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Release Date: May 17, 2017 Click:5468 Source:UOU News Center
An American University President: why do I support Confucius Institute?

  Gerry Lansdell, President of Western Kentucky University, received an exclusive interview with people's daily reporter.
  In November 30, people.com.cn (Chen Xingxing Han Shasha) in the preparation of the Western Kentucky University Confucius Institute special demonstration building, finally ushered in a new breakthrough -- at the end of November started, is expected to be completed in June 2016.
  It will be the only new building of the Confucius Institute in hanban. In the past, Confucius institutes in the United States tended to be "boarding" in other buildings on the university campus, or from the old buildings. In accordance with the agreement signed by the two sides, the Western Kentucky University provides the site for the construction of new buildings, within 50 years for the demonstration of the exclusive use of the hole courtyard, the school may not change the use of this special site.
  Free land provided by the United States University, the construction of special buildings on the campus, within 50 years can not change the site use. Such news will naturally affect the nerves of all parties. In the course of 23 months of preparation, Western Kentucky University President Gerry Lansdell (Gary A. Ransdell) played a vital role.
  During the period, either Confucius himself or the dean of the school of Western Kentucky University (hereinafter referred to as the "West Institute") staff have received a lot of calls, questions asked about the Confucius Institute building special purpose and function, the source of funds, the ownership of the. Local media in the United States have even published as many as 26 articles devoted to these problems.
  In the face of controversy, Lance DELL firmly believes that the construction of demonstration hole courtyard buildings in line with the core interests of Western Kentucky University, but also help to promote the overall development of Confucius institute. In September 16th this year, he made clear: "I think we should support Chinese cultural projects in west campus, Confucius college is a good channel."
  Why is an American University President so supportive of the Confucius Institute in China? At the Confucius Institute, for Confucius college in the United States out of the development of what kind of a way?
  People.com.cn reporter an exclusive interview with the president of Lance DELL, and after more than 1 months and all parties in the exchange of all observed at Confucius Institute experience.
  Speaking of achievement: "in every way, this is a wonderful success story."".
  Where is the Western Kentucky University?
  From the "American country music" in Nashville to open a road, a road green farm, 1 hours later, he went to Western Kentucky University.
  Founded in 1906, Western Kentucky University is located in Kentucky. The Census Bureau data show that in 2014, the state population of 4 million 413 thousand people, whites accounted for 88.3%, Asians accounted for only 1.4%. Different from New York, Losangeles, San Francisco and other diversified American metropolis, walking in Bao Lin Green City, Western Kentucky University, it is rare to see Chinese faces, and few Chinese elements.
  It is in such an authentic rural American town that the Confucius Institute in China developed rapidly and created a craze for Chinese culture in the region.
  The interview began, President Lance DELL initiative to talk at the Confucius institute.
  In the presentation, the term used by the American university president was "we" rather than "they" or "you"". He said, 5 years, we have made great progress, we made some very special things, see development at the Confucius Institute, I am very satisfied. More importantly, Kong Kong has had an impact on our campuses and communities, and a large number of local Chinese language courses are taught by our Hanban teachers.
  Lance, DELL commented: "in every way, this is a wonderful success story."."
  At the Confucius Institute was founded in 2010, Chinese partner institutions of North China Electric Power University. Initially, the Institute had only 11 Chinese teachers and taught Chinese at 11 schools in 4 schools in Kentucky. Now, 5 years later, at the Confucius Institute has 47 Chinese teachers in 21 school districts, registered Chinese project students up to 13580 people.
  By the year December 7, 2014, 475 Confucius institutes had been established worldwide, including 100 in the United States, according to the Hanban website. At the Confucius Institute, is one of the nation's two model and another is the Confucius Institute, Confucius College of San Diego State University.
  This success story, in particular, is reflected in the two special things Lance, President of DELL, said: a Chinese culture, a mobile car, a Chinese cultural experience center.
