China the Beautiful

[Ceil Connelly-Weida]

Good evening, Dr. Pei -
I am currently taking a Masters level class in Administration and Development of Programs for English Language Learners. I must design a program as a course requirement. The program I would like to offer would involve parents and children, at all levels of literacy and education and use bi-lingual materials. The project would be about two hours long and have two facilitators, ideally one a native speaker.

Students will view videos reflecting life in China's countryside and city. We will read the book "Maples in the Mist," by Ming Fong Ho. Students and parents will be asked to discuss differences and similarities between the material and their experience. Students will do a one page journal in the language most comfortable for them. While they are discussing and writing, I would like them to view pictures from your Photo Album in a power-point presentation. www.chinapage.com/photo/photo/main.html through a02_yangshou.html. The presentation would provide additional images for the students and their parents to refer to, spurring additional conversation.

I would also like the parents to complete a web search - your site would be one of the ones on the list they may choose from.

Project Observation: It appears children are not fully aware of the richness of their heritage, the hopes and dreams of their parents, the tremendous courage it took for their parents to undertake the decision to immigrate to the United States and to this very area. They may not fully appreciate their culture. It is my perception, that parents do not often receive the respect they deserve partially due to the challenges they may have communicating with their children's teachers, health care providers, and the community at large.

Project Goal: At the end of this activity, participants will have had an opportunity to explore more fully the culture and heritage of their home country in a bi-lingual format. Students will be able to identify two cultural differences and two cultural similarities from the literature, video, web exploration, conversations with their parents, and their own lifestyles today. Parents will gain confidence and students will develop additional respect.

Project Audience: Parents and Students of Allentown School District and/or English Language Learners, who are adult students at Lehigh Carbon Community College.

I thank you in advance for your very kind consideration. If you believe my project may have merit for you, I will gladly forward it upon completion.

Thank you again.
Ceil Connelly-Weida

[chinapage]

Dear Ceil:

Your project appears to be very interesting, and I have no objections
to your using materials from http://www.chinapage.com/photo/photo.html
in your power point slides.

If you send me the report, I would be happy to see it. Perhaps it
can even be presented to the readers of China the Beautiful
in some form.

Regards,

Ming

[Ceil]

Dear Dr. Pei -
You are most kind.
Thank you.
Ceil Connelly-Weida