb agreement, no tenses, no plurals and no conjugations. <br /><br />Even prior to the offerings at Greenwich High School, another group in town was committed to teaching the language. The Chinese Language School of Connecticut was started in 2002 by a group of parents who wanted their children to learn Chinese. Their vision, according to their website, was "to create a school that children looked forward to attending every week - where they could learn practical communication skills, develop a life-long appreciation for the Chinese language and culture, and build lasting friendships with their fellow students."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">The mission of the Chinese Language School of Connecticut (CLSC) is to teach Mandarin Chinese as a second language to children ages 18 months and up. Their website states that their "activity-based curriculum enables students to acquire practical communication skills, develop competence and confidence, and experience the joy of learning another language."<br /><br />Through early exposure to Chinese, the school seeks to provide students with a foundation for future learning and cultivate their long term interest in the language, culture and traditions of China.<br /><br />CLSC initially only offered weekend classes and expected 50 students when they started. To their surprise however, 130 students signed up when began in September 2002. The school continued to grow over the next few years with the weekend program maxing out at 200 students.<br /><br />With the understanding of the need for Mandarin speaking skills growing, CLSC opened corporate and weekday programs in 2009 which are held at its new program offices here in Greenwich. CLSC continues to expand with weekend and weekday classes, Before and After School programs, arts, culture and special events. Throw in private tutoring, small group tutoring, online distance learning (iVuChinese was launched in June 2011), adult classes, corporate group classes and consulting for those visiting China, it is obvious that the need and the thirst for learning Mandarin is growing.<br /><br />Susan Serven, who was one of the originators of CLSC and now president and board member, describes how her daughter Emily, now 15 and a rising sophomore, first started learning Mandarin at the Chopstix preschool program in New Canaan (which Susan happened to have founded.) After 6 years at CLSC, she is entering her third year of Chinese at New Canaan High School having skipped a year due to her studies with CLSC!<br /><br />As Serven explains, “a global worldview is so crucial for today’s students and I believe learning Chinese allowed Emily to form a connection with Asian culture, which, in turn, prompted her to start her international music web site (www.kaermusic.com) a few years ago." Serven’s 11-year-old daughter Rebecca also recently graduated from CLSC with honors and does extremely well in all languages (she earned an A+ in Latin this year which Serven believes is due in part to her very early exposure to a second language, which is of course Chinese.)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">Cynthia Chang Scanlan, a CLSC board director said she believes that technology will have a major impact on how students of all ages can learn a language and that the typical classroom setting will evolve into 24/7 remote accessibility. Through computers Scanlan says that the students can “hear it, see it, touch it at their own pace.” This increased access will be able to cast a wider net that reaches beyond school aged students.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">To drive home just how flat the world is, First Selectman Peter Tesei spoke at last week’s Board of Selectmen meeting about attending a June 20<sup style="line-height: 0; ">th</sup> event at the Stamford Campus of <a href="http://www.stamford.uconn.edu/welcome.html" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; ">the University of Connecticut</a> with the <a href="http://www.cthedge.org/index.html" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 68, 170); cursor: pointer; ">Connecticut Hedge Fund Association</a> and a business and government delegation from Shanghai.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">The group hosted business representatives from Shanghai who are interested in exploring the Greenwich hedge fund community as a business model to be successful in the emerging world markets. Their intent is to establish such a hedge fund presence in Shanghai. According to Tesei, “the group from Shanghai is looking to understand what makes Greenwich such an attractive location for hedge funds to locate here.”</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">Tesei certainly sees the value in the ability to communicate internationally on a local level and the global impact it could have for Greenwich. “Understanding the Chinese language certain would facilitate relationship building for our community,” Tesei said.