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Americans are increasingly recognizing the rise of China as one of the most important developments of the twenty-first century. With China's tremendous economic growth and rapid emergence as an international leader, the need to train more American students in the Chinese language is immediate and pressing. Today, the number of students nationwide who are studying Chinese is minuscule, only about 24,000. That compares with the 3 million taking Spanish, the most popular language in America's schools, with French and German next. How to build the capacity to meet the urgent need for more training in Chinese language is a challenge now being actively discussed by educational leaders across the United States.

Recognizing the significance of Chinese language programs to the future prosperity and security of our youth, our nation, and our state, the Kansas Committee for International Education in the Schools has convened a statewide Kansas Task Force on Chinese Language Training. The thirteen-member Task Force will survey the current state of Chinese language training in Kansas schools, colleges, and universities, evaluate future needs and priorities in Chinese language training, and make specific recommendations for high-priority initiatives. The Task Force's report, which will be presented to the Governor, legislators, and educational policymakers, will be an important first step in starting a statewide discussion on the need for increased Chinese language capacity throughout the Kansas educational system.

The Kansas Task Force on Chinese Language Training will meet through the winter of 2006 and complete their final report in early April. The members of the Task Force represent educational institutions at all levels, government agencies, professional organizations, and businesses concerned with international affairs and the teaching of world languages:

Raffaele DeVito, School of Business, Emporia State University and Chair, Kansas
International Trade Coordinating Council
Manuela Gonzalez-Bueno, School of Education, University of Kansas
Jan Heinen, Director of Middle Level Education, Olathe Schools
Ken Holland, Associate Provost for International Programs, Kansas State University
Nancy Hope, Center for East Asian Studies, University of Kansas and Executive Committee, KCIES
Carolyn Kadel, Director of International Education, Johnson County Community College
Keith McMahon, Chair, East Asian Languages and Cultures Department, University of Kansas
Robert F. Riordan, Executive Vice President, Black & Veatch
Melanie Stuart, Kansas State Department of Education
Karen Tritt, President, Kansas World Language Association
William M. Tsutsui, Center for East Asian Studies, University of Kansas and Executive Committee, KCIES (Task Force chair)
Sheree Willis, Center for East Asian Studies, University of Kansas
Carol Woolbright, Southeast Kansas Education Service Center, Greenbush

The Kansas Committee for International Education in the Schools (KCIES) is a statewide group of policymakers, educators, representatives of the business community, and other interested individuals established in 2003. The KCIES promotes the infusion of international topics into the K-12 curriculum, raises public awareness of the need for international education, and provides resources for teachers, students, parents, and communities. More information on the KCIES is available online at www.kansasintheworld.org.

For more information on the Kansas Task Force on Chinese Language Training, please contact William Tsutsui, (785) 864-9435, btsutsui@ku.edu.

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