  Chinese culture experience mobile car, is a modified rv. Nearly 56 square meters of space, decorated with China Qing Dynasty costumes, paper-cut culture, ink, paper, bamboo erhu cymbals, Chinese medicine acupuncture, with objects and other items.
  Car driver and commentator at the Confucius Institute, Martin Colon (Martin Cohron), has a long lasting appeal Chinese Name: Kong Maoting. In the past two years, American Kong Maoting drove the car to more than 200 places and introduced Chinese culture to more than 30 thousand students, teachers and community members. Nearly 60 years he said the car as "baby".
  In an interview, he was busy with the training of volunteers in the Han Dynasty, and has stayed up late for several days. But the introduction of his "baby", he swept away the tired face look of pride in good out of a bandbox, and the whole body exudes passion, always let people mistakenly think that he is telling his national culture.
  At the Confucius Institute of Foreign President Pan Weiping said, by moving the car, the Confucius school moved to a remote area, so that more Americans experience Chinese language and culture.
  In addition, at the entrance of the school library, with a Chinese culture experience center, covers an area of more than 651 square meters, equipped with 7 sets of digital touch screen display, were introduced China, Chinese characters, science and technology in ancient sages, paper-cut, musical instruments, martial arts and Chinese City, also exhibited multiple Chinese physical culture products. According to Pan Weiping, the average annual visits to the students and community residents more than 15000 people.
  Lansdell said, "there are more than 20 thousand students in Western Kentucky University, not everyone has the opportunity to go to China, but in school for 4 years, they will go to the library.". "Every time students go to the library, they pass through the Chinese cultural experience center, which is very important."
  Talk about support: "understanding Chinese, students is an essential part of international experience"
  At the rapid development of the Confucius Institute, and is inseparable from the support of President Lansdell.
Why are you so supportive of the Confucius Institute? Lance DELL says the Confucius institute can help schools achieve international goals, allowing students and the public to experience China at a distance and make China a "palpable" presence.
  In the interview, internationalization was a word many times mentioned by the president of the American university. In his own words, "I want students to grow up confidently and understand their importance as a citizen of the world."."
  Lance DELL recalled that 10 years ago, Western Kentucky University decided to introduce international school, "we understand the Confucius college situation, decided to do one, we contacted the Hanban, for the establishment of Confucius college. Since then, we have been very active in promoting the Institute as an important part of the internationalization strategy of the school."
  In addition to Confucius college, Western Kentucky University has also established Chinese flagship college and Chinese department, three.
  Asked how Kong Institute helped Western Kentucky University achieve "internationalization" goal, Lance, DELL replied: "Kong Institute gives us the opportunity, but also allows us to have the ability to organize teaching and activities".
  Without the financial support of Hanban, he said, the Western Kentucky University simply couldn't afford to hire 47 teachers to teach Chinese at public schools. More importantly, Hanban has given universities and courts a right of autonomy, and in cooperation, they respect the culture of the local universities, the school system and the campus environment.
  Lansdell believes that with the rise of China economy, more and more significant in the international community's position, the world is eager to know the development of the country, the United States also need to understand the effects of Chinese have on the world economy. Chinese future will become a world language, understanding, understanding China Chinese, international students experience an essential part of.
  However, for most American students, China is still a distant and mysterious country. Although schools send students to China every year, not every student has this opportunity. Lansdell said: "if students can not study abroad, we will bring the world to them.". We create opportunities for them to experience internationalization."
  To understand China is the need of world development as well as the need for individual development. This perception is gaining recognition in the Western Kentucky University and in the local community. Pauling Green Clow Potter school district (Cloverport) is one of the Confucius Institute at school Chinese teacher of the school district. Charles Proffit, the school's education secretary, said he was glad to hear his parents feed back to their children and learn new Chinese knowledge. He believes that learning Chinese and Chinese culture, the children will have more competitive advantages than others, and later can find a good opportunity in china.
