May

China Hainan University delegation visits San Diego State University

On May 10, 2013, a delegation group from Hainan University, led by Vice President Xinwen Hu, visited San Diego State University. The group was warmly welcomed by Vice President, Dr. Ethan Singer, of San Diego State University, and Dr. Lilly Cheng, Managing Director of Confucius Institute at SDSU.

Dr. Ethan Singer first opened the meeting by giving a general introduction of SDSU to the guests. These distinguished guests included the Director of the Office of Postgraduate Student Affairs, Mr. Yindong Zhang; Dean of the College of Foods Science, Mr. Houyuan Qiu; Deputy Director of Scientific Research Office, Mr. Mengxing Huang; and Deputy Dean of College of Environment and Plant Protection, Mr. Weiguo Miao. Both sides discussed the potential opportunities for exchange programs for the faculty and students; as well as the joint degree programs that could be offered between the two schools in the future.

During his introduction of the College of Science, Dean Stanley Maloy emphasized that the special features of the College of Science were students gaining real-world experience in the modernized research centers by engaging in hands-on laboratory work; they also benefited from practical classroom instruction offered by superior professors and leaders. In response to these presentations, President Hu pledged that Hainan University would assign five teachers to participate in an exchange program with SDSU.

Also present at the meeting were Dean of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (PSFA), Dr. Joyce Gattas; Director of L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Management (HTM), Dr. Carl Winston; Director Brian Blake of J. Willard & Alice S. Marriott Foundation Student Center for Professional Development in HTM. They presented a program which was geared to enhance the skills and knowledge of professionals and students in the field of hospitality and tourism management.

The Advisor to the International Studies Minor and professor of Journalism and Media Studies at College of PSFA, Mei Zhong, also introduced the minor program; she pointed out that it was crucial that the students gain global knowledge to be professionally competitive in the future.

Managing Director of CI/SDSU, Dr. Lilly Cheng, served as the emcee of the meeting; her engagement provided a pleasant atmosphere for communication which strengthened the intent for cooperation and exchange between the two parties. The meeting ended with a presentation showcasing the flourishing development of Confucius Institute at SDSU in Southern California. Both sides were pleased with the eventful exchanges of discussions; they all felt that this visit set a solid foundation for many exchange and cooperation opportunities to establish more joint projects in the future.

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APRIL

Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Preliminary Competition

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SDSU President Attended BOAO Forum in Hainan, China

From April 7th to April 8th, President Elliot Hirshman of San Diego State University, and Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng, attended the 13th Annual Conference of BOAO Forum in Hainan, China. President Elliot Hirshman was a panelist in the Education Panel focusing on the topic of Education vs. Employment. Over 2000 delegates participated in this high level forum, which attracted political leaders, government officials, business leaders, and scholars around the world to discuss issues related to Asian development.

Many heads of state from China, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Peru, Zambia, Finland, Mexico, Cambodia, and Australia attended this Forum; various other high-ranking officials from Mongolia and Algeria were also present. The discussions that took place during the forum were far-ranging, dealing with issues of trade, national debt, investment, “going abroad” strategies, property and property rights, and social enterprise. A special session with Bill Gates on Investment for the Poor was among the popular features. All of the topics were focused on supporting the overall theme, “Asia Seeking Development for All: Restructuring, Responsibility and Cooperation”.

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SDSU President Attended SDSU Day in Xiamen University

On April 6th, 2013, San Diego State University President, Elliot Hirshman, led a delegation to visit Xiamen University in Southern China. Xiamen University is the partner university of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University.

The delegation attended the 92nd Anniversary of Xiamen University as well as the opening of San Diego State University Day held on April 6. Members of the delegation met with their counterparts for a discussion of potential opportunities of collaboration in the future. A board meeting of the Confucius Institute was part of the day’s events. At the meeting, it was decided that there would be a Xiamen University Day at SDSU in March of 2014.

The forum was well received by all attendees.

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MARCH

Managing Director at CI at SDSU Attended the "Rhythms of Asia" Showcase

On March 24, 2013, Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng, attended the “Rhythms of Asia” event at the Poway Performing Arts Center, located in the North County region of San Diego.

A plethora of music and dances from various regions in Asia was presented by the San Diego Indian American Society. The performances featured a variety of differing Asian cultural dance styles; examples included Bollywood from India, the Lion Dance from China, a Thailand-style Royalty Dance, and also a Bamboo Dance associated with Filipino culture.

UCSD Chancellor, Dr. Pradeep K. Khosla, was the honored guest at this annual Unity in Diversity dancing shows.

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CI at SDSU Attended a Welcome Recption for New Chancellor of UCSD

On March 24, 2013, a reception was co-hosted by the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA) and the San Diego Indian American Society to welcome the arrival of the 8th Chancellor of UCSD, Dr. Pradeep K. Khosla. The event was held at Marriott Del Mar Hotel in Del Mar City, San Diego County. Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University and APAPA-SDC Chair, Dr. Lilly Cheng, was invited to be one of the hosts for the event. Several CI volunteers were also present to support this special event.

Superintendent-Designate of San Diego Unified School District, Ms. Cindy Marten; Vice President of the Board of San Diego Unified School District, Mr. Kevin Beiser; President of San Diego Community College Board, Mr. Bernie Rhinerson; President of Miramar College, Dr. Patricia Hsieh, and more than 150 other guests attended the event.

Dr. Pradeep K. Khosla gave an introduction of UCSD and addressed questions from the guests. Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UCSD, Dr. Suresh Subramani, also shared his assignment at UCSD with the crowd.

This event presented a wonderful opportunity for people to meet the new Chancellor.

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CI at SDSU participated in San Diego Chinese Historical Museum Henke Family Donation Event

On March 23, 2013, Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng, attended a lecture presented by Dr. Richard Henke at the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum. Dr. Henke shared many stories of his parents’ medical missionary in China. Dr. Richard Henke donated family heirlooms, such as Henke family photographs, diaries and artifacts to the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum.

Dr. Cheng, together with San Diego Chinese Historical Museum’s curator, Dr. Alex Chuang, presented an award of recognition to the Henke family for their generous contributions of family collectibles to the museum.

A collection from the Statmore family was donated to the museum as well on March 23.

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CI at SDSU Supported Barnard's Wine and Watch Event

On March 22, 2013, Barnard Mandarin Chinese Magnet Elementary School held its very first ‘Wine and Watch’ Event, hosted by Pacific Arts Movement founder, Lee Ann Kim, to promote the “Every Family Gives” Campaign. Led by Dr. Lilly Cheng, Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, many members of the CI staff attended this function. Over 50 parents and supporters of Barnard Elementary School students were present, including Scott Barnett, Vice President of the Board at San Diego Unified School District. The film shown was a 60-minute documentary called “Speaking in Tongues.”

