About Dr. T. Richard Chi:

T. Richard Chi is Professor of Chinese linguistics in the Department of Languages and Literature at the University of Utah. His research areas include second language acquisition, applied linguistics, curriculum and assessment design and teaching Chinese as a second language. He served as Department Chair from 1998 to 2004 and as Director of Chinese School at Middlebury College from 1993 to 2002.  He is an ACTFL-certified Mandarin oral proficiency tester and tester trainer and has conducted numerous OPI workshops in the U.S. and abroad.  He has participated in or chaired material development projects for ACTFL, Center for Applied Linguistics, US Department of Education, the Army Defense Language Institute, the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland, Center for Applied Second Language Studies at the University of Oregon and the College Board.  He served on the Modern Language Association ADFL Executive Committee from 2000 to 2004.  As an AP Chinese consultant for the College Board, he has taught AP Chinese workshops and summer institutes in the U.S. and abroad since 2006. Currently, he serves as AP Chinese Chief Reader and on the AP Chinese Development Committee. Chi received his MA and Ph.D. in linguistics from UCLA.

Dear all,

This is the sort of emotion, sentiment and dedication that, you would agree, moves, feuls and motivates us to do what we do. I am immensely touched by what Betty wrote and of course, will do my best to make meaningingful her as well as those that came before us have so well established for us to follow in the work of teaching Chinese: With Betty’s permission, I am sharing her note. Your comments and sentiment welocme! 一起加油吧 — Chunman Gissing

“Thank you for your kind words; I’m deeply touched. I think teaching is one of the greatest professions in the world. Through teaching, I’ve been able to fulfill my other career goals of social worker, foster parent, aunty, counselor, education advocate, and many other roles. I’d like to acknowledge my associate and friend, Dr. Marge Chow, whose idea to use that first Startalk proposal to certify speakers of critical languages brought us all to where we are today. Take a bow, Marge! It was Marge’s perseverance and expertise that got us through and in some cases, maxed out flexibility on state regs on certification. She’s still advising and finding out what’s what—all as a volunteer advisor to Startalk.

It’s been a lot of fun seeing our teacher cohorts advance year after year. I can’t believe we’re embarking on our 6th Startalk project. I like to set myself challenges and ask myself, “Can I do this?” and “How will this benefit the maximum number of people/kids?” That’s what motivates me. It’s been a blast all the way from the first FLAP grant I co-wrote in the mid ‘90s to seeing the elimination of all FLAP grants. But fortunately, we still have Startalk.

I hope that some of you will be the leaders of the next generation of Chinese consultants, advisors and administrators so that what we are establishing now will not be in vain.

You’re about to have a great adventure, Chunman. Take full advantage of it!

 Jia you!! 

Betty”

Do you have a question about learning or teaching Chinese? Chances are we have an answer, or at least an opinion… Write us and we will talk!

It’s a beautiful day in the State of Washington, and a beautiful day for conversation! And what better day for CLTA-WA to announce the launching of our blg space! This blog is intended to be a forum for conversation and exchange of ideas, experience, resource sharing, comments, saying nihao, etc. In another word, a place for those of us who are interested in promoting quality Chinese education in general and in Washington State in particular. Come join the conversation! Hope to see you soon and see you frequently!

Visit our website: www.clta-wa.org

Check out our development history: Chinese Language Core Team: http://www.internationaledwa.org/chinese/coreteam.htm

Chinese Language Teachers Network Washington: http://www2.ups.edu/faculty/perry/CLTN/About_CLTN.htm

Our wiki page: http://clta-wa.wikispaces.com/