Learning Chinese in Maine

Primary Source's "Learning Chinese in Maine" conference will jumpstart the efforts of many Maine school districts that have expressed interest in teaching Chinese.

Participants will be introduced to the rich array of organizations and resources available to support Chinese language instruction in the state, as well as have opportunities to build on the experience of existing Chinese language programs. Sessions will include forums on the "nuts and bolts" of teaching Chinese, finding qualified instructors, non-profit supports, and building community support.

Date: Friday, Nov. 30 (9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.), snow date Dec. 7

Location: Colby College, Waterville, Maine

Cost: $100 per participant including lunch and a copy of Creating a Chinese Language Program in Your School

Featured Presenters and Organizations:

• Shuhan Wang, author of Creating a Chinese Language Program in Your School and Director of the Asia Society's Chinese Language Initiatives
• Susan Gendron, Maine Commissioner of Education
• K-12 teachers of Chinese language in Maine public schools
• Representatives from Maine's collegiate Chinese language programs and Colleges of Education
• Independent providers of Chinese instruction for the public
• Non-profit organizations that support Chinese instruction in K-12 schools including:
  • Primary Source, Watertown, Massachusetts, and Bangor, Maine
  • The China Exchange Initiative, Newton, Massachusetts
  • The US-China Teachers Exchange, New York, New York
  • Maine Department of Education - Hanban Volunteer Teacher Program, Augusta, Maine
  • AFS Teacher Exchange Program, Manchester, Maine
  • College Board Chinese Language and Culture Initiatives, New York, New York
  • Five College Center for East Asian Studies, Northamption, Massachusetts