“Speaking in Tongues” followed four racially diverse children on their bilingual journey. The time period occurred during which 31 states had passed “English Only” laws. Four pioneering families went against tradition by registering their children in the foreign language immersion programs in public schools. From Day 1 in Kindergarten, their teachers spoke mostly in a foreign language. The audience watched as each child’s world gradually transformed as they learned to be proficient both bi-culturally and bilingually.

After the film, Dr. Lilly Cheng hosted a discussion session regarding the needs for schools to further develop multi-lingual education plans, as is depicted in the film. “Speaking in Tongues” demonstrated the importance of bilingual education, and was well received by the attendees.

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CI at SDSU Supports Dagu Performance at Cerritos College

At 7PM on March 21, 2013, a wonderful show of Dagu, Beijing Drum Songs, was held at the Cerritos College Student Center. This performance was organized by Cerritos College and Rio Hondo College, and co-sponsored by the Confucius Institutes at San Diego State University and Michigan State University. Managing Director of CI at SDSU, Dr. Lilly Cheng, Project Manager Anne Chu, and Office Assistant Vicky Hsu were all present to support the Chinese cultural presentation.

Ms. Fengjie Yang, Ms. Liwen Zheng, Mr. Hongmin Wang and Mr. Yan Xia from Tianjin Folk Art Troupe provided a spectacular performance. The Beijing Drum Songs feature a style of quyi, which is narrative ballad-singing, accompanied by a drum, a set of bamboo clappers, and other string instruments. Each performer captured the essence of the popular folktales that many Chinese audience members recognized. The program of the evening included: “The Battle of Changbanpo,” an adapted from “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”; “Capturing Sanlang Alive,” adapted from “Water Margins;” and “The Story of the Heavy Monk” adapted from “Water Margins.” The performances expressed the sheer magnitude of the common stories; the audience couldn’t help but burst out in laughter, and were emotionally moved.

At the end of the show, many guests voiced their anticipation to attend similar shows in the future. They were deeply appreciative of the support demonstrated by the Confucius Institute, as well as other organizations hosting Chinese cultural shows, all of which provided a rare opportunity to sample a fraction of authentic Chinese culture. March 21 was also Ms. Yang’s birthday. The organizers and the audience all joined in to wish her a happy birthday. Ms. Yang was so touched that she claimed this would be her most memorable birthday ever experienced.

Ms. Yang expressed her dedication to promote the Chinese culture in Southern California. She announced that she would be willing to offer complimentary lessons to whoever was interested in learning the Beijing Drum Song. Everyone in attendance left with happy memories of this culturally-rich event.

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San Ysidro High Principal Visited CI at SDSU

On March 19, 2013, Principal Hector Espinoza and Chinese teacher, Bella Liu, of San Ysidro High School (SYHS) in Sweetwater School District of Southern San Diego visited Confucius Institute at San Diego State University. Managing Director Dr. Lilly Cheng; Co-Director Prof. Wei Lu; and Project Manager Anne Chu were present to express their welcome.

The purpose of their visit was to seek CI at SDSU’s support as SYH began its application process to be recognized as a Confucius Classroom school affiliated with CI at SDSU. SYHS was established about 11 years ago. Principal Espinoza, bearing the foresight of teaching SYHS’s students to become 21st century citizens, introduced Chinese language classes from day one. Currently, Ms. Liu is teaching 3 classes daily to more than 100 students who are interested in learning Chinese language and culture. Principal Espinoza hoped that the support from Hanban and CI at SDSU (such as providing Chinese teachers, additional text supplies and teachers’ training program) would propel SYHS’s current Chinese program to the next level where both teachers and students would benefit.

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CI at SDSU Sponsors Visiting Scholars from Hong Kong Institute of Education

In March of 2013, Confucius Institute and the School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) at San Diego State University co-sponsored two graduate students, Wendy Chan and Sophine Wong, from the Hong Kong Institute of Education to San Diego to participate in a two-week program, from March 18 – 29, under the School of SLHS.

During their first day’s visit to SDSU campus, Managing Director of CI at SDSU and Professor of the School of SLHS, Dr. Lilly Cheng, first gave a short introduction of SDSU, Confucius Institute, and the school of SLHS. The two-week program would offer Wendy and Sophine the opportunity to attend classes of a wide range of topics in child and adult speech and language disorders, to meet with students in undergraduate and graduate programs, and to visit research labs relating to the field.

At the end of the two-week visit, the two students expressed their sincere appreciation to all the professors, students and staff for such a wonderful arrangements.

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CI at SDSU Attended San Diego Women’s Hall of Fame Ceremony

On Saturday, March 16, 2013, Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng, attended the San Diego Women's Hall of Fame Ceremony at the East Ballroom at Price Center, UCSD. Dr. Cheng honored the recipient, Mrs. Dorothy Hom into the Women’s Hall of Fame. Channel 8 of San Diego interviewed both Dr. Cheng and Mrs. Dorothy Hom regarding this momentous occasion. Over 250 people attended this ceremony in honor of women who have made significant contributions in San Diego.

Mrs. Dorothy Hom dedicated herself to preserving and sharing Chinese culture, history and her heritage in San Diego. She was instrumental in founding the Chinese Historical Society of Greater San Diego and Baja California. Furthermore, she was one of the founders of the Gaslamp Quarter District, which attributed to the preservation of more than twenty historic buildings in San Diego downtown neighborhood.

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CI at SDSU participated at San Diego Opera’s Special Engagement

On March 16, 2013, Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng, attended “Cruzar la Cara de la Luna” (To Cross the Face of the Moon), a mariachi show performed by a Mariachi band from Mexico, produced by San Diego Opera in support of the multicultural programs. This was the first time such a performance was included as part of San Diego Opera's annual seasonal presentation.

The renowned Mariachi, Vargas de Tecalitlán, known as the World’s Best Mariachi with more than 800 recordings。 starred in the first mariachi opera, “Cruzar la Cara de la Luna”, a bi-lingual play following three generations of a single family, spanning across countries, cultures and traditions. Performed to ecstatic reviews in Houston and Paris, this production staged its West Coast premiere in San Diego.

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CI at SDSU attended San Diego Golden Dragon Kung Fu and Culture Institute 10th Anniversary Celebration

On March 16, 2013, Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng, was invited to attend the 10th Anniversary celebration of San Diego Golden Dragon Kung Fu and Culture Institute. Several hundred people attended this fascinating event.

