Strategies for teaching early chinese language learners

Strategies for Teaching
Early Chinese Language
Learners
Shuhan C. Wang ( 王周淑涵 ), Ph.D.
Asia Society
Carol Ann Dahlberg ( 杜凯若安 ), Ph.D.
Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota

Overview
Essential Elements of Curriculum
Special Considerations for Teaching
Chinese in K-6
•
Oral Language and Literacy
•
Ten Principles

Lessons from Experience
Working with 飞向中文 :
Kindergarten-6
Standards-based
Content-related
Thematically Designed
Language learning system

Essential Elements for
Building Curriculum
飞
飞

向
向
中文
中文 is guided by…

Standards for
Standards for
Foreign Language Learning
Foreign Language Learning
in the
in the
21st Century
21st Century

Connections
Connections
Comparisons
Comparisons
Communities
Communities
Cultures
Cultures
Communication
Communication

Standards provide:
Realistic goals and benchmarks
Balanced curriculum content
Focus on performance and
assessment

Thematic Planning
Essential Elements:
Essential Elements:
飞
飞
向
向
中文
中文 is guided by…

makes instruction more
understandable to learners
because the theme creates
a meaningful context.
Thematic Planning

provides a rich context for
standards-based learning
Thematic Planning

is student-centered. It involves
students in real language use, in
a variety of situations, modes,
and text types.
Thematic Planning

links language instruction to

the philosophy and content of
the general elementary school
curriculum.
Thematic Planning

connects content, language
and culture goals to a “big idea,”
or enduring understanding, as
recommended by Understanding
by Design
Thematic Planning

Story Form
Essential Elements:
Essential Elements:
飞
飞
向
向
中文
中文 is guided by…
Entering the magical
world of stories

The qualities of a good story
are the qualities of a good
• activity
• lesson
• unit
• plan

Appeals to emotions
Personally meaningful
Sparks the imagination
Satisfying conclusion
Clear BEGINNING
MIDDLE
and END

Each book is a story…

Each lesson is a story…

Each page is a story…

Each activity is a story…

Understanding by Design
Essential Elements:
Essential Elements:
飞
飞
向
向
中文
中文 is guided by…

Stages in the Backward Design Process
Identify
desired
results

Determine
acceptable
evidence
Plan learning
experiences
and instruction
Enduring Understandings
Essential Questions
Performance
Assessments
Teacher Guide
“I can” statements

Identify
desired
results
Backward Design Process
Enduring Understanding:
“Students will understand that:”
Essential Question:
In student language; focuses
student effort and thinking
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