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">Whether you say 'Xie Xie' (pronounced shay shay) or thank you, learning the language and culture of a country that will have major influence for years to come is your ticket to the world</p></div></div></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-38698029532978587322011-06-22T08:20:00.000-07:002011-06-23T14:38:19.145-07:00iVuChinese Online Learning Program Launch!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xaXUsdmTP4BIInHEZ0ta9oduAusQ6XRim-k4f9EfBJoMWxOo4Qao7JHp0L6fEi3-IJ_3v7nugFRrjhseCgVY0wV6NukiU1zgMNiBVIEvQ7wZjjNVf6FCgisqn3hUS-YjYshVOsoqxjYb/s1600/Jackson+Dapuzzo.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xaXUsdmTP4BIInHEZ0ta9oduAusQ6XRim-k4f9EfBJoMWxOo4Qao7JHp0L6fEi3-IJ_3v7nugFRrjhseCgVY0wV6NukiU1zgMNiBVIEvQ7wZjjNVf6FCgisqn3hUS-YjYshVOsoqxjYb/s400/Jackson+Dapuzzo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621064705896676898" /></a><br />Photo caption: Jackson Dapuzzo, Greenwich, prepares to log in to learn Chinese online with his instructor<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Chinese Language School of Connecticut Announces New Online Learning Program, iVuChinese</span><br /><br />--iVuChinese distance learning program allows students to learn Chinese online, with locally-based, native speaking teachers --<br /><br /><br />“As CLSC enters our 10th year, we’re pleased to announce our new online learning program, iVuChinese. iVuChinese allows students the opportunity to learn or practice Chinese nearly any time, from any place,” New Canaan resident, CLSC president and Board member, Susan Serven.<br /><br />RIVERSIDE, CT, July 1, 2011 – The Chinese Language School of Connecticut (www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org), the non-profit Riverside, CT-based provider of Chinese language programs to students, schools and corporations, has announced the launch of their new online learning service, iVuChinese. iVuChinese is an online tutoring program, developed by CLSC’s education professionals, which allows students to connect with a native-speaking instructor remotely, using only their laptop or PC, and a standard application download.<br /><br />iVuChinese allows students to work with native-speaking teachers to design a personal, customized curriculum, and learn remotely, at their own pace. The teacher will link to CLSC online learning tools and documents, while guiding the student’s learning process, correcting their pronunciation, and assisting them with reading and writing Chinese characters if necessary.<br /><br />The student will be learning and practicing directly with the teacher, almost exactly as if she were sitting next to him.<br /><br />CLSC parent of 3 sons, Pelham, NY resident and Board of Directors co-Chair Jeffay Chang noted, “CLSC’s faculty undergo regular, rigorous training to make sure they’re able to communicate at a level that is both comfortable and consistent for our non-native speaking audience. Most other online sites do not have teachers who are both trained in on-line teaching methods, and who also have classroom experience, so can understand and appreciate the differences in working with students of varying ages.<br /><br />New Canaan resident, CLSC co-founder and president, Susan Serven, concurred. “One of CLSC’s key benefits is that we recruit native Chinese speakers, who have been rigorously trained in U.S. teaching methods, and are often parents, themselves. When we started the organization, back in 2002, we realized that no matter where each of us was born, our children were all learning in U.S. school systems, so we needed to be aware that they’d be most familiar with U.S. teaching methods. iVuChinese is an extension of CLSC’s dually-accredited programs which allow all students to have access learning Chinese as a second language.”<br /><br />Darwei Kung, co-Chair and Harrison, NY resident, noted, “Many of our students have come from as far away as New Jersey and Chester, CT. Over the last couple of years, many people have said they wanted their children to learn Chinese, but needed to send them to an accredited program with instructors fully trained in how to best engage and motivate children who usually don’t speak Chinese at home. We are very pleased to offer this new program in response to the need for a quality, consistent, interactive Chinese program which uses various milestones to measure students’ progress.”<br /><br />CLSC’s principal, Daisy Chen Laone, explained, “Key to students’ learning and retaining a language is usage and practice. Online learning allows students an easier way to practice Chinese. CLSC’s approach is unique because we stress interactive usage over rote memorization. Lessons are age-appropriate and are organized around themes such as family, food, travel, and games so that children can quickly gain useful communication skills. We’ve done considerable research to determine which learning methods and interactive, online support materials work best for American students learning Chinese as a second language, and it seems to be working; many parents say their children love learning Chinese!”