Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Thousands of public schools stopped teaching foreign languages in the last decade,according to a US government-financed survey dismal news for a nation that needs more linguists to conduct its global business and diplomacy. But another contrary trend has educators and policymakers abuzz: A rush by schools in all parts of America to offer instruction in Chinese.
Some schools are paying for Chinese classes on their own,but hundreds are getting some help. China is sending teachers to schools all over the world and paying part of their salaries.
At a time of tight budgets,many American schools are finding that offer too good to refuse. In Massillon,Ohio,Jackson High School started its Chinese programme in 2007 with 20 students and now has 80,said Parthena Draggett,who directs Jacksons world languages department.
No one keeps an exact count,but rough calculations based on the governments survey suggest that perhaps 1,600 American public and private schools are teaching Chinese,up from 300 or so a decade ago. And the numbers are growing exponentially.
Among Americas approximately 27,500 middle and high schools offering at least one foreign language,the proportion offering Chinese rose to 4 per cent,from 1 per cent,from 1997 to 2008,said the survey by the Center for Applied Linguistics.
The number of students taking the Advanced Placement test in Chinese,introduced in 2007,has grown so fast that it will likely pass German this year as the third most-tested AP language,after Spanish and French,said Trevor Packer,a vice-president at the College Board. In such a short time Chinese would grow to surpass AP German, Packer said.
