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Hi,Dear Friends
 How are you? Have you had a good week? I do hope you have and enjoy your weekend.
This is the 4th day I am in USA.
I am here to participate in the 2011 World Language Fall Conference in Kentucky, to share my idea and exploration on my comprehensive art with the local Chinese language teachers, to listen to their comments, advices and to learn from them.
September 23, I had a presentation and spent a good time with more than 30 American Chinese language teachers.
With a little bit surprise, I saw and heard something interesting:
-- More than 1/3 public schools in Lexington, Kentucky offer Chinese lessons and have their own professional Chinese teachers; Chinese language will be one of the major courses in University of Kentucky; there is an Association of Chinese Language Teachers and a good Chinese language teaching and learning environment in the city; almost all of the Chinese teachers are females, the scale of the male teachers is about 10%; most of Chinese teachers teach several level lessons, some of them teach 6 level lessons and most of Chinese language teachers teach for 6 hours each day.
-- Many Chinese language teachers were interested in my project and they would like to use what I have created online, but, they need a mirror web site in USA, because the speed to connect China from US a little bit slowly.
-- There is no a uniform Chinese Language Teaching Syllabus and text books here, every teacher edits their own Chinese teaching content with their own idea. It is a little bit difficult for them to find the most suitable text books for themselves and their students; few of them would like to have some cooperation with me via my painting, music and so on.
As soon as I completed my presentation, I was invited by some Chinese teachers to share my idea and practice of comprehensive art with their students, 14 demonstrations have been arranged from next Monday to next Friday.
During the process, I have gotten much help and support from the local teachers and students:
The president of Kentucky World Language Association -- Mr. Randy Barrette arranged my session in person and invited me to be in their reception Sep 22.
The president of Kentucky Association of Chinese Teacher ? Mrs. Wang Yan recommended me to the Conference and she has offered much help.
A student for her doctoral degree in University of Kentucky -- Ms. Qi Xiaoliang was interested in my project while she taught me so much on how to write a good paper.
A senior high school Chinese teacher who teaches 6 level Chinese lesson -- Mrs. Zhao Shanli came to my living place to see my works, she commented them and she told me what is the most important needing of them on Chinese teaching.
A local middle school teacher -- Mr. Zhou Yiran offered the most logistics support and he arranged my work schedule here.
A young student in University of Kentucky -- Mr. Fan Meng rent a place for me and offers much help.
Even though I am not sure whether my health can support the work load next week, I would really like to do my best to perform my duties as a Chinese artist who comes here with an art dream from far away China.
Another feeling that I would like to share with you is:
As I have felt in Missouri State University, once more, I saw something wonderful and advanced in American Education System. One of them is the opening library. Since I came here, every day, I come to the library of University of Kentucky to read, write and to connect Internet. Even though I am not a student here, I can enter in the library freely with my computer bag, camera and anything I want to bring with me as I did in Missouri State University (when I had my art exhibition there last year).
It offers not only much convenience for me to work and to study in a totally strange city in a foreign country, but also, it makes me see a part of the most advanced education system.
Therefore, I could not help saying to myself, as a common Chinese who has seen something more than most of my compatriots, I do have the duty to report what I have seen and felt via some way, to help my own country drop by drop.
As a Chinese, now I am thinking that maybe we should one hand inherit something good in our own culture, the other hand, we must open our eyes wider, to see and to learn something better in the other cultures.
How do you think of my idea? Do you have any thing special this week to share?
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I am just a student on Art of Painting, Music, English and Management, to work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do a few things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be an Electronic Bridge of Inter-Art & Cross - Culture Exchange, Chinese Language Learning & Friendship Making. To help the others while to improve myself.
I would like to appreciate you for your understanding, directions, supports and help.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn or leave your message on Message Board.
Shirley Yiping Zhang
Sep 24, 2011
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