TAS Hosts 4th Virtual Chinese Literacy Symposium

By Amanda Jacob, Interim Academic Dean

On Saturday, February 19, and Sunday, February 20, teachers from the lower school Mandarin team paired up with English teachers in the Lower and Middle Schools to host the fourth annual Chinese Literacy Symposium. 

This year’s symposium was attended by participants from twenty-one schools across Asia and the United States, including Shanghai American School, Hong Kong International School, Singapore American School, and the International School of Beijing. 

One hundred thirty participants spent two days exploring student writing and rubrics for assessing writing, supporting children in talking effectively with partners, and learning how balanced-literacy components can make learning more joyful while improving children’s speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in Mandarin. 

The team of presenters included sixteen TAS employees including Amanda Hsiao, Amanda Jacob, Caroline Hsu, Carrie Tenebrini, Denise Bord, Jenessa Van Schooneveld, Julia Lin, Karen Wang, Liwen Chao, Nini Nam, Patti Wong, Pauli Haakenson, Pearl Lin, Rachel Wang, Stacey Johnsen, and Virginia Blais.

Feedback from the participants was incredibly positive.

Jennifer Yang of Singapore American School said, “Thank you so much for organizing the learning and sharing all the resources with us. All the educators from your school are very passionate about teaching and are willing to share with us. I learned so much every time I attended the symposium. I will definitely recommend it to other colleagues.” 

Shengnan Ma from Keystone Academy Beijing captured her learning in the colorful sketch notes below.

Job-alike sessions allowed teachers who work with similar age groups to share challenges and successes. Fourteen participants also shared the work they have been doing with balanced-literacy components in their schools during mini-presentations on Saturday afternoon.

The symposium ended on Sunday afternoon with participants reflecting on their learning and planning in school teams what they would take back to their schools and classrooms on Monday and in the coming weeks.

One participant said, “I reflected on my teaching, and thought I was too quick to see what a kid did wrong instead of giving equal attention to what he did that was wonderful in his work.”

The proceeds raised from this year’s Chinese Literacy Symposium will fund additional professional development for eight lower school Mandarin teachers who will attend the Teachers College Reading Writing Project’s summer writing institute to continue their learning and help them prepare for the CLS 2023.