<br /><br />CLSC program director, Harrison resident Terri Kung, noted “Generally, younger children acquire a second language better than older children or adults, especially if their learning uses interactive methods and they are allowed plenty of time to practice, in order to build retention and understanding. Early introduction to Chinese exposes each child to a wider variety of its contexts. These contexts foster language proficiency and help develop insights into the nature of the language. With time and practice, each child will gain a deeper understanding and better command of the Chinese language and will ultimately develop a life-long interest of Chinese language and culture. “<br /><br />To learn more about iVuChinese or CLSC’s other Chinese language programs for children or adults, please visit them at www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org or contact them at info@ChineseLanguageSchool.org.<br /><br />For interesting articles on Chinese language learning and Chinese culture, please visit http://GreenTeaPop.blogspot.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/ChineseLanguageSchoolofConnecticut<br /><br /><br />* * *Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-59016808375135880942011-06-20T06:04:00.000-07:002011-06-20T06:06:05.540-07:00Chinese Puzzles at the MOCA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3JgnCh72H45QmB_bo2LebgbkN6LW3zokggs6yhCOglInbui1AI9cfEavlDJ2681efXXYB5XXtB8rrbxqta2WnbriYdbVpWubBjA4ex5Mz0FPQETeF-vH5Z6wXyCbViVF0Ew8y1byWMKG/s1600/image003.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3JgnCh72H45QmB_bo2LebgbkN6LW3zokggs6yhCOglInbui1AI9cfEavlDJ2681efXXYB5XXtB8rrbxqta2WnbriYdbVpWubBjA4ex5Mz0FPQETeF-vH5Z6wXyCbViVF0Ew8y1byWMKG/s400/image003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620287486927328674" /></a><br />MOCA Chinese Puzzles Family Workshop<br />Sat, Jun 25 from 1:30pm – 2:30pm<br />Museum of Chinese in America | 215 Centre Street | New York | NY | 10013<br /> <br />Come join MOCA for its second Chinese Puzzles Family Workshop! Hear stories related to puzzles, try your hand at solving puzzles, and experiment with a puzzles inspired art activity!<br /> <br />In conjunction with Chinese Puzzles: Games for the Hands and Mind, MOCA will offer a series of family workshops on the last Saturday of each month from March to August 2011.<br /> <br />These family workshops are shared experiences for children and their adult companions. <br /> <br />Ages 4 and older with adults.<br /><br />Admission: $10 per child and adult pair; $5 per additional child; Free for MOCA Family Members. RSVP to programs@mocanyc.orgUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-1256869359465173462011-06-15T10:05:00.001-07:002011-06-15T10:06:34.293-07:00China Pace University Business School TripGreat blog with highlights from current students' and professors' trip. <br /><br />http://dysoncollege.blogs.pace.edu/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-89167169300495950162011-06-13T12:34:00.000-07:002011-06-13T12:35:36.872-07:00Chinese Language School of Connecticut Elects New BoardPress Release <br /> <br />For immediate release<br /><br /> <br />FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:<br />Susan Serven, Chinese Language School of Connecticut<br />203/918.8085<br />susan.serven@chineselanguageschool.org<br />please visit our web site: www.chineselanguageschool.org<br /><br />Visit us on Facebook: facebook.com/ChineseLanguageSchoolofConnecticut<br /><br /><br />Chinese Language School of Connecticut Announces New Board<br /><br />-- Professionals from Connecticut and Westchester to help expand program’s success in bringing Chinese to students --<br /><br /><br /> <br />“CLSC is entering it’s 10th year with an extremely competent, very dedicated Board of Directors, and we’re pleased to be helping the organization continue to develop its programs and expand its reach, ” Pelham resident and CLSC Board co-Chair, Jeffay Chang and Harrison resident and CLSC Board co-Chair Darwei Kung.<br /><br /> <br />RIVERSIDE, CT, June 15, 2011 – The Chinese Language School of Connecticut (www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org), the non-profit Riverside, CT-based provider of Chinese language programs to students, schools and corporations, has elected their new Board of Directors for the upcoming year. <br /><br />Newly elected co-Chairs are Harrison resident Darwei Kung and Pelham resident Jeffay Chang. <br /><br />Jeffay Chang (Co-Chairman) Jeffay serves as the East Coast Trust Strategist for the Goldman Sachs Trust Companies. He was named Executive Vice President with responsibility over national marketing and sales in 2008. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs in May 2004, Jeffay was a Corporate Vice President in the Private Wealth Services Group of UBS Financial Services where he provided counseling and planning services for ultra high net worth clients in such areas as wealth transfer and philanthropic planning, stock option exercise planning, and hedging and monetizing concentrated equity positions. <br />Prior to UBS Financial Services, Jeffay was a Financial Planner in the Financial Planning Group of US Trust and before that was a Trust Officer in the Trust Settlement Department of US Trust. Jeffay obtained his B.A. from Brandeis University and J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, New York State Bar Association, New York Bankers Association, Estate Planning Council of New York City and the Westchester Estate Planning Council.