Pierce confronts Institute's problems
By: Christian Losciale
Issue date: 1/15/09 Section: News
D e b o -
rah Pierce,
We b s t e r
University's
Confucius
I n s t i t u t e
director, attended
the
third annual
world conference
for Confucius
Institutes in Beijing. The
conference's sessions addressed
promoting the institutes, teaching
languages and facing difficulties
as an institute's director.
While there, Pierce talked
to Confucius Institute director
from Texas A&M University,
Kansas University and
the University of California,
Los Angeles.
"It was especially helpful
when I networked with people
in U.S. Confucius Institutes,"
said Pierce, also WU's International
Education Center director.
"Are there problems with
language barriers and teaching
styles? Sometimes, I feel
like it is happening to just me."
Last semester, WU's Confucius
Institute offered two
classes. The classes went well,
but there were some issues with
the Chinese professors' teaching
styles because they were adjusting to a U.S. classroom, Pierce said.
"Our teachers are faced with the challenge of how to teach American students," said Randy Kluver, the director for the Confucius Institute and Institute of Pacific Asia at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. "The teachers have to figure out how to interact here - how to interact with students so that they learn."
Texas A&M established its Confucius Institute a year ago. Former WU President Richard Meyers founded WU's in February 2008. The goal of Confucius Institutes is to teach Chinese language and culture.
"A lot of our students - whether they know it or not - will end up working in China," Kluver said. "Plus, we (at Texas A&M) were excited about a prospect to have a unique institute."
Pierce said professors from last semester's classes at WU's institute went through training to improve teaching styles.
"One of the biggest challenges is just meeting the needs of the community," said Sheree Willis, the executive director of the KU Confucius Institute. "As a public university, we have an outreach function."
rah Pierce,
We b s t e r
University's
Confucius
I n s t i t u t e
director, attended
the
third annual
world conference
for Confucius
Institutes in Beijing. The
conference's sessions addressed
promoting the institutes, teaching
languages and facing difficulties
as an institute's director.
While there, Pierce talked
to Confucius Institute director
from Texas A&M University,
Kansas University and
the University of California,
Los Angeles.
"It was especially helpful
when I networked with people
in U.S. Confucius Institutes,"
said Pierce, also WU's International
Education Center director.
"Are there problems with
language barriers and teaching
styles? Sometimes, I feel
like it is happening to just me."
Last semester, WU's Confucius
Institute offered two
classes. The classes went well,
but there were some issues with
the Chinese professors' teaching
styles because they were adjusting to a U.S. classroom, Pierce said.
"Our teachers are faced with the challenge of how to teach American students," said Randy Kluver, the director for the Confucius Institute and Institute of Pacific Asia at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. "The teachers have to figure out how to interact here - how to interact with students so that they learn."
Texas A&M established its Confucius Institute a year ago. Former WU President Richard Meyers founded WU's in February 2008. The goal of Confucius Institutes is to teach Chinese language and culture.
"A lot of our students - whether they know it or not - will end up working in China," Kluver said. "Plus, we (at Texas A&M) were excited about a prospect to have a unique institute."
Pierce said professors from last semester's classes at WU's institute went through training to improve teaching styles.
"One of the biggest challenges is just meeting the needs of the community," said Sheree Willis, the executive director of the KU Confucius Institute. "As a public university, we have an outreach function."
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