Postcards from Asia
Travel to China, Japan and Korea without leaving your radio thanks to the Center for East Asian Studies' new radio series "Postcards from Asia". The :60 program is a collaboration between KPR and the Center. Each "Postcard" gives listeners a brief and enticing glimpse of Korean, Japanese or Chinese culture from the contemporary to the ancient, from the exotic to the familiar. Dr. Bill Tsutsui, associate professor of history at KU, is the voice of "Postcards from Asia".
To hear "Postcards from Asia" tune in to KPR on Wednesdays at 9:59 PM and Saturdays at 1:04 PM or click here.
"Postcards from Asia" is supported by the Kansas Asia Community Connection, www.AsiaKan.org.
Kansas Task Force on Chinese Language Training Releases Report
The Kansas Task Force on Chinese Language Training, a statewide group of policymakers, educators, and business leaders, has released a public report detailing the current status of Chinese language programs in Kansas, opportunities and challenges for future development, and a series of specific policy recommendations. This report is an important first step in starting a statewide discussion on the need for increased Chinese language capacity throughout the Kansas education system.
Download the entire report (pdf ).
Download the executive summary (pdf).
For 2007 Update to the Chinese language report, click here
For 2008 Update to the Chinese language report, click here
For 2009 Update to the Chinese language report, click here
For more information or to request hard copies of the Kansas Task Force on Chinese Language Training report, please contact KCIES Board Member Nancy Hope at nfhope@ku.edu.
The Importance of Learning Chinese
According to a 2005 report published by the Asia Society, China's presence in the global market place of the future will be enormous. Therefore, the report says, the "task of increasing the number of American students who can demonstrate a functional proficiency in Chinese is urgent." The Asia Society proposes a 5-tiered approach to supporting a K16 Chinese language program which includes increasing the number of certified teachers, using technology to develop and deliver curriculum and materials and making a longterm commitment to this program as an investment in the future. To read the Chinese Language Capacity Report report, click here. To read the Asia Society's press release about the report, click here.
The Fastest Pig in the West
KCIES is proud to announce the publication of The Fastest Pig in
the West, its first chapter book aimed at 3rd – 5th graders. It
is the story of Jimmy Lin, a boy whose family came from China to
a small town in Kansas called Buffalo Grove. The book alternates
between the fictional story of Jimmy and his adjustment to life
in small town America and factual chapters that will acquaint
readers with Chinese history, culture and tradition.
This fall, each elementary school in Kansas will receive a
complementary copy of this book. The accompanying teachers'
guide will be posted on the KCIES website at this time to help
educators teach about China and its cultures. If you would like
to help introduce The Fastest Pig in the West to your school,
please contact Randi Hacker at rhacker@ku.edu.
For a helpful Teachers’ Guide to this book, click here
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