<br /><br />Darwei Kung (Co-Chairman) Darwei is a Portfolio Manager for fixed income and commodity investment funds for Deutsche Asset Management. Prior to his current career in investment management, Darwei spent over 10 years in the telecommunications industry in a variety of professional and management roles in engineering, product management, strategic planning, and business development. Darwei received his bachelors and masters degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle, and received his MBA and Masters in Computational Finance degrees from Carnegie Mellon University. Darwei lives in Harrison, New York with his wife and son.<br /><br />Cynthia Chang Scanlan (Director) - Cynthia Chang was born in Taipei, Taiwan and moved to New York City at the age of six, learning English after Taiwanese and Mandarin Chinese. She graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and received a B.A. at the University of Pennsylvania. She worked in real estate and banking in New York City. Her husband, Brian Scanlan, founded a software company, and Cynthia joined the company soon after to manage administrative operations and facilities. The company had an initial public offering in 2000 at which time, Cynthia left to concentrate on family and community service in Greenwich, having moved there in 1997. She has been a board member at the YMCA of Greenwich since 2001, serving as the annual campaign chairman, Facilities Committee chair, and currently as Secretary of the Board. She also served as the First Selectman's representative on the Board of Trustees of the Greenwich Library, and is active with her alma mater, chairing the University of Pennsylvania's Secondary School committee in Greenwich. Cynthia lives in Greenwich with her husband and two children, Kevin, 18, who recently graduated Brunswick School and will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, and Paula, 11, who attends Greenwich Country Day School.<br /><br />Dr. Sue Chang, M.D. (Director) is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she received her B.S., followed by her M.D. degree at Michigan State University. She completed her residency training in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Nephrology at Yale University where she served as a research fellow in the genetics of hypertension. She is in private practice with Metabolism Associates of New Haven, CT. <br /><br />Joab Tjiungwanara (Director) is a Risk Manager with General Electric and has worked extensively in the credit and market risk area at GE Corporate Treasury. He is a graduate of University of Bremen, Germany (Electrical Engineering) and University of Rochester (MBA in Finance). Joab is an overseas Chinese who was born in Indonesia, went to Germany after high school and came to the US for graduate school. He speaks fluent Mandarin, German, English and is conversant in Indonesian. <br /><br />Susan Serven (Director) - Susan has been with CLSC since the school’s founding in May 2002. Susan is a graduate of Pace University (BBA, Marketing) and Fairfield University (MBA, Finance, International Business, 2011). She has held positions in global marketing at Lever Bros. Co., and Save the Children Federation, and as Special Events Director for the American Cancer Society. Susan founded the Chopstix program in 1998 so her daughters and other children could learn Chinese; all Chopstix proceeds were donated to help fund various non- profit groups working with Chinese orphanage programs. She continued running Chopstix until it joined CLSC in 2003. Susan and her husband Lawrence adopted their daughters Emily in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China in August 1996, and Becky in Gao Ming City, Guangdong Province, in October, 2000. They live in New Canaan, CT.<br /><br />Thomas K. Myers, Jr., (Director) Tom is the Director of Sales and Marketing for FocusVision Worldwide based in Stamford, CT. A graduate of Bucknell University with a B.A. in Political Science, Tom spent his early career in account service with New York based advertising agencies. During this time he met his Taiwan born wife Katy. Since then Tom has held sales and marketing positions for several international companies. Tom’s interest in Chinese language increased quickly with the birth of his daughter, Emily. “I have always believed a second language to be a useful tool. But a second language with ties to one’s heritage is a gift that should not be missed. My goal is to help CLSC continue its efforts to make learning Chinese as enjoyable and satisfying as possible”. Tom lives in Redding, CT with his wife and daughter. <br /><br />For information on the Chinese Language School of Connecticut’s weekday and weekend language programs, including their Before and After School programs, special workshops. lectures, events, private tutoring, online learning, and their corporate language program, please visit www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org. For interesting articles on Chinese language learning and Chinese culture, please visit http://GreenTeaPop.blogspot.