Technology infusion into Chinese as a second/foreign language curriculum

1. Teaching Chinese
Language in International
Contexts
Joanna Huang
Chinese Studies Department
Canadian International School of Hong Kong

2. Teaching Philosophy
Good teaching happens when competent teachers with
non discouraging personalities, use non defensive
approaches to language teaching and learning and cherish
their students. ( Dr. James E Alatis, Dean Emeritus,
School of Languages and Linguistics, Georgetown
University )

3. A Vision of 21st Century Teachers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=B4g5M06YyVw&feature=related

4. Learners Background
L1: English, French, Spanish or languages other than
Chinese
L2: learning Mandarin Chinese as a foreign or second
language in CDNIS, HK (Canadian International School
of Hong Kong)
having been learning Mandarin Chinese for a few years
with very limited Chinese vocabulary and structures
ability background

5. Core Curriculum
Nihao - An Introduction to Chinese Vol. 3
Chinese Made Easy Vol. 1
CDNIS teacher developed materials

6. Supplementary Resources
website-based on-line reading materials
TV programs/CDs/videos/any electronic resources
newspapers, magazines, stories, brochures...etc.

7. IB PYP Program Framework:
What kind of person are we becoming?
Learner Profile:
Caring
Knowledgeable
Open-minded
Inquirers
Principled
Communicators
Thinkers
Reflective
Risk-takers
Balanced

8. What skills help us to learn?
Transdisciplinary skills
Communication ski)s
Social ski)s
Self-management ski)s
Research ski)s
Thinking ski)s

9. What can we learn about? (Knowledge)
Transdisciplinary Themes
Who we are
Where are we in place and time
How we express ourselves
How the world works
How we organize ourselves
Sharing the planet

10. What will we understand?
(Concepts)
Form - What is it like?
Function - How does it work?
Causation - Why is it the way it is?
Change - How is it changing?
Connection - How is it connected to other things?
Perspective - What are the points of view?
Responsibility - What is our responsibility?
Reflection - How do we know?

11. The 5’Cs of Foreign Language
Education

12. Objectives/Standards for
Foreign Language Learning
Knowing How, When and Why to say What to Whom
( The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
Languages)

13. Teaching Techniques/Approaches
Grammar - Translation Method
Audio-Lingual Approach
Total Physical Response
Silent W
ay
Community Language Learning
Communicative Language Learning, ( or Communicative Approach )
Content - Based Approach
Task - Based Approach

14. Why Technology
Not every student is interested in learning a second/foreign language,
able to express ideas and pronounce Mandarin we); therefore, I decide to
infuse technology into the Chinese curriculum, e.g. GoChinese
Through effective technology tools, students can listen to the Chinese texts
at home, learn and correct own pronunciation, obtain English meaning of
unknown Chinese words and work on on-line supplementary exercises.
Furthermore, students can improve their listening, speaking, reading and
writing ski)s.
Innovative strategies wi) enhance students’ motivation and interest in
learning Chinese as a second /foreign language.

15. GoChinese Platform

16. Assessment
Formative assessment
Summative assessment
Peer - evaluation
Self - reflection ( Self - evaluation )

17. Wikispaces/Skype Project between
CDNIS, HK and Chung Hsin School in Taiwan
http://cdnis-huang-laoshi-g6-nihao-0809.wikispaces.com
http://cdnis-huang-laoshi-g6-nihao-0910.wikispaces.com
http://cdnis-huang-laoshi-g6-nihao-1011.wikispaces.com
video 1
video 2
video 3

18. Pre-Skype
CDNIS students brainstorm ideas, make sentences with
learned phrases and structures, then type their sentences
into wikispaces.
Both school students exchange information in their
co)aboration pages of wikispaces website.

19. Skype
CDNIS students share ideas in Mandarin Chinese.
Chung Hsin School students share ideas in English.
Students of both schools ask and answer questions in
Chinese and English in order to help their global partners
practice the second/foreign language.

20. Post-Skype
Students upload their feedback/su,estion into the
discussion forum of wikispaces website.

21. Conclusion
Teachers’ great personalities, we) planned curricula,
varied teaching approaches, different class activities,
positive classroom atmosphere, technology integration,
proper assessments plus students’ good learning attitude
will contribute to efficient language learning and
indispensable 21st century learning ski)s.

22. Kudos
Learning and Teaching Technologies Department,
Canadian International School of Hong Kong
Teachers in Chung Hsin School, Taiwan

23. References
International Baccalaureate Online Curriculum Center (OCC):
Primary Years Program. Retrieved Oct. 1, 2010 -om http://
occ.ibo.org/ibis/occ/guest/pypxx_home.cfm
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages: National
Standards for Foreign Language. Retrieved Oct. 1, 2010 -om
http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1
HKU MED/PCAES Moodle Platform: MEDD6051 Course.
Retrieved Oct. 2, 2010 from http://med.edu.hku.hk/course/
view.php?id=81