Mandarin-Chinese Classes in U.S. Schools

[Anonymous]

Well, you called me here, so I have to say something, right?

"Stationed at universities around the United States and other Western countries, Confucius Institutes devote resources to promoting Chinese language and culture on college campuses and in K-12 schools. They are nonprofit organizations but funded largely by the Chinese government's Chinese Language Council International, also known as Hanban. This has provoked controversy elsewhere, with some expressing fears that children would be subjected to communist propaganda and professors at universities worrying about the implications for their academic freedom."
Well, do I look like a communist???? Or do I look like a mother who puts 240 inner city school children under her wing??? Or a tiger mom who demands only A and calls B an Asian fail? You take a pick.

We simply need to learn about each other. So we American don't do this

And we Chinese don't do this

Qin

[Anonymous]

I have heard several times from people about why I would want to go through the state requirements to teach Mandarin, usually from well-meaning colleagues, but also from friends, family, and just-introduced strangers. The comment is something like this: "well, the Chinese are taking over, so we might as well learn the language of our new masters". Yeah, right.
This comment says to me that these people are fearful, ignorant, and late. They are afraid of losing a perceived status that can only be conferred, never demanded; they are ignorant of the lives of a billion and a half people; and their entire lifestyle has been made possible by the low wage Chinese worker. I acknowledge all of that, I just wish they could enjoy my journey into this culture without the supposition that I've "gone native" or something.

[Anonymous]

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/12/clash-of-civilizations-the-confusion-of-being-a-chinese-student-in-america/249787/

I just read this on the Atlantic. The author spoke for me. As a then Chinese students and now a Mandarin teacher, I share many same views with her. Interesting article.

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Some say it's the start of the Chinese invasion of the United States. Is our own seminar part of the master plan? Has Professor Dube been "turned" and we are being recruited to further the goal of China's domination of the world? What's really behind all this stuff about China nowadays anyway?

http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_19368300?IADID=Search-www.dailybreeze.com-www.dailybreeze.com#.Ttv5c7f70YU.email

(note to my dear friend Qin - you know I'm only kidding, right?)
edited by wvanderberg on 12/4/2011

[Author]

Posts