Thursday, December 20, 2012

BJBIE Attends Annual Foreign Language Conference


In late November, BJBIE attended and exhibited at the annual ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Conference, which was held in Philadelphia, PA.

BJBIE staff has attended this program for the last two years, mainly because it is one the few opportunities to meet with teachers and administrators from high schools, colleges, and universities, and discuss plans to develop language programs either from scratch of beyond an introductory level.

This year’s program did not disappoint. Almost 7,000 teachers and administrators attended this year’s conference, and the Chinese language section was abuzz with discussions of new programs, innovative approaches to engaging more students in language courses, and establishing relationships to move forward strategic plans.

BJBIE Manager for Outreach and Program Development, Jim Burke, attended the conference as an exhibitor and participant in many sessions. During the Exhibition Fair, Jim was pleased to meet and discuss BJBIE’s Business in Chinese language program with schools looking to begin Chinese at their schools and schools that wanted higher-level subject-specific courses like business Chinese.

The curriculum was very well-received by teachers and administrators – the common response from teachers was that the curriculum’s real-world and relate-able scenarios will give students a better sense of how to use their Chinese language skills in day-to-day activities or in structured business conversations. Administrators liked that they could work with BJBIE’s Adaptation Team to map out the learning objectives for all semesters and ensure student outcomes.

Business in Chinese had an excellent reception in Philadelphia, and Jim is busy following-up with his new clients and contacts. ACTFL remains an excellent opportunity to meet those working in Modern Languages and International Education – and we look forward to next year. 

Jim Burke, Manager of Outreach and Program Development, showcasing BJBIE's Business in Chinese curriculum and various cultural immersion programs