Topic: Mandarin in American Schools

Speaker: Professor Kathryn Anderson

Time: May 20 (Tuesday) 19:30-20:30

Location: Room 302, Teaching Building 34, Wushan Campus

Host Units: International Office, Graduate School

Speaker Introduction：

Professor Kathryn Anderson teaches Oral English to Master’s students at SCUT. She arrived in Guangzhou last September and will leave to return to the U.S.A. in July. She has enjoyed being in China and working with Chinese students. This is her third trip to China, one to Hong Kong and Beijing, then to Beijing and Wuhan and now living in Guangzhou. Traveling in China and learning about Chinese culture has been a great experience to her.

Kathryn is the wife of Craig , mother to four children, Kaci, Mike, Ashley and Garrett, mother-in-law to Bill, Jessica, Jeff and Cindi and grandmother to five grandsons, Griffin, Rex, Cade, Carter and Hudson and five granddaughters, Karli, Marley, Olivia, Ella and Taegan, all living in California, Arizona and Colorado.

Kathryn earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Utah State University and her Master Degree of Education from Brigham Young University. Kathryn taught Freshman English Literature and grammar for 17 years in Salt Lake City, Utah and was a Principal and Director with Jordan School District and Canyons School District in Utah for 13 years.

Speech Content：

The lecture is about Dual Immersion programs in Utah Public Schools. Students now are learning a second language in elementary school. Students will spend their day 50% in English and 50% in Mandarin Chinese. Math is being taught in Mandarin Chinese in Utah schools. That is exactly what is happening for 20,000 elementary students in Utah. The Dual Immersion Schools are very popular with long waiting list of students who want to be selected to enroll. Each spring there is a lottery to determine which students will be the lucky student to learn Mandarin Chinese. Students will take Mandarin Chinese in grades 1-8, then sit for the AP Chinese exam as a Freshman student. Students will continue with foreign language studies all through their high school years as well.

International Office

South China University of Technology