Source: School of Chinese as a Second Language
Written by: Qin Dongmei
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On March 12th, 2015, led by the director of Confucius Institute at the University of Central Arkansas (UCACI), accompanied by their superintendents and principals, 14 Hanban Chinese teachers from UCACI received recognition from the Arkansas State Legislature and the State Board of Education in Arkansas Department of Education (ADE). Two of these teachers, Li Ci and Qin Dongmei, are from School of Chinese as a Second Language, Sun Yat-sen University.
 

Li Ci (first from left, second row) and Qin Dongmei (first from right, second row) received “Arkansas Traveler” certificates.
 

At the board meeting of ADE, Dr. Frank Servedio, public school program coordinator, introduced the Chinese teachers to the board members, and highly praised their contribution to the Chinese teaching and cultural exchanges in Arkansas. After the introduction, the project director of ADE awarded the Chinese teachers “Arkansas Traveler” certificates issued by Governor Asa Hutchinson and Secretary of State Mark Martin, in recognition of their effort to promote the cultural exchange and Chinese education in Arkansas.

After the ceremony, led by the ADE official and Senator Jane English, the Chinese teachers were introduced to the state senators while the 90th legislatures were in session. The senators all stood up to give a big applause to the teachers, then shook hands with each of them, giving special thanks to the teachers for their contribution to Arkansas.

Li Ci and Qin Dongmei were selected and sent to the United States as Chinese volunteer teachers in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Li Ci is teaching Chinese at Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School (JLCS), Arkansas, in charge of 14 classes, about 300 students. Despite the heavy teaching loads, she has no regrets. She is dedicated to teaching and organizing Chinese cultural activities, enabling all students and teachers in JLCS to have more opportunities to learn about Chinese culture. At the request of the principal of JLCS, Li Ci is going to extend her contract to 2016.

Qin Dongmei is working at UCACI, mainly focused on contacting all the Chinese teachers at school districts at Arkansas, and helping manage all kinds of Chinese cultural events. She is in charge of HSK and YCT Chinese Proficiency Test, advertising and arranging Chinese Bridge Proficiency Competition and Chinese Bridge Summer Camp in Arkansas. She is also teaching Chinese to faculty and staff from University of Central Arkansas. Dr. Guo-ou Zhuang, director of UCACI, and Dr. Xiaohong Lu, deputy director of UCACI, hope that Qin Dongmei can stay for another school year to serve for the Teach Chinese in Arkansas program. 

Related report:
http://uca.edu/confucius/2015/03/17/ucaci-chinese-teachers-received-recognition-from-the-arkansas-state-legislature/