In addition to Kung Fu and Wu Shu, Golden Dragon Chinese Kung-fu and Culture institute has been providing excellent after school programs, summer camp, and academic enrichment classes in San Diego since 2003. It is their mission to provide a superior preparatory education in a diverse, family-oriented environment that meets the academic, social, creative, emotional and physical needs of the individual young learners. The classes offered in the after school program include: Chess, Math, Abacus, English Literature, Piano, Violin, etc…

The students from Golden Dragon Kung Fu and Culture Institute performed traditional dances, demonstrated kung fu movements, including tai chi and other martial arts during the celebration ceremony. These students also sang to entertain the distinguished guests.

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CI at SDSU Attended Multicultural Event at Hilltop High School

On March 15, 2013, in support of the existing Mandarin program at Confucius Classroom School at Hilltop High School, CI staff attended its annual Multicultural Fair. This event was to promote awareness and tolerance of multi-cultural diversity. This year’s program included various dancing performances, foods, and activities with South American, Asian, and European essences.

Project Manager Anne Chu, Project Coordinators Jonathan Lee and Crystal Qian, and Project Intern Albert Chan, set up a booth showcasing Chinese culture among other stands. Hundreds of students flocked to CI booth to get their names written in Chinese calligraphy style, or to have a temporary tattoo with beautifully drawn Chinese characters. This was the first time CI was invited to participate at the Multicultural Fair; the students were excited to see how their names were translated into Chinese. Many of them lingered around CI’s booth way after the schedule of the Fair was past.

The 2013 Multicultural event at Hilltop High School provided a wonderful opportunity for CI to continue its endeavors of promoting Chinese language and culture far and wide.

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CI Managing Director Chairs Kyoto Prize Scholarships Committee

On March 13, 2013, Managing Director of the Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng, served as the Scholarship Committee Chair for the Kyoto Prize scholarship Program. More than 300 guests were in attendance for the announcement of the winners of this scholarship.

The Kyoto Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to graduating high school seniors from San Diego County who will be attending an accredited four-year university in the United States. A companion scholarship is available to students residing in Tijuana. These scholarships were presented in the categories of advanced technology, basic sciences, the arts, and philosophy. There were 3 high school students from San Diego, and 3 high school students from Tijuana who received the Kyoto Prize Scholarships included. The scholarship is valued up to $10,000 for the proceeding academic year.

These winners were inspired by the laureates, who attributed to a better society through the progressions of their life-long work. The presentation by each of the three Kyoto Laureates, Dr. Ivan Edward Southern, Dr. Yoshinori Ohsumi, and Professor Gayatri Spivak were scheduled from March 13-14.

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CI at SDSU Sponsored Brother Sway's Talk Show

On March 13, 2013, San Diego Taiwanese Center held an event for popular talk show host Brother Sway. Brother Sway has been a very popular talk show host and TV personality in recent years, and this was his first time to hold a show in San Diego. Over 400 people came out to attend the event that was co-sponsored by Confucius Institute at SDSU, local Chinese Newspaper “Five Continents and Four Oceans”, and eight other sponsors.

Brother Sway’s talk shows are done in a more Chinese style with American humor. During his San Diego show, he employed different techniques to show irony concerning global events, cultural differences, interpersonal relationships, and hot topics regarding today’s society. He provided a variety of examples that occur in daily life which resonated with the audience and helped to convey his message. During his show, the audience was clearly excited and enjoyed every moment.

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Managing Director Attended 21st Century Symposium

On March 7, 2013, Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng, was invited as one of the speakers at the 21st Century Education Symposium, held at Riverview International Academy and Elementary School. Attending this symposium was a delegation group of 20 scholars from Shijiazhuang, China who came to San Diego for a one-week training program.

The students from Riverview International Academy greeted these scholars by presenting a dance performance at the welcoming ceremony. These students were able to express their passion for learning Mandarin with the visitors from China.

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Salute to Education - SD4

"Language is a building block to all education. But, at Barnard Elementary School in Point Loma, that block is coming from half a world away. From Kindergarten, students are taught in both Mandarin and English. Students are not just learning another language; they’re also learning a new culture and gaining a competitive advantage for their future. March 6, 2013." - SD4

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FEBRUARY

First Chinese Corner of Spring 2013 Semester

On February 28, 2013 at 1 PM, Confucius Institute at San Diego State University hosted the first Chinese Corner event for the year 2013. This event was to promote cross-cultural understanding and learning, as well as to promote international relations among various races. Chinese corner was organized to aid students who are learning Mandarin by creating a setting to interact with native Chinese speakers.

The meeting was held at the conference room on the 3rd floor of the Arts and Letters building at San Diego State University. Attendees were fully engaged in the presentation; they further learned of the mission of the Chinese corner, and of Confucius Institute. As the meeting came to a close, students expressed their excitement for future events.

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Managing Director Hosted San Diego Yantai Sisterhood Association’s Annual Banquet

On February 24, 2013, Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng was invited as the master of ceremonies for the San Diego Yantai Sisterhood Association’s annual banquet. In addition to the traditional dragon dance and lion dance, there were also performances of other traditional Chinese dances as well as a piano recital. Around 300 people gathered for this event in order to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

The city of San Diego in conjunction with Yantai City in Shandong Province, China, established the sisterhood 28 years ago in 1985. Since then, both sides have implemented a series of exchange and cooperation programs in regards to the economy, culture, and education of both countries. In commemoration of their partnership, both San Diego and Yantai cities built a “Pacific Rim Park.” These parks were designed and constructed jointly by students from both countries. The partnership between the two cities has been very active with many groups from the San Diego Yantai Sisterhood Association visiting Yantai city over the years. In addition, the Mayor and Assistant Mayor of Yantai City, and various students groups have also visited San Diego in the past to help foster a greater relationship between the two cities.

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CI at SDSU Attended Diaoyu Islands Lecture

On the Feb. 23, 2013, the San Diego Chinese Women’s Federation invited Daming Li, a World Journal reporter to San Diego, in order to give a speech to the Chinese community concerning the sovereignty dispute over the Diaoyu islands. Managing Director of Confucius Institute, Dr. Lilly Cheng attended the lecture.

In his lecture, Daming Li predicted the future situation of the Diaoyu islands based on their history. Due to the problems left over by history and the important geographic position of Diaoyu islands, the ownership of the islands is a very contentious dispute between China and Japan. With the aid of various references and materials, Mr. Li illustrated the origin of the dispute and listed the reasons and grounds for Chinese ownership of the Diaoyu islands. The audiences showed great interest in the demonstration which resulted in many questions being asked to Mr. Li regarding this topic.