  The Kentucky Department of education in the state of the world (Alfonso de Torres language consultant Alfonso Torres Nunez Nunez) said that in Kentucky, students usually study at least 5 foreign language, in addition to Spanish, Chinese students to second language learning.
  Lansdell believes that in San Francisco and New York, the Chinese have a long history, and Chinese culture has a strong influence. Here, everything is new, new culture, new ideas, new knowledge. But he stressed: "that's the value of the Confucius Institute.". Because Chinese history and culture are not popular here, Confucius institutes will have better development."
  Talking about the future: "there are more universities willing to open holes."
  Talking about the development of Confucius Institute in the United states. DELL Lance president said, more and more American colleges and universities will be the same as Western Kentucky University, pay more attention to international cooperation and exchanges, even more attention than the University of Kentucky, there will be more willing to Open University Confucius Institute, this is Confucius college development opportunities. Last December, he went to China to attend the World Congress of Confucius and Confucius. "There are also people asking me how to apply to the Hanban for the new Confucius institute."
  How can the Confucius Institute continue to grow? President Pan Weiping believes that one is to "localization", combining with the local university's demands and core interests; the two is to own hard, let the people on the development of University and Confucius college have continued confidence and trust.
In his view, Confucius Institute's development bottleneck may be teachers and teaching materials. Hanban can only teach as an American teacher if it has received a local teacher's qualification certificate from the United states. If you don't, you can't teach it alone. You need a qualified teacher to teach it. This is unacceptable for American schools where education, resources, and funding are tight.
  How to solve this problem at the Confucius Institute? With the Western Kentucky University education and behavioral sciences, Kentucky state education occupation Standards Committee at the Confucius Institute cooperation, build a platform for Chinese teacher certification. Up to now, a total of 51 teachers have been awarded the Kentucky Chinese teacher qualification certificate. Confucius college at Confucius Institute is the only available for certification from China Chinese teacher.
  Pan Weiping said: "it is because teachers are guaranteed, at present, all school districts offered at the Confucius Institute to the local school teacher, and work in the way of charging."
  In addition to the rigorous annual recruitment and training program, the exchange training within the Institute is also a way for teachers to make progress.
  More than one Chinese teacher told reporters that they often listen to American teachers, teach different ways of teaching and apply them to their own teaching. American teachers will also come to listen to their lessons and communicate with each other to promote Chinese and American teaching methods.
  Chinese President Li Bo at the Confucius Institute in the Confucius Institute, believes that communication is a two-way interaction, teachers introduce China language and culture to students and community residents. Similarly, they are experiencing, experiencing and learning American language, culture and lifestyle.
  Bin Mingzhi went to the United States for more than 3 months and taught Chinese at a local school. She teaches 5 classes, 80 students, 1 hours a day. When I first came, I found they didn't know anything about china."
  Now there are 4 Chinese in the town where the school is, that is, she and 3 other Chinese teachers. Walking on the road, the 35 step, there will be students or parents warmly greeted her. She needed a piano lesson, and some parents even brought home the piano and borrowed it from her.
  This kind of trust and enthusiasm is not only a recognition of Chinese teachers, but also a recognition of Confucius institute.
  Lin Weipeng, in Butler, County, in Midwestern Kentucky, is also impressed by Butler's 790 students, often touched by the enthusiasm of students and local people.
  Confucius Institute sowed the seeds of learning Chinese and produced a blossoming flower of friendship.
  Is there a month, 2015 is the past, Lance DELL and Pan Weiping has already begun for this wonderful success story, higher standards: Chinese students strive to 15000 people in the 2015 - 2016 school year, 2025 reached 45000.
  Lance DELL says the United States has more than 100 holes, more than 470 of the world, even if there are one or two schools choose not to open the Confucius Institute, in my opinion, this figure is very small, I hope that the Confucius Institute continues to exist for 50 years or a century in Western Kentucky University.