Chinese Music and Dance

http://thecabin.net/slideshow/2013-04-18/chinese-music-and-dance-uca#slide-1

Savannah Barlow Won Third Prize

Alex Peebles Won Honorable Mention

Time:   April 1st, 2013, 7:00 pm

Venue:  UCA College of Business Auditorium

A senior member of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Hawai‘i since 1963, Professor Cheng has become an internationally well-known scholar-philosopher in Chinese philosophy and comparative philosophy. With a broad and deep background in the traditions of classical Chinese philosophy and Neo-Confucianism, he received his doctorate from Harvard University in the field of analytical philosophy and logic. He has lectured worldwide, and has received numerous honorary titles as honorary professor and university fellow. He is the founding president of the International Society of Chinese philosophy, and executive editor of the Journal of Chinese Philosophy.  Professor Cheng has authored and edited 21 books and over 250 articles in Western, Chinese, and comparative philosophy.

Sponsored by:

Humanities and World Cultures Institute, UCA College of Liberal Arts

UCA Confucius Institute

UCA Department of Philosophy and Religion

On February 11, 2013, twenty Chinese Hanban teachers from UCA Confucius Institute received recognition from the representatives at the regular session of the 89th General Assembly of the Arkansas State Legislature.

At 1:00 pm, accompanied by their mentors, principals and superintendents, Chinese teachers were led to the Assembly of Legislature. The chair introduced the Chinese teachers and “Teach Chinese in Arkansas” program to representatives. All representatives stood up to give a big applause to the teachers for their contribution to the Chinese language education in Arkansas.

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe meets with Chinese teachers from Confucius Institute at the University of Central Arkansas

The teachers were also awarded “Arkansas Traveler” by Arkansas State Board of Education for their outstanding contribution to “Teach Chinese in Arkansas” program.

All of the twenty teachers come from Confucius Institute at the University of Central Arkansas (UCACI). Among them seventeen teachers teach Chinese in 17 schools at 15 School districts and 1 distance teaching center. Three teachers work at the Confucius Institute at the University of Central Arkansas.

Dr. Kimbrell, Commissioner of Arkansas Department of Education, awarded the teachers “Arkansas Traveler” certificates issued by Governor Mike Beebe and Secretary of State Mark Martin. At the award ceremony, Dr. Guo-ou Zhuang, Director of Confucius Institute reported to the board members about the development of UCACI and the Teach Chinese in Arkansas Program. He believes that “Teach Chinese in Arkansas” program will bring more opportunities for Arkansas education and economy.

Chinese teachers are recognized by the State Legislature

After the award ceremony, the Chinese teachers, together with their mentors, principals and superintendents from different school districts had a tour of the State Capitol. Staff of the State Secretary office led all the participants to Governor’s office, State Senate and the House of Representatives.

After the tour, Governor Beebe met with all the Chinese teachers and commended them for their contribution to the “Teach Chinese in Arkansas” program.

“This award is not only a form of recognition of my work in the past, but also a great encouragement for my future work. I will do my best to teach Chinese and help my students to gain a better understanding of China and Chinese culture”, said one of the teachers.

Chinese teachers from Confucius Institute at the University of Central Arkansas are awarded by Arkansas State Board of Education

http://english.hanban.org/article/2013-02/28/content_486098.htm

At the gathering, Dr. Guo-ou Zhuang, Director of UCACI extended his best wishes to all the participants for their healthy and happy New Year of Snake. He then outlined the five-year strategic plan of UCACI and the projects to be conducted in 2013. Dr. Zhuang expressed his thanks to all the Chinese teachers and their mentors for their commitments and efforts made for the Chinese program. He hoped that the Chinese teachers could constantly reflect their teaching experience to create a friendly and sustainable environment for Chinese teaching and learning so as to build up a strong Chinese program in their schools and school districts.

Confucius Institute at the University of Central Arkansas invites all Chinese teachers and their mentors to attend Chinese Spring Festival gathering

At the workshop, Chinese teachers and their mentors discussed the issues concerning course designing, teaching planning, cultural activities, classroom management and parent/student-teacher relations. They brought out their concerns and problems and shared their experience. All the participants found this kind of workshop was very helpful, as for the Chinese teachers who are in a totally different culture, the most critical issues are how to adapt themselves to the new school environment, how to manage classroom efficiently and how to deal with the parent/student-teacher relationship. The second year Chinese teachers’ experience and other foreign language teachers’ experience would be very beneficial to the new Chinese teachers.

On the evening of Spring Festival, all the Chinese teachers and their mentors were invited to the Chinese Spring Festival Gala hosted by UCACI and CSSA in the Reynolds Performance Hall at UCA. The Gala was spectacular, with Chinese folk dancing, Chinese traditional musical instrument performance, Chinese Gongfu, modern dancing, western opera and violin performance. What impressed the audience most was the skit by a group of American students from Chinese minor classes at UCA. The play, which was directed by UCACI Chinese teacher, depicted the funny stories these American students had experienced in learning Chinese, and it won a lot of applause from the audience.

UCACI hosts a workshop for Chinese teachers on Feb.10th, 2013

http://english.hanban.org/article/2013-02/27/content_486000.htm

Picture from Hanban official website: http://www.hanban.edu.cn

There were several types of seminars at the conference, including lectures, panel discussions, demonstrations, and opportunities to share experiences. Discussions were held on topics ranging from classroom management to designing classroom activities.

Arkansas teachers at the conference

Here is the link to the KARK 4 web article:

Arkansas Students Learning to Speak Chinese

Dr. Runge, spoke briefly at the reception stating that in the past five years, the Teach Chinese in Arkansas Program has made great strides despite the setbacks from the State Department last November over visa classifications.  He expressed his thanks to the Arkansas school districts and to the Confucius Institute for their continuing support for the Teach Chinese in Arkansas Program.

Michael Rowland stated with pride that his son will take Chinese at Maumelle High School this coming fall term.  He was one of the interviewers for the Chinese teachers’ selection in Shanghai, last December.

Once the reception ended, the seven Hanban volunteer teachers were taken to their districts by officials from their new schools.