Newsletter Confucius Institute at Troy University 15/4/2018 Vol. 63 CIT Held Chinese Language Proficiency Test (HSK/HSKK/YCT) From Mar. 23 to Apr. 7, 2018, CIT held Chinese Language Proficiency Test (HSK/HSKK/YCT) in Troy, Montgomery, Pike Road, Dothan and Birmingham in Alabama. The test was conducted successfully with the guidance of Dr. Iris Xu, Director of CIT, and Mr. Zhi Zha, Deputy Director of CIT. The test covered 11 different levels, including HSK Level 1-4 and 6, HSKK Level 1-3/ YCT1-3 with 169 candidates from elementary schools, high schools universities and local communities. They are from different cultural background, such as United States, Korea, Vietnam, as well as China. 1
About 100 candidates of YCT come from Kelly Springs Elementary School in Dothan, Pike Road Historic School in Pike Road, and Forest Avenue Academic Magnet in Montgomery and Indian Springs School in Birmingham. The rest of the candidates of HSK and HSKK are from Baldwin Magnet School, LAMP High School in Montgomery, Indian Springs School in Birmingham, Troy University and After-school Chinese program and Adult Chinese programs in Montgomery. The following pictures are the YCT1 candidates in Kelly Springs Elementary School in Dothan. 2
The test in 2018 Spring was launched in an effort to better serve Chinese language learners and with more participants involved in the state of Alabama. It is also a proof of the growing influence of Chinese language here in the communities. The following pictures are the YCT1 candidates in Forest Avenue Academic Magnet in Montgomery. 3
The following pictures are the YCT candidates in Pike Road Historic School in Pike Road. 4
The following pictures are the HSK/ HSKK/YCT candidates in Indian Springs School in Birmingham. 5
The following pictures are the HSK/ HSKK candidates in Baldwin Magnet School in Montgomery. 6
The following pictures are the candidates of HSK/ HSKK in LAMP High School in Montgomery. 7
The following pictures are the candidates of HSK/ HSKK in Troy University and Afterschool Chinese program and Adult Chinese programs in Montgomery. 8
Montgomery Focus Hotpot in China On Apr. 4, 2018 CIT held the 6th workshop of Montgomery Focus Hotpot in China on Montgomery Campus. Ms. Kai Zeng first defined hotpot and introduced several types of hotpot in different parts of China with different flavors and various pots. Then she focused on the hotpot in Sichuan Province, with spicy and non-spicy soup base. At last, Ms. Zeng explained the basic ingredient of hotpot and how to make a spicy hotpot at home and how to put different meat and vegetables in the right order. Finally, she invited the audience to taste some spicy hotpot with the sesame oil and ground garlic. The audience enjoyed the hotpot very much and were eager to try to make one at home by themselves. 9
The 9th ACLTA Forum Kicked off at TROY University Montgomery On April 14, 2018, the 9th ACLTA Forum kicked off at TROY University Montgomery Campus. This forum is hosted by the Alabama Chinese Language Teachers Association (ACLTA), in collaboration with Chinese Language Teachers Association (CILC) and Confucius Institute at Troy University( CIT). The annual conference dedicated to bring together K-16 teachers, policymakers, scholars, educational administrators, and other professionals in the field of Chinese culture and language education worldwide to share the best practices, research findings and inspiring ideas. 10
In 2018, based on its successes of the previous forums, the 9th ACLTA Forum continues to serve as a primary forum for Chinese culture and language education in the United States. The forum s theme of the 9th is Developing Cultural Awareness in Chinese Language Teaching. Mr. Qiang Chen, a National Board-Certified language teacher and Chinese Language teacher from Enloe Magnet High School in North Carolina, focused on A Journey to Becoming a Chinese Language Teacher, explaining how to apply for a Chinese teacher, how to carry out classroom management and how to prepare a teaching plan. Dr. Iris Xu, Director of AL-CLTA, presented The Difference of Chinese Teachers Overseas and Abroad, illustrating the differences in teaching system, curriculum, teachers, textbooks, teaching methodology, teaching environment, culture and teaching target and solutions to each field. Dr. Rui Feng, Executive Chairperson of AL-CLTA and the teacher from CILC, presented the lecture on Chinese and /or English: from Yuen Ren Chao, to Now. He pointed out that Chinese language has to be learned and taught as a morpho-syllabic language with its physiognomic features. Dr. Rui Zhang, a visiting scholar at CIT and a communication doctor from Ren Min University of China, presented How to Develop a WeChat Public Account and Chinese Punctuation Usage. 11
More than forty elementary school, high school and university teachers, scholars, educational administrators from Alabama and the states nearby attended this forum exchanging ideas, and sharing experiences in Chinese language teaching. This forum has provided a comprehensive professional development experience that will have an impact on language educators at all levels of teaching and in turn help their students to succeed in their language learning process. Ms. Lin Cao, a visiting scholar at CIT, presented How to Give Mandarin Class to Adult Beginners, arousing students interest in understanding Chinese culture and language. Ms. Wenjuan Cheng, a visiting scholar at CIT, taught the attendants to make a rose papercutting. Ms. Zheng Zhou, a visiting scholar at CIT, demonstrated Chinese tea ceremony with beautiful music background. At last, Mr. Chen and Dr. Feng awarded the certificate of the conference to all the attendees present. 12
CIT Attended the Job Affair in TROY On April 4,2018, CIT was invited to join the job fair in TROY. CIT received some visitors and answered some questions put forward by them. Dr. Iris Xu, Director of CIT, and Mr. Zha, Deputy Director of CIT, also offered the chance for students to know some job vacancies in China such as teaching English as second language. Those who are interested in it, may contact Mr. Zha at 334-808-6154 or mail to zzhi@troy.edu. 13
Vol.63 CIT Received Students from Pike County High School On April 12, 2018, students from Pike County High School in Brundidge visited the Exhibition Hall of CIT. Ms. Lin Cao showed them around and explained the Chinese culture displayed in the hall to them in detail. Upcoming Events Apr. 21 CIT will attend Alabama Book Festival in Old Alabama Town on Apr. 21. Troy Campus 023 Bibb Graves Hall, Troy, AL Tel: 334-808-6544/6513/6516 Fax: 334-808-6320 Montgomery Campus 252 Montgomery St., Suite 335, Montgomery, AL Tel: 334-241-8715 montgomery Follow us on Facebook https:// www. facebook. com/ troyci Follow us on Twitter: CIT: Troy_CI CIT website http:// www. troy. edu/ confucius/ Email:Confucius@ troy. edu Editor-in-chief: Dr. Iris Xu Dothan Campus 204 Adams Hall, Dothan, AL Tel: 334-983-6556#1290 dothan/index.htm Chinese: Xiaoyan Zhang, Lin Cao, Wei Yu English: Jing Yang, Li Zhang, Zhi Zha Editor: Kai Zeng Photographer: Yandong Wang, Wenjuan Cheng Confucius Institute Troy University 特洛伊大学孔子学院 14