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/ChineseLanguageSchoolofConnecticut<br /><br /><br />* * *Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-58164355964005130812011-06-12T11:46:00.000-07:002011-06-12T11:50:17.066-07:00Bi-Lingualism Can Delay AlzheimersEllen Bialystok is a cognitive neuroscientist who has found that bilingualism can delay the symptoms of Alzheimer's. Chris Young for The New York Times<br /><br />A cognitive neuroscientist, Ellen Bialystok has spent almost 40 years learning about how bilingualism sharpens the mind. Dr. Bialystok, 62, a distinguished research professor of psychologyat York University in Toronto, was awarded a $100,000 Killam Prize last year for her contributions tosocial science. An edited version of our conversations follows.<br /><br />Q.How did you begin studying bilingualism?<br /><br />A.You know, I didn't start trying to find out whether bilingualism was bad or good. I did my doctoratein psychology: on how children acquire language. When I finished graduate school, in 1976, therewas a job shortage in Canada for Ph.D.'s. The only position I found was with a research projectstudying second language acquisition in schoolchildren. It wasn't my area. But it was close enough.<br /><br />As a psychologist, I brought neuroscience questions to the study, like "How does the acquisition of asecond language change thought?" It was these types of questions that naturally led to thebilingualism research.<br /><br />The way research works is, it takes you down a road. You then follow that road. So what exactly did you find on this unexpected road?<br /><br />A.As we did our research, you could see there was a big difference in the way monolingual and bilingual children processed language. If yougave 5- and 6-year-olds language problems to solve, monolingual and bilingual children knew,pretty much, the same amount of language.<br /><br />But on one question, there was a difference. We asked all the children if a certain illogical sentencewas grammatically correct: "Apples grow on noses."<br /><br />The monolingual children couldn't answer. They'd say, "That's silly" and they'd stall. But the bilingual children would say, in their own words, "It's silly, but it's grammatically correct." The bilinguals, wefound, manifested a cognitive system with the ability to attend to important information and ignorethe less important.<br /><br />Q.How does this work?<br /><br />A.There's a system in your brain, the executive control system. It's a general manager. Its job is tokeep you focused on what is relevant, while ignoring distractions. It's what makes it possible for youto hold two different things in your mind at one time and switch between them.<br /><br />If you have two languages and you use them regularly, the way the brain's networks work is thatevery time you speak, both languages pop up and the executive control system has to sort througheverything and attend to what's relevant in the moment. Therefore the bilinguals use that systemmore, and that regular use makes that system more efficient.<br /><br />Q.One of your most startling recent findings is that bilingualism helps forestall the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. How did you come to learn this?<br /><br />A.Bilingual older adults performed better than monolingual older adults on executive control tasks.That was very impressive because it didn't have to be that way. It could have turned out thateverybody just lost function equally as they got older.<br /><br />We looked at the medical records of 400 Alzheimer's patients. On average, the bilinguals showedAlzheimer's symptoms five or six years later than those who spoke only one language. This didn'tmean that the bilinguals didn't have Alzheimer's. It meant that as the disease took root in theirbrains, they were able to continue functioning at a higher level.<br /><br />Q.So high school French is useful for something other than ordering a special meal in a restaurant?<br /><br />A.Sorry, no. You have to use both languages all the time. You won't get the bilingual benefit fromoccasional use.<br /><br />Q.Would bilingualism help with multitasking?<br /><br />A.Yes, multitasking is one of the things the executive control system handles.<br /><br />Q.Bilingualism used to be considered a negative thing - at least in the United States. Is it still?<br /><br />A.Until about the 1960s, the conventional wisdom was that bilingualism was a disadvantage. Someof this was xenophobia.<br /><br />Thanks to science, we now know that the opposite is true.<br /><br />Q.Many immigrants choose not to teach their children their native language. Is this a good thing?<br /><br />A.There are two major reasons people should pass their heritage language onto children.<br /><br />First, it connects children to their ancestors. The second is my research: Bilingualism is good foryou. It makes brains stronger.It is brain exercise.<br /><br />The New York Times<br /><br />(China Daily 06/12/2011 page11)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490150020866895508.post-602096664299074362011-06-08T11:42:00.000-07:002011-06-08T11:47:55.724-07:00Why Should My Children Study Chinese?We're all so busy. We have no time. Besides, our kids will learn Spanish in school, right?