Furthermore, in addition to the lecture on the islands, President of “We Chinese”, Ms. Ma Ping recited the poem “Motherland, my name is Diaoyu Island”. The poem and speech were very inspiring and well received by the audience. The San Diego Chinese Women’s Federation awarded Daming Li with a certificate of appreciation to thank him for making a brilliant speech regarding the current affairs.

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CI at SDSU Attended Chinese New Year Celebrations at Barnard Elementary

On Wednesday, February 20, and Saturday, February 23, 2013, respectively, Barnard Mandarin Chinese Magnet Elementary School hosted its annual Chinese New Year celebration. Hundreds of parents and community supporters were present to join in on the festive celebrations.

Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng, presented boxes of Chinese culture supplies, bequeathed from Hanban for each Confucius Classroom schools, to Principal Edward Park at the opening ceremony. She expressed her Chinese New Year wishes to each one for a prosperous 2013, Year of the Snake.

The programs on Wednesday, February 20, were provided by all the students at Barnard Elementary with a special Lion Dance performance by Three Treasures Cultural Arts Society. Led by their teacher, students from each grade level came on stage for a variety of Chinese culture shows which included; Chinese musical skit, Chinese folklore stories of “Nian”, the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, and an assortment of physical activities with Chinese culture flair.

On Saturday, February 23, the celebration focused on community outreach. Not only was the show and the campus open for the community to enjoy, but many community groups locally from other Asian heritages came to join in on the celebration. There were Filipino Folkdance Group, Korean Drum group from Korean School, PiPa Quartet, and a “Silk Road of China Culture Show’ produced by CI at SDSU. Amateur models from CI staff and volunteers presented numerous gorgeous, exquisite Chinese outfits showcasing the evolution of fabrics through Chinese history. The audience was in awe by the elaborate collection of Chinese garments. Dr. Cheng’s explicit narration offered insightful knowledge and information, allowing the audience a deeper understanding of various aspects of Chinese culture.

In addition, CI staff and volunteer also set up a booth, among other vendors, demonstrating Chinese calligraphy for another introduction of Chinese culture to all.

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Taiyuan No.2 International School visited San Diego State University

On Saturday, February 16th, 2013, at 9:00 am in the morning, a group of 37 students and 6 teachers from the Taiyuan No.2 International School Winter Camp led by Principal Zhang Ling, visited San Diego State University. Director Matthew J. Hebert of Prospective Student Affairs at SDSU, and Recruiting Assistant Miffy Yuan of American Language Institute at SDSU welcomed the group with a brief introduction of their respective departments, the various academic projects, colleges’ structure and the dual diplomats programs. Prospective Student Affairs also presented a few video clips of campus surroundings and San Diego County in general. Both sides exchanged presents to solidify their newly founded partnership before a group photo was taken. SDSU student representative, Samantha Siros, and her associates escorted the group on a campus tour at the end of their visit.

The 31st annual Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair was held on February 16 – 17, 2013 in downtown San Diego. Led by Managing Director of CI at SDSU, Dr. Lilly Cheng, all CI staff members, interns, and volunteers set up an exhibition booth promoting Chinese language and culture. As the emcee of the two day Fair show, Dr. Lilly Cheng warmly invited the students and teachers from Taiyuan No.2 International School to come on stage for a demonstration on how a traditional Chinese New Year greeting was conducted to the audience. The dragon and lion dance troupe paraded on the pavement accompanied by the loud bangs from the gongs and drums; the colorful displays of Chinese crafts and souvenirs; and a convivial collection of food items for sale produced quite a lively festive surrounding on every street corner. The visitors were joyous to enjoy the carnival spirit during their visit in the United States.

Principal Zhang Ling expressed her gratitude and warm new-year wishes to Dr. Lilly Cheng of the warm hospitality the group had received.

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CI at SDSU Attended San Diego Chinese New Year Food Fair

On February 16 – 17, 2013, the San Diego Chinese Center (SDCC) hosted its 31st annual San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair on the corner of 3rd Street and J Street in the Gaslamp District near downtown San Diego. More than 30,000 tourists, visitors and locals flocked to enjoy the festivities. Taking full advantage of the Fair for publicity, the Confucius Institute at San Diego State University as well as the Confucius Classroom at Barnard Mandarin Chinese Magnet Elementary School, and Riverview Elementary and International Academy respectively, posted display booths and provided Chinese themed singing and dancing programs.

Dr. Lilly Cheng, Managing Director of the Confucius Institute at SDSU, was actively involved in the planning of the Fair; she acted as the emcee, hosting the shows on stage on both days. Co-Director, Professor Wei Lu, and numerous Confucius Institute staff members and volunteers set up display stations for the event. In addition to addressing inquiries of Chinese teachings and local Chinese teacher training programs, the staff tirelessly introduced the mission, goal and progress of the Confucius Institute and associated the Confucius Classroom schools; showcasing and giving away the text materials of the Chinese language and culture. In addition, the staff also demonstrated Chinese calligraphy by writing down a thoughtfully drafted Chinese name for each visitor; did face paintings for children with Chinese zodiac characters and other popular patterns; and share knowledge of Chinese folklores with these children.

Students from Barnard Mandarin Chinese Magnet Elementary School and Riverview Elementary International Academy performed Chinese songs and dances on stage. The Tibetan dance performed by Riverview students won outstanding praises from the crowd for its unique ethnic emphasis.

More than thousands of visitors stopped by the Confucius Institute booth during the 2 day event. Many, who were fully aware of the Confucius Institute’s recent achievements, praised the worker’s dedication and expressed their interest in learning more of the updated information about the Confucius Institute.

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Los Angeles Department of Education Consulate Visited SDSU

On Friday, February 15, 2013, Los Angeles Department of Education, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, Xu Cuiying came to San Diego State University to meet with Provost Nancy Marlin to exchange information regarding the current progress of the Confucius Institute at San Diego State University.

Consul Xu will conclude her tenure in the U.S. and return to China later this spring. Over the last few years, Consul Xu has provided immense support towards the operation of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University. Provost Nancy Marlin thanked Consul Xu for all her continued contributions and support for the development of the Confucius Institute.

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CI at SDSU Managing Director Attends “Implications of China’s Education Reform for America” Lecture

On Thursday, February 14, 2013, Presidential Chair and Associate Dean of Global Education at the University of Oregon, Doctor Yong Zhao, gave a presentation on the “Implications of China’s Education Reform for America” at the Bishop’s School in San Diego. The event was co-sponsored by UC San Diego 21st Century China and San Diego State University Confucius Institute, in cooperation with The Bishop’s School.

In his speech, Dr. Zhao explored two paradigms of education, and challenged the traditional views of education quality. The main points of his lecture were: Creative talents, preserving curiosity, encouraging entrepreneurship, cultivating confidence, global competence, cultural diversity, and multiple intelligences. Attendees found the lecture very insightful of the change China is making to its education system.

