Asian language 'vital for syllabus'

"ASIAN languages should be compulsory for every school student because many will go on to work in Asia's fast-growing economies, says the accounting body CPA Australia."

This article in the Australian highlights some of the recommendations of the CPA an accounting body in Australia. At present there are only 300 (non background speakers) year 12 students studying Mandarin in our senior schools across the nation. The article states that learning an is vital to engage with Asia now and in the  future. 

Melbourne University's Joe Lo Bianco, an expert in language education is calling for a more moderate approach to the national curriculum with an emphasis on language learning. Lo Bianco recommends a gradual build up of language teachers and quality programs.

Asian language 'vital for syllabus' | Story & Education Stories | The Australian

Language lessons languish in Aussie schools

An Australian Broadcasting Corporation report about the current state and decline in    Asian languages in Australian schools. It highlights our former Prime Ministers goal for Asian language learning and makes comparisons to the current apathy and lack of interest in language.
 
I really wonder how much longer schools in Australia are going to ignore Asian languages. The report makes some very astute observations; lack of investment in Asian languages, now more students study Latin than Chinese, our nation is stubbornly monolingual, SE Asian history was not is is not taught in schools, education departments are unable to stream Chinese students into appropriate classes, there is a growth in private schools teaching Mandarin, Australians remain disinterested in our Asian neighbours.

We seem to be going down the very same path as schools in England.  There schools are seeing rapid declines in French and German Lack of languages in schools concerns unis

A very brief report that says it all. Watch the report or read the transcript here
Language lessons languish in Aussie schools

Study More Chinese

Visit Study More Chinese

龙 2012 Year of the Dragon

龙

2012 Year of the Dragon begins on January 23, 2012 and ends on February 9, 2013. Apparently dragons are energetic, robust and stubborn. They  are honest and courageous, and they inspire trust. People admire them. They know how to get what they want. The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend. It is the most eccentric sign of the Chinese horoscope. 

Their generous personalities give them the ability to attract friends, but they can be rather solitary people at heart.  Their self-sufficiency can mean that they have no need for close bonds with other people. In ancient China, the celestial Dragon represents an emperor and power. In Chinese astrology the dragon is the only animal of the Chinese zodiac year that is not real. 

龙  is the ultimate auspicious symbol signifying success and happiness.  2012 is the Chinese year of the dragon. So what does 2012 hold for a person born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon? Such people double their efforts in whatever they do - work, education and other projects. Their natural talent and abilities should stand out with great results.  May the celestial Dragon bring great good luck to you. 

龙

新年快乐!
 

First hand experience of China's Great Firewall

During my short visit to China I was fortunate to have access to the Internet in my hotel room. Despite knowing in advanced that many of the things I would normall do on the Net were not accessible, I was still surprised about what I could and could not access.

Gmail was not blocked, however nearly all images that were in my emails were blocked. BBC news was not blocked. I was told that the pages in Chinese were all blocked. Wikipedia also not blocked. My Google Reader worked well which allowed me to read the content of

As expected YouTube, Facebook, Blogger, Google+, Twitter, Livemocha all blocked. My friend described this as blocking “Things 老外lǎowài Like”. While this trivialises censorship in China it is an accurate and perceptive description of how inconvenient annoying the Great Firewall was.

I did try and succeed using a web proxy once. While it worked it was excessively slow (it was as fast as dial-up Internet speeds) and did not work the next day. I have heard that there are better solutions to accessing content and I would definitely do this if I were spending a longer time in China. 

Below are some links to articles and documentaries about China's Great Firewall.

The Other Internet – Beyond China’s Great Firewall This is an interesting podcast from the BBC.

China: 1.3 million websites shut in 2010

Chinese learn to leap the 'Great Firewall'

The great firewall of China

Why immersing HISD pupils in Mandarin Chinese will enhance learning

Houston public schoolchildren will have the opportunity to learn the world's most spoken language in a new school that opens in August 2012.

Why immersing HISD pupils in Mandarin Chinese will enhance learning

Education Survey: China Scores Top Marks; - TIME

From Time one year ago.


"The rise of China as an economic and political juggernaut has become a familiar refrain, but now there's another area in which the Chinese are suddenly emerging as a world power: education."

Education Survey: China Scores Top Marks;  - TIME

Project rallies for China-US friendship Society

"The US State Department says 600 times more Chinese study the English language than Americans study Mandarin."

Project rallies for China-US friendship Society

Chinese is the new English - southindia - Hyderabad - ibnlive

Chinese is the new English apparently.  Well at least in Hyderabad, India.

Chinese is the new English - south India - Hyderabad

Free Resource - Read Chinese!

Found this free resource for learning Chinese.

"Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, these Read Chinese! materials were developed to provide online e-learning reading lessons aimed at beginning and intermediate students of the language."

Read Chinese!

Australian education in the Asian century: adapting for the world to come

News article that looks at some of the current university research. Discussion of current partnership between Wales Department of Education and Communities (Western Sydney Region), the Ningbo Municipal Education Bureau (Ningbo, China).

"The forthcoming White Paper on Australia in the Asian century is expected to provide a national blueprint for Australia at a time of transformative economic growth and change in Asia"

"The education of international students from continental Asia is particularly important for Australian education in the Asian Century."

Australian education in the Asian century: adapting for the world to come

Education Survey: China Scores Top Marks; U.S., France Lag - TIME

"Chinese are suddenly emerging as a world power: education." 

I am not surprised.
 

Education Survey: China Scores Top Marks; U.S., France Lag - TIME