<br /><br />So, why should they study Chinese? <br /><br />http://www.chineselanguageschool.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=37<br /><br />According to the Chinese Language School of Connecticut, www.ChineseLanguageSchool.org, most education experts agree that the earlier a child is introduced to a second language, the greater the chances are that the child will become truly proficient in the language.<br /><br />For example, each Mandarin syllable has four tones that can mean different things. For example, "ma" in the first tone means "mother," while spoken in the third tone means "horse." Younger children find it much easier to learn a tonal language such as Chinese because they can mimic sounds much easier than older children or adults.<br />According to the Connecticut Department of Education, the number of public school students studying Mandarin, mostly non-Asian, has seen a more than ten-fold increase from 2004 to 2006(1). As more Connecticut public and private schools offer Mandarin classes at the middle school and high school level, CLSC students will have an educational advantage since they will have started at a much younger age.<br /><br />In addition, for those students whose schools only offer Chinese once or twice per week, regular exposure to Chinese via CLSC tutoring and small private classes, will enhance their overall Chinese learning experience.<br /><br />1 Winnie Hu, "Non-Asians Show a Growing Interest in Chinese Courses," The New York Times, November 29, 2006.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Culture</span>: Learning the Chinese language and culture will allow students to explore an ancient culture, rich with innovation and historical significance. From writing Chinese characters, to learning about the 7 Sages during a watercolor painting exercise, to playing traditional Chinese games, students will be introduced to one of the oldest civilizations in the world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Communication</span>: Mandarin Chinese is spoken by nearly one out of every four people on the planet. As China grows in economic and political importance, it is critical that U.S. students become global citizens, and that they are given the opportunity to communicate in Chinese and to be familiar with Chinese customs and culture.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Enhanced Cognitive Ability</span>: [From the BBC News and the Guardian, June 30, 2003] According to Dr. Sophie Scott, a psychologist at the Wellcome Trust, and colleagues from hospitals in Oxford and London who performed brain scans on volunteers as they listened to their native languages, when English speakers heard English, their left temporal lobes lit up on screen. When Mandarin Chinese speakers heard their native tongue, both right and left lobes buzzed with activity.<br /><br />The left temporal lobe is normally associated with piecing sounds together into words; the right with processing melody and intonation.<br /><br />"Speech really is a complex sound," said Dr Scott. "As well as understanding words, the brain uses the way in which words are spoken, such as intonation and melody, to turn spoken language into meaning. This system has to be robust and flexible enough to deal with variations in speech sounds such as regional accents. We think Mandarin speakers interpret intonation and melody in the right temporal lobe to give correct meaning to the spoken words."<br /><br />The study suggests that language itself might affect the way the brain develops in a young child.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Improved Skills</span>: In its 1992 report, College Bound Seniors: The 1992 Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, the College Entrance Examination Board reported that "students who averaged 4 or more years of foreign language study scored higher on the verbal section of the SAT than those who had studied 4 or more years in any other subject area. This finding echoes many experts' belief that learning a second language can improve not only a child's aptitude in English, but also enhance creativity and problem-solving skills."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Global Edge: </span>Mandarin Chinese is spoken by nearly 25% of the world’s population. Treasury Secretary TimGeithner, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, commentator and fundmanager Jim Rogers, former president of Goldman Sachs John L. Thornton, formerU.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, and News Corp's chairman Rupert Murdochare just a few of the world's leaders that speak Chinese or realize theimportance of learning Mandarin.<br /><br />And, in April, 2011, the IMF predicted that China’s economy willsurpass the U.S.’s as early as 2016(2).<br /><br />With the emergence of China as a growing global superpower, the importance understanding China's global relevance cannot be understated.<br /> <br />2 http://www.marketwatch.com/story/imf-bombshell-age-of-america-about-to-end-2011-04-25?pagenumber=1Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2