Grade Results and the Confucius Center at the University of Memphis Partner to Deliver Live, Online, Interactive Mandarin Chinese Course
Memphis, TN, March 05, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Grade Results, the leading innovator of live, one-to-one online instruction, is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the highly respected Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis (CIUM). Together, the organizations will offer Mandarin Chinese language and culture courses online to schools and universities across Tennessee and the United States.
The course is primarily set-up for schools and colleges to offer a Mandarin language course in their schools, without the requirement of hiring an on-site instructor, a role many schools find difficult to fill.
Here’s how it works: students will gather in a traditional classroom at the school, while their instructors are located at the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis (CIUM). Students and instructors are connected via a unique technology platform offered by Grade Results.
In this interactive, yet virtual environment, students learn from, and communicate with, the Mandarin Chinese language instructor via a computer screen and headset. Students can see and hear the instructor pronouncing the new words. In turn, the instructor sees and hears the students and is able to provide instant feedback. An on-screen white board is used to demonstrate the written characters and illustrate examples and also allows the students to add comments, questions, and/or interact with the instructor. Students are divided into groups of four to five per instructor so that each student gets ample individual attention.
The company behind the technology that makes all this possible is Grade Results, the leading innovator of live, one-to-one, online instruction. Since the company requires that all of its instructors hold a master’s degree at a minimum, finding the right people for the job was key. That’s why Grade Results approached The Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis (CIUM). The Confucius Institute was recently named one of the top six Confucius Institutes in the United States and one of the top 30 in the world.
“It seemed to be a very natural move to partner with an organization that is held in such high esteem for preserving Chinese language and culture and helping to educate students in the Chinese language and culture. We have found that the Confucius Institute instructors, coupled with Grade Results’ proven delivery system and technology, have created an ideal classroom scenario for learning Mandarin,” said Linda Ash of Grade Results.
A critical component of the curriculum, and germane to the mission of the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis (CIUM), is that students learn about the Chinese culture in addition to learning the language. Instructors at the Confucius Institute help the students engage with the culture by providing real world examples, bringing Chinese dignitaries into the virtual classroom to speak with the students, and presenting other opportunities. To gain hands-on exposure, students are encouraged to attend local events hosted by the Confucius Institute.
“It is our goal to reach as many people as possible to teach and promote the Chinese language and culture,” noted Dr. Hsiang-te Kung, the director of the Confucius Institute and a 75th direct descendant of Confucius. “We’ve seen phenomenal growth and interest in teaching the Chinese language and culture at the K-12 and collegiate level across Tennessee. Through the assistance of distance learning, we can now reach additional school districts, schools, and students throughout Tennessee.”
“We are so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in Tennessee and on a global scale,” said Riki Jackson, Assistant Director of the Confucius Institute and Asian Studies program at the University of Memphis. “When Grade Results presented us with the opportunity to bring Mandarin Chinese language instruction in an online, interactive format, we were thrilled. As we discovered the technology and the backbone that Grade Results brings to the table, we were able to envision additional opportunities to partner together and bring Chinese language and culture to schools and communities with no limitations on borders or locations.”
All of the courses and curriculum offered by Grade Results are aligned with Tennessee state standards.
For additional information about Grade Results, please call 888-316-2660 or visit www.graderesults.com. For additional information about the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis, please call 901-678-3166 or visit www.memphis.edu/cium.
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For more information, visit www.graderesults.com or www.memphis.edu/cium
The course is primarily set-up for schools and colleges to offer a Mandarin language course in their schools, without the requirement of hiring an on-site instructor, a role many schools find difficult to fill.
Here’s how it works: students will gather in a traditional classroom at the school, while their instructors are located at the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis (CIUM). Students and instructors are connected via a unique technology platform offered by Grade Results.
In this interactive, yet virtual environment, students learn from, and communicate with, the Mandarin Chinese language instructor via a computer screen and headset. Students can see and hear the instructor pronouncing the new words. In turn, the instructor sees and hears the students and is able to provide instant feedback. An on-screen white board is used to demonstrate the written characters and illustrate examples and also allows the students to add comments, questions, and/or interact with the instructor. Students are divided into groups of four to five per instructor so that each student gets ample individual attention.
The company behind the technology that makes all this possible is Grade Results, the leading innovator of live, one-to-one, online instruction. Since the company requires that all of its instructors hold a master’s degree at a minimum, finding the right people for the job was key. That’s why Grade Results approached The Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis (CIUM). The Confucius Institute was recently named one of the top six Confucius Institutes in the United States and one of the top 30 in the world.
“It seemed to be a very natural move to partner with an organization that is held in such high esteem for preserving Chinese language and culture and helping to educate students in the Chinese language and culture. We have found that the Confucius Institute instructors, coupled with Grade Results’ proven delivery system and technology, have created an ideal classroom scenario for learning Mandarin,” said Linda Ash of Grade Results.
A critical component of the curriculum, and germane to the mission of the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis (CIUM), is that students learn about the Chinese culture in addition to learning the language. Instructors at the Confucius Institute help the students engage with the culture by providing real world examples, bringing Chinese dignitaries into the virtual classroom to speak with the students, and presenting other opportunities. To gain hands-on exposure, students are encouraged to attend local events hosted by the Confucius Institute.
“It is our goal to reach as many people as possible to teach and promote the Chinese language and culture,” noted Dr. Hsiang-te Kung, the director of the Confucius Institute and a 75th direct descendant of Confucius. “We’ve seen phenomenal growth and interest in teaching the Chinese language and culture at the K-12 and collegiate level across Tennessee. Through the assistance of distance learning, we can now reach additional school districts, schools, and students throughout Tennessee.”
“We are so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in Tennessee and on a global scale,” said Riki Jackson, Assistant Director of the Confucius Institute and Asian Studies program at the University of Memphis. “When Grade Results presented us with the opportunity to bring Mandarin Chinese language instruction in an online, interactive format, we were thrilled. As we discovered the technology and the backbone that Grade Results brings to the table, we were able to envision additional opportunities to partner together and bring Chinese language and culture to schools and communities with no limitations on borders or locations.”
All of the courses and curriculum offered by Grade Results are aligned with Tennessee state standards.
For additional information about Grade Results, please call 888-316-2660 or visit www.graderesults.com. For additional information about the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis, please call 901-678-3166 or visit www.memphis.edu/cium.
###
For more information, visit www.graderesults.com or www.memphis.edu/cium
Contact
Grade Results
Lynaia Lutes
817-226-4332
www.graderesults.com
Lynaia Lutes
817-226-4332
www.graderesults.com
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