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CI at SDSU Supported Freshman Recruit Meet at Confucius Classroom El Capitan High School

On February 13, 2013, staff from Confucius Institute at San Diego State University participated at the Freshmen Recruit Meet at El Capitan High School to showcase and promote the Chinese course as well as the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp for American High School students Program.

Project Coordinator of CI at SDSU, Jonathan Lee, Office Assistant, Vicky Hsu, and Chinese Teacher, Ming Qu gave out Chinese bookmarks as gifts to the students and explained the meaning of the Chinese characters on the bookmarks. CI staff also answered questions regarding the Summer Camp program for summer of 2013; parents and students expressed great interest in the Summer Camp program. Students exclaimed to their parents as they walked away from CI booth that they would like to start learning Chinese and visit China in the summer.

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CI at SDSU Attended CABE Conference

On February 13th to 15th, the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Conference was held at Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. CI at SDSU attended the conference to promote the development of Chinese language curriculum. Managing Director of CI at SDSU, Dr. Lilly Cheng, spoke alongside Director Jiaxin Xie of CI at SFSU, and Director Susan Pertel-Jain of CI at UCLA, on how the Confucius Institutes provided support to Chinese Language Programs in California. As the growth of Chinese programs and multilingualism in K-12 schools were on the rise, Confucius Institutes were a key role attributing to this growth.

Project Coordinator, Jonathan Lee, of CI at SDSU conducted several sessions on the development of Chinese curriculum for conference attendees. He discussed the nature of Kindergarten education, and the importance of combining visual, verbal, and hands on activities to maintain student’s interest and improve their learning capacity. Students would learn from story books in large prints, utilizing supplementary materials, such as flash cards, matching cards, chopsticks, and other activities to reiterate what they had learned. Many CABE participants expressed great interested in the development of these materials; they requested more updated information in the future.

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2+1 BELA Program Delegation Visits CI at SDSU

On February 13th to 15th, the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Conference was held at Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. CI at SDSU attended the conference to promote the development of Chinese language curriculum. Managing Director of CI at SDSU, Dr. Lilly Cheng, spoke alongside Director Jiaxin Xie of CI at SFSU, and Director Susan Pertel-Jain of CI at UCLA, on how the Confucius Institutes provided support to Chinese Language Programs in California. As the growth of Chinese programs and multilingualism in K-12 schools were on the rise, Confucius Institutes were a key role attributing to this growth.

Project Coordinator, Jonathan Lee, of CI at SDSU conducted several sessions on the development of Chinese curriculum for conference attendees. He discussed the nature of Kindergarten education, and the importance of combining visual, verbal, and hands on activities to maintain student’s interest and improve their learning capacity. Students would learn from story books in large prints, utilizing supplementary materials, such as flash cards, matching cards, chopsticks, and other activities to reiterate what they had learned. Many CABE participants expressed great interested in the development of these materials; they requested more updated information in the future.

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CI at SDSU Participated in the Ribbon-Cutting Opening Ceremony at the Art of East Asia Exhibition

On February 8th, 2013, the San Diego Museum of Art held a welcoming, ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the permanent exhibition, Art of East Asia. The newly renovated and remodeled exhibition galleries were ceremoniously opened to the public on February 9th, 2013, coinciding with the Chinese New Year of 2013. Around 500 museum members and guests gathered and celebrated the event. Managing Director of CI at SDSU and Chairman of the Board of the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, Dr. Lilly Cheng; Project Manager of CI at SDSU, Anne Chu; and Principal Edward Park of Barnard Mandarin Chinese Magnet Elementary School, along with other distinguished guests from the local Chinese community invited by the Confucius Institute at San Diego State University took part in the festivities.

The collection of East Asian art at the San Diego Museum of Art has more than 800 pieces, with 280 pieces on permanent display. Several experts in East Asian art from the Cleveland Museum of Art acted as consultants in the renovation planning. These specialists gave a detailed presentation of the history of the renovation project, which lasted six years. The goal of the revamped project was to display the exotic artwork in the best possible way, with interpretations and descriptions for gallery viewers. The new layout also contained animated videos featuring East Asian arts and crafts, as well as the art’s cross-regional influence from ancient times to modern days. Furthermore, the educational interactive software program that assists in introducing calligraphy exercises, sculpting and other activities, received great praise from the public.

The new art galleries for Arts of East Asia is divided into five sections, in addition to various pieces from China, there are sections containing pieces from Japan and Korea. The exhibition is truly a feast for the eyes, in which the essence of Asian art is elegantly presented.

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CI at SDSU Hosted Imperial Valley Campus

In the evening of February 7, 2013, more than 50 Chinese and American guests were invited to a celebration of the Chinese new year, year of the snake at the art gallery of Imperial Valley Campus of San Diego State University. The lobby was adorned with Chinese New Year decorations; a festive mood was evident in the air. President David Pearson of SDSU/IVC and Assistant Director for Partnership Programs, Mrs. Miriam Castanon, were the special guests of the evening’s show.

Hanban Chinese teacher, Professor Jing Lin, led the crowd singing, “Happy New Year” in Chinese. Professor Xi Min Deng showed people the auspicious greetings for the New Year in Chinese. A trivia game soon followed; the competition was really intense as many people fought to answer the questions. They each received a traditional Chinese New Year gift - a red envelope as prizes. The audience reveled in Prof. Lin’s solo performance, “Waves of Gu Lang Yu”. Games such as “passing around” and “fast moving chopsticks”, attracted more participants, resounding in laughter and joy in the lobby. Faculty and students from Calexico Martial Arts School performed Kung Fu at the courtyard outside of the art gallery. Prof. Deng and martial art master, Dali Li, teamed up for a 24 step Taiji demonstration. The superb performance, along with the rhythm from the gongs and drums, provided a new perspective of Chinese arts to all American friends.

The highlight of the party was ‘Potluck’. The assortments included Italian Pizza, Japanese Sushi, Chinese dumplings, American cakes and sweets, salads and fruits. Every dish was a representation of a different cuisine culture; all the guests enjoyed each dish in high spirits. President David Pearson and Mrs. Miriam Castañón delivered New Year greetings to all.

Before the end of the party, people exchanged Greeting cards with each other. Despite their reluctance, everyone went home with blessings from new and old friends. The American guests expressed their gratitude for the hospitality from their Chinese hosts, and their appreciation of the new knowledge they learned from this experience of Chinese culture. It was truly an unforgettable event that strengthened the friendship among Chinese and American people.

