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Confucius Institute bringing Chinese to area high schools

Kansas at forefront of new technology

Every morning, Professor Jonathan Yi teaches his native Mandarin Chinese language to more than 40 students from seven school districts across the state. And he does it all without ever leaving his KU classroom.

Only six of Yi's 41 students are actually in the classroom with the instructor. Students from Lawrence's Free State High School start their school day with Yi at KU. The remaining students – in the Holcomb, Maize, Deerfield, Marysville, Winfield and Auburn-Washburn districts – receive the lessons live, via real-time video conferencing. They can see and hear the instructor, and the instructor can see and hear them.

KU's Confucius Institute is breaking new ground with the program it offers in cooperation with local school districts and the Greenbush Interactive Distance Learning Network.

"Kansas is at the forefront in using IDL technology to deliver Chinese language instruction. No other state has yet to do this," said Nancy Hope, associate executive director of the Confucius Institute. "With enthusiastic students, committed school districts and outstanding personnel from the institute, we're setting a standard for the rest of the nation."

The institute is also bringing valuable language training to areas of the state where it would not otherwise be offered. With only one certified K-12 Chinese language teacher in Kansas, not many of the state's high school students thought learning Chinese would be an option for them.

According to Hope, the ability to speak, read and write Chinese will benefit Kansas students whether they choose to live near or move far from their home state.

"In 2005 there was more than $300 million worth of exports to China from Kansas, a 50 percent increase over the year before," she said. "The trend indicates that economic ties between China and Kansas will continue to increase with each passing year."

Hope said the KU's Confucius Institute is doing its best to bridge the educational gap between the supply and demand.

"We are planning to offer Chinese Mandarin II next year for the students who complete the first course, in addition to the beginning course again," she said. "We already have a list of eight more school districts that would like to participate."

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