The CAIS Institute Acculturation Program provides specialized training for guest teachers from Asia to learn effective approaches that will increase their success in North American classrooms. Utilizing 25 years of experience from the Chinese American International School, the nation’s first Mandarin Immersion School, participants master leading-edge teaching techniques, resulting in higher quality and sustainable Chinese language programming.

During teaching practicums, they will put techniques that they are studying into practice in the classroom. To gain applicable practical experience, teachers engage students of a similar level to those they will be teaching. For example, teachers heading to a high school program conduct their practicums with actual high school students learning Chinese. They learn strategies to communicate effectively with families, peers and administrators. At every step of the program, they are provided with individualized feedback from master instructors.


Program Description

Under the guidance of experienced CAIS Institute instructors, participants attend an intensive seven day training program to prepare them to be innovative and successful teachers in their classrooms. Program structure includes:

• Intensive workshops
• Resources and online preparatory materials
• Hands-on teaching experience in the classroom
• Development of communication skills and cultural understanding

As part of the teachers’ professional development, the acculturation program clarifies key cultural differences in and outside of the classroom so that teachers are prepared to manage the situations they will face involving their work, personal lives, and community interactions.

The sessions will be limited to 20 participants in order to provide hands-on learning opportunities and ensure quality programming.

Dates for Summer 2009 Coming Soon!

Location

All training will be hosted at the Chinese American International School campus in San Francisco, California.