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CI at SDSU Supported High Tech High International Internship Program

On Friday, February 1, 2013, High Tech High International School Intern Counselor, Jill Chiodini, led three students to visit the Confucius Institute at San Diego State University for an observation of their fellow student, Ava Toledo’s progress as an intern. Ava is a student from High Tech High who came to CI for her student internship program. Under this program, each student would work for 3 weeks at his/her choice of work place. Yearly, there are more than hundreds of corporations, retailers and academic institutions participated in the internship program.

Ava shared her experience at CI office and showed the visitors various works she had completed during her 3 week’s schedule. These included promotional fliers, tri-fold bulletin board, classroom presentations, etc. Through the guidance and supervision from CI staff, Ava completed her internship with a newfound understanding of the workforce, work ethic, and Chinese culture.

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JANUARY

River International Academy Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration

On January 31st 2013 at 6:00 p.m., teachers and students of Confucius Classrooms at Riverview International Academy under Confucius Institute at San Diego State University held a special Chinese New Year celebration at Lakeside Middle School. More than 600 people joined this event, including Superintendent of Lakeside Union School District, Dr. David Lorden, and Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng.

Staff members from CI at SDSU were stationed at the lobby of Lakeside Middle School’s Auditorium before the evening show began. They provided Chinese calligraphy demonstrations, Chinese paper-cutting and showcased Beijing Opera masks for audiences to enjoy. The evening program lasted two hours which included: students’ singing and dancing; Chinese Gu Zheng performance by Hanban volunteer teacher, Ms. Lu Jing Zhang; a Lion Dance troupe of CI educational partner, Three Treasures Cultural Arts Society; and Chinese teachers singing and dancing, all of which won roars of applause from the audience. Chinese teachers sponsored by Hanban, Ms.Yu Chang Li and Ms. Lu Jing Zhang, also prepared traditional Chinese New Year cuisine, Jiaozi (Dumpling) for the audience to taste.

The event not only demonstrated the Chinese proficiency level of the students, but also introduced more aspects of Chinese culture to the crowd, enticing their interest to study Chinese language. This event also made positive impacts to the public image of CI at SDSU and Riverview International Academy.

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Middle School Attached to Harbin Normal University Visited Confucius Institute at San Diego State University

On January 31st 2013, Managing Director of CI at SDSU, Dr. Lilly Cheng, hosted a luncheon for visiting delegates from the Middle School attached to Harbin Normal University. After lunch, the guests were shown a short video introducing the founding history, missions, and achievements of CI at SDSU. Project Manager, Anne Chu, addressed to the questions from the group after the video introduction.

CI Office Assistant, Vicky Hsu, gave a detailed cultural presentation regarding “the Silk Road”, which was developed as one of a series of cultural demonstrations. Using“丝” as an example, Dr. Cheng listed many other characters sharing the same index of “糸”, such as “结”“绵”“绸”“缎”, etc. The delegates were all engaged in a lively discussion on the topic of the various methods to teach such a subject. They further suggested that in addition to showcasing the past and present of the “Silk Road”, the presentation could include the new “Silk Road” project; a new trade route which links by railway from Port Lianyun in Northeast China to Amsterdam in Europe.

Dr. Lilly Cheng also introduced the” Tian Di Panda”, a series of educational materials CI at SDSU is currently developing. She stressed the fact that Chinese teachers locally must design their teaching materials toward the interests of local students; while incorporating the essence of Chinese culture in producing text books adapting to local standards. At the end of the meeting, Dr. Lilly Cheng gave each delegate a gift as a token of welcome; the visiting delegates extended their sincere invitation to CI members for a visit to their hometown of Harbin.

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CI Attends Sweetwater School District Banquet

On the evening of January 30, 2013, Co-Director of CI at SDSU, Prof. Wei Lu, and Project Manager, Anne Chu, were invited to attend a dinner reception at South Bay Seafood and Grill in Chula Vista, California, hosted by the Sweetwater School District for the visiting delegation group from Middle School Attached to Harbin Normal University. The group led by Vice Principal Yongcheng Wang consisted of 10 Lead teachers of various subjects.

Dr. Edward Brand, Superintendent of the Sweetwater School District, first addressed his welcome speech to all the guests. He expressed the gratitude each member in the district felt of the remarkable accomplishments demonstrated by the students since the exchange program with China was established. He also praised Principal Hector Espinoza for his outstanding leadership. Principal Yongcheng Wang thanked Dr. Edward Brand for the generous hospitality; he further noted the mutually beneficial outcome enjoyed by the teachers and students of both sides from the exchange visits in the past decade.

Middle School Attached to Harbin Normal University has an exchange partnership with San Ysidro High School in the Sweetwater School District for the past 11 years. Principal Hector Espinoza of SYH first visited China in 1996 and fell in love with the people and culture of China. He initiated the Mandarin program in SYH soon after his return. SYH now has 3 Mandarin classes taught by Ms. Bella Liu. SYH is now in its process to apply to CI at SDSU for Confucius Classroom recognition.

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Gui Zhou Fan Jing Shan National Nature Reserve Delegation visited Confucius Institute at San Diego State University

On Jan 30th 2013, a delegation group from Fan Jing Shan National Nature Reserve visited Confucius Institute at San Diego State University. They were Chief of the Nature Reserve, Professor Yaqin Yang; Senior Engineer Yang Qiu; Engineer Lei Shi; and Assistant Chief Hanjun Yuan. Managing Director of CI/SDSU, Dr. Lilly Cheng; Co-Director, Professor Lu Wei, and Project Manager, Anne Chu were present to welcome these distinguished guests.

A partnership was formed among Gui Zhou Fan Jing Shan National Nature Reserve, the Department of Geography at SDSU and San Diego Zoological Society on a preservation & breeding project of Gui Zhou golden monkey. Professor Yang stated that this plan is closely associated with the essence of Chinese culture, which emphasizes on the harmony between nature and mankind. Through this project, Gui Zhou Fan Jing Shan National Nature Reserve strives to present the beauty and fundamental aspects of Chinese culture to other research institutions internationally.

Dr. Lilly Cheng praised Chief Yang for their dedication and the accomplishments of Gui Zhou Fan Jing Shan National Nature Reserve. She presented a brief video of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University to the visitors; also included were clips of summer camp programs and other events coordinated by CI/SDSU. Project Coordinator, Vicky Hsu narrated a powerpoint presentation CI/SDSU is currently producing, “The Silk Road”, to these visitors. This project combined Chinese language, Chinese history and other Chinese cultures together; and it would be used as text materials to American students. Professor Yang concurred with Dr. Lilly Cheng that the world would have a better understanding of Chinese culture through knowledge and interactions with other cultures. Moreover, Professor Yang expressed his respect and praises to the outstanding achievements and growth that CI at SDSU has demonstrated. Both sides pledged to partner together for works on a series of teaching material of the golden monkey.

