Proposal to the 2008 Annual Conference of CLTA-GNY

Title: Professional Development for Chinese language teachers: Needs and Strategies

Presenters: Frank Tang & Robin Harvey, New York University

Abstract:

With more and more K-12 schools starting to offer Chinese as a foreign language and more and more new teachers joining the profession of teaching Chinese as a foreign language, the professional needs for in-service teachers have also been increasing. This proposed presentation reports and discusses the findings of a recent survey study on the needs of professional development for in-service teachers of Chinese in American schools. Specifically, the study looks at challenges new teachers face with the focus on teaching language elements (pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar), developing language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), and curriculum and professional development.

Also discussed at the presentation will be a professional development model the Center for Developing Chinese Language Teachers (DCLT) at New York University has developed to meet the needs of teacher training to pre- and in-service teachers.