Dr. Shuhan Wang

Educational linguistics in practice : applying the local globally and the global locally

Recommendation 1: Expand and Solidify Language Learning Systems to Support the Rapid Growth of the Chinese Language Field. Instead of rushing to establish more Chinese language programs, strengthen comprehensive language learning systems that address the supply and demand of students, teachers, curricula, materials, assessment, traditional classroom and digital delivery models, and provide the necessary funding, research and technical assistance for schools and communities. As mentioned, this is what STARTALK has been doing since its inception in 2007, which benefits language-specific and the general world language fields.

Recommendation 2: Develop Students’ biliteracy in Chinese and the Native Language. It is not enough to expose students with a flavor of Chinese language and culture. Educators, researchers and stakeholders in K-12, higher education, and heritage language communities need to analyze the conditions in which they teach and carefully study their students’ needs, abilities, motivations, identities and evidence of learning outcomes.

Recommendation 3: Connect Theory with Practice in Chinese LPP Activities and Extend the Lessons Learned to World Language Educational in General. There needs to be much coordination of policy, funding and practice in all levels and sectors to ensure the healthy growth of the Chinese field and its relationship with other languages. Additionally, policy makers need to include world language as a core subject for student learning accountability, while considering how to develop coherent US language ed policies for ELLs, Bilingual Ed, Foreign language Ed and Heritage Language Ed.