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College of Arts and Letters of SDSU and Shengyang Normal University formed Teacher Training Program

On January 28, 2013, a delegation group from Shengyang Normal University, lead by Vice Principal Dachao Wang, came to visit San Diego State University. Also in the group were Dean of International Business College, Feng Li; Chief Director of Department of International Exchange Wei Zhang; and Chief Director of Department of Finance, Quan Lu. They met with San Diego State University Dean of College of Arts and Letters, Dr. Paul Wong; Managing Director of Confucius Institute, Dr. Lilly Cheng; Dean of Mathematics and Statistics Department, Prof. Sam Shen; China Initiative Coordinator, Albert Wang; and Mr. George Peng for the Teacher Training Program and the collaboration project between the two universities. Dean Wong also hosted a banquet for the visiting dignitaries.

Vice Principal Wang expressed his great interest in creating a mutually beneficial collaboration program between Shengyang Normal University and San Diego State University. After a screening and evaluation process, Shengyang Normal University had selected 5 professors and lecturers to attend the training program later this year. These 5 professors and lecturers are currently teaching respectively in the fields of education technology, movie captioning, ESL, general education, and leadership training. Each educator had prepared his/her own plan on how he/she planned to accomplish at the training program.

During the meeting, Dean Wong and Dr. Cheng gave introduction the various colleges of SDSU. They suggested that the educators from Shengyang Normal University first improve their English proficiency before attending the program. They also suggested these educators contact SDSU professors through SKYPE in advance to their arrival to get a better understanding of the classes. During the training program, these educators will take part in different classes and seminars or attend language labs; they also could present their own perspective to share with the American educators. Professor Shen emphasized the importance of publishing research papers and reports regularly. Through such practices will their productivity in science and engineering field maintain its continuity. Both universities would continue to seek opportunities to establish collaboration partnerships, even in the higher levels of administratation. Other scholars and lecturers would seek funding for a long term project to build collaborative programs targeting specific fields in Science and Engineering Departments.

Dean Wong urged the first 5 educators from Shengyang University to arrive in San Diego sooner for the training program. He also hoped there would be teachers from other colleges or departments attending this program. Vice Principal Wang expressed his gratitude to Dean Wong and Dr. Cheng for their endeavors in establishing this program. He envisioned the partnership between two universities would continue for a long, long time. Both parties exchanged presents to further strengthen their friendship and commitment to the program.

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Confucius Institute Attended San Diego Community Chinese New Year Celebration

On the evening of January 26, 2013, a Chinese New Year, year of the snake banquet and gala, hosted by House of China, San Diego Chinese School, and Chinese Service Center of San Diego, was held at Jasmine Chinese Restaurant. Many community leaders of San Diego and distinguished guests were present, including San Diego County Supervisor, Ron Roberts; San Diego Mayor, Bob Filner; representatives of San Diego City Hall and Courts; Bronwyn Ingram, Scott Barnett, Robert Coates, Jim Hubblee, Mitz Lee, Edward Lin and Amor Juanito, and many other dignitaries. Dean Paul Wong of College of Arts and Letters at San Diego State University, and Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng, also attended this event in support of the Chinese community in San Diego.

The highlight of the evening’s entertainment was a fashion show produced by Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, with the theme of “Silk Road of China”. The elaborate and exquisite silk costumes, along with the explicit detailed narration by Dr. Lilly Cheng, provided the audience a feast of visual and audio enjoyment rich with cultural presentation of the history of Silk Road and the evolution of silk garments. All the guests were in awe by the end; they indicated that they learned a bevy of knowledge from this show. They expressed their interest for other opportunities in the future for this sort of program. Other performances in the evening included a lion dance by a troupe from San Diego Chinese Center and Chinese acrobatic shows. The gala ended on a high note with guests wishing each other a prosperous new year.

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CI at SDSU Attended Mission Bay Cluster All Schools Fair

On January 26, 2013, in support of the Mandarin Magnet program, CI at SDSU attended the Mission Bay Cluster All Schools Fair jointly with the Confucius Classroom at Barnard Mandarin Chinese Magnet Elementary School. The Mission Bay Cluster All Schools Fair provided the perfect opportunity for interested parents and students to meet the principals of each school and learn about the incredibly wide range of programs available.

CI at SDSU set up a booth to present Chinese culture. Project coordinator Yueying Zhan, with the help of CI volunteers, gave a demonstration of Chinese calligraphy. They first asked for students’ names in English, then giving them a Chinese name written in beautiful artistic fashion using a Chinese calligraphy brush.

The fair’s special programs included: the International Baccalaureate Program, which was the highlight at the fair; attendees from Pacific Beach Middle School and Kate Sessions Elementary School; the music program at Crown Point; the GATE (Gifted And Talented Education) seminar program at Pacific Beach Elementary; and the Mandarin Chinese Magnet program at Barnard Mandarin Chinese Magnet Elementary School. Barnard is scheduled to relocate to the site of Bayview Terrace Elementary School in fall of 2013.

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CI at SDSU supports Mandarin class at Hilltop High School in Sweetwater School District

On January 24, 2013, Co-Director of CI at SDSU, Professor Wei Lu, and Project Manager, Anne Chu, attended a reception at Hilltop High School for the visiting delegation group. Assistant Principal, Shu Feng Zhao, led this group from the high school attached to Northeast Normal University in Chengchun City, China.

On behalf of Principal Ernesto Zamudio, Vice Principal Eduardo Reyes of Hilltop High School welcomed the group warmly by introducing each member of the group. Representatives from the associated student body further expressed their welcome in both English and Mandarin. A series of entertainment programs were performed to the crowd’s delight. They included the Hilltop High School orchestra band; a Japanese traditional dance, and traditional Latin-style dances performed by the talented students. Assistant Principal Shu Feng Zhao addressed the audience, thanking them for the warm hospitality the delegation group received. He further expressed his personal commitment to strengthen the friendship and exchange program between the two groups.

Chengchun Normal University and Sweetwater School District established a partnership more than 20 years ago. Each year, 2 teachers from the high school attached to Northeast Normal University came to Chula Vista to teach Mandarin at Hilltop High School and Hilltop Middle School. Both of the aforementioned schools are now Confucius Classrooms that promote Chinese language and culture.

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CI at SDSU organized Professional Development Workshop for Hanban Chinese Teachers

On January 20th, 2013, Confucius Institute at San Diego State University (CI at SDSU) held its 2013 spring Chinese teacher training workshop for all Hanban teachers. 11 teachers and volunteer teachers from 16 Confucius classroom schools under CI at SDSU from San Diego and neighboring counties participated in this all day training program.

