Updating the Issue to Specific Questions
I am interested in learning a foreign language in the US. As the organization I choose is the Confucius Institution of ASU, my issue maybe specific in American college students learning Chinese. I had a very bad experience of learning English in China. The English class in China always concentrates on grammar and reading, so after many years of learning, I still can’t speak English frequently. However, after I came to the US, my English was improved dramatically. I think that is the difference between learning a foreign language and a second language (foreign language means that the language is not dominantly used in the country, where you are learning).
Usually, in the US, people pay more attention to learning English as a second language, while much fewer people look into the American students learning a foreign language. That is why I choose this issue. My initial ideas are to find out whether the Chinese class in the US has the same problems like the English class in China does. What are the special challenges that the American Chinese learners face? How second language teaching and learning can enlighten and improve the foreign language class in the US?
Usually, in the US, people pay more attention to learning English as a second language, while much fewer people look into the American students learning a foreign language. That is why I choose this issue. My initial ideas are to find out whether the Chinese class in the US has the same problems like the English class in China does. What are the special challenges that the American Chinese learners face? How second language teaching and learning can enlighten and improve the foreign language class in the US?
Foreign Language Learning & the Confucius Institute
I am interested in American students learning a second/foreign language. Although English is an universal language, more and more Americans realize the importance of speaking more than one language. Thus, the issue I am concerned is related to both bilingualism and the college value. How bilingualism benefits those students? Does learning a second language worth or useful? The organization I am going to visit is the Confucius Institute at ASU. Because my first language is Chinese, I think I can help in some Chinese summer camps or programs.