At 9:30 am, CI at SDSU invited Professor Benjamin Tsou from Hong Kong Education College Corpus Linguistics Center to give a speech on “Large-scale monitoring Chinese corpus creation-Method and application”. Professor Tsou is a famous scholar in Hong Kong and has been teaching and doing research in Corpus Linguistics for a long time. He was invited to San Diego State University to participate in the American Association for Corpus Linguistics international Symposium and to host a seminar. He introduced in detail the construction and application of “Chinese synchronic corpus” which provided a very rare opportunity to Hanban Chinese teachers and volunteers. In order to broaden the vision of teacher’s subjects in Chinese teaching, applying corpus linguistics methods and means to try new models based on real corpus will bring great advantages.

At 11:00 am, CI at SDSU Managing Director, Dr. Lilly Cheng, gave a speech about the differences between Chinese and Western Culture. She took the perspective of intercultural communication and through active examples of cultural conflicts, compared the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western culture in power distance, social customs, and educational views that would benefit everyone.

During the afternoon training activities, Professor Wei Lu pointed out that Chinese teaching management standardization, especially in construction and improvement of teaching achievements; require new and more detailed explanations regarding teaching plans. Project Manager Anne Chu introduced Confucius classrooms and different Chinese programs including the Confucius Instituted headquarters notice on 2013 “Chinese Bridge Summer Camp in China.” She encouraged teachers to publicize at the schools and urge students to apply.

Hanban North American branch delegation made a special trip to attend the morning lecture to greet the New Year and answer some questions and concerns. In addition, during the break in training, the participants were able to witness a traditional tea ceremony. Through preparation, taste, presentation of the tea, many participants were able to further understand the elegant art and culture of China.

The attendees provided numerous praises of the workshop. They believed it is important for everyone in the United States of America well in Chinese teaching, promoting culture, overcoming cultural differences, promoting effective cross-cultural communication, and strengthening Chinese teaching and management standardization.

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CI at SDSU Attended the American Association for Corpus Linguistics Conference

The annual conference of American Association for Corpus Linguistics was held at San Diego State University from January 18th-20th, 2013. Over one hundred scholars and speakers attended this conference. Professor Benjamin Tsou of the Hong Kong Institute of Education was invited as a guest speaker on the morning of January 20, 2013. Many scholars, educators, and researchers came to listen to Professor Tsou’s speech. Through special arrangements made by CI at SDSU，the Chinese teachers from Hanban were able to attend Professor Tsou’s presentation as part of their professional development training. All the attendees commented that Professor Tsou’s research was quite educative and beneficial for their professional practice. They hope for future opportunities to interact with Professor Tsou.

Confucius Institute at SDSU provided a tea ceremony demonstration for all the attendants after Professor Tsou’s lecture. CI staff members Vicky Hsu and Denise He hosted the ceremony. The serenading melody of the Chinese music, the intricate artistic designs on the tea set, the graceful movements of the performers, and of course, the aromatic scent of teas, carried the audience from their modern Western surroundings to the realm of classical Chinese. The tea’s flavor and aroma impressed those who drank. During the tea ceremony, Managing Director of CI/SDSU, Dr. Lilly Cheng demonstrated Chinese calligraphy associated with tea art, which offered the audience a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. The audience showed their appreciation and interest for both presentations with thunderous applause. They were grateful for the engagement of the CI staff.

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CI at SDSU Hosts Meeting with Asian Media

In the afternoon of January 14, 2013, Managing Director of Confucius Institute at San Diego State University, Dr. Lilly Cheng, was interviewed by the representatives from Asia Media and founders of the Asian Heritage Society, Leonard Novarro and Rosalynn Carmen. The focus of this interview was on Confucius Institute at SDSU receiving the Model Confucius Institute Award and Barnard Mandarin Chinese Magnet Elementary being awarded as a Model Confucius Classroom.

Dr. Lilly Cheng indicated that multi-language and multi-cultural education should begin at an early age. She pointed out that many schools in the United States only teach English while neglecting multi-language and multi-cultural education. Thus, in today’s American society, many adults can speak only English; they did not have an open mind to embrace other cultures and languages. Through the works of Confucius Institute and Confucius Classroom schools, many children have opportunities to learn different languages and cultures at a very young age, which made an impact on these children’s learning potential and development.

An introduction video of Confucius Institute at SDSU was shown for the guests. Dr. Lilly Cheng explained the meanings of the six arts of Confucianism and how this ideology can be applied to the education program. The guests concurred wholeheartedly with Dr. Cheng’s ideals. They would like to post the video of this interview online, so more people would understand and support the ideals of Confucius Institute.

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Chinese Program Thrives at Fallbrook Union Elementary School District

On January 09, 2013, Co-Director of CI/SDSU, Prof. Wei Lu, and Project Manager, Anne Chu, visited Potter Jr. Middle School in Fallbrook to support the Chinese teacher, Ms. Ke Lin Xi. Xi Laoshi came to the U.S. under the sponsorship program of Hanban and has been teaching Chinese in San Diego County for the past 3 years. Prof. Lu and Ms. Chu also met with Principal Leonardo Rodriguez for a discussion on the projected progress of the Mandarin program for fall of 2013.

Potter Jr. Middle School offered regular scheduled Mandarin courses in fall of 2012 after it was first introduced in 2010 as an enrichment program. Currently, there were 3 classes of students attending Chinese class daily for a 3- month period. Principal Rodriguez envisioned the Mandarin course be expanded to a year long course in fall of 2013. He invited Xi Laoshi to introduce the Chinese program to the faculty at the staff meeting scheduled in the afternoon of 01/09/13. Her brief introduction was warmly received by all. Principal Rodriguez also invited Anne Chu to share the information of Chinese Bridge Summer Camp program for American high school students. The teachers were impressed by this wonderful opportunity; they planned to share the news with their students and parents.

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Managing Director at CI at SDSU Attended Asian Heritage Society Meeting

On January 02, 2013, Managing Director of CI at SDSU, Dr. Lilly Cheng, met with the Asian Heritage Society committee to discuss the logistics of the 2013 Asian Heritage Awards ceremony. The discussion focused on several aspects, including the nomination process and the various categories of recognition.

The Asian Heritage Awards was founded ten years ago to recognize achievements of U.S citizens with Asian heritage in Southern California. San Diego Press Club, one of the largest in the country, had honored AHS twice for its public service. Many publications locally had also praised AHS for its contributions and achievements in various news articles.

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CI at SDSU Internship Program - Ava Toledo

High Tech High student Ava Toledo interned at CI at SDSU for the month of January as part of her student mentor program.

Click here to check her internship log

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