Confucius Institute 2012 Schedule of Events
To view 2011 Events - Click Here
January 1, 2012 - Mr. Ma CHeng Guo dontated two beautiful paintings to the Confucius Institute at WKU, on behalf of President Ransdell, that illustrates the works of Liu Shuming.
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January 9 - During the period of November 17, 2011 - January 3, 2012, the Confucius Institute at WKU was accepting proposals for Chinese themed programing. The aim was to spawn originality around Chinese themed programming within the campus community. We were giving 4 sponsorships in the amount of $250 (each), but the program must be conducted within the spring semester. We received over 15 proposals, and on January 9, announced the following sponsorship winners:
Dr. Martha Day and Dr. Tadayuki Suzuki – Sky Teach at WKU
- Dr. Day and Dr. Suzuki will use their sponsorship to help fund a Professional Development workshop for pre-service and practicing teachers entitled, "Working with students from Asian cultures, a teacher's guide to cultural competence."
Dr. Paul Fischer – Department of Philosophy and Religion
- Dr. Fischer will use his sponsorship to purchase Chinese films and language books for his Confucianism course (RELS 317) in the Spring of 2012.
Dr. Jen-Luc Houle – Department of Folk Studies and Religion
- Dr. Houle will use his sponsorship to off-set costs for his Visiting Guest Speaker Dr. David Anthony, Professor of Anthropology at Hartwick College, N.Y. Dr. Anthony's talk will focus on horse domestication in the Eurasian Steppes and how Bronze Age riders helped shape the modern world.
Dr. Michael Ann Williams – Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology
- Dr. Williams will be using her sponsorship to support WKU Folk Studies Graduate Student participation in the 2nd China-US Forum on Intangible Cultural Heritage at Vanderbilt University in April of 2012.
January 19 – On January 19th, the Confucius Institute at WKU and President Gary A. Ransdell hosted a Chinese New Year Celebration for all of WKU's Faculty and Staff. The event started with a play written by Will Meredith (WKU Flagship Student), and concluded with a traditional Chinese dinner.
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January 21 – WKU recognized the participants of the 2011 Adult China Summer trip at halftime of the WKU "Hilltoppers" game versus University Arkansas Little Rock, in a win at Diddle Arena.
January 31 – April 12, 2012 –Classes for both Beginner and Intermediate Chinese language are underway. The classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Tuesday night sessions will be devoted to learning new material, and Thursday evening sessions will involve review and immersion in speaking the language fluently. The classes are taking place in the Confucius Institute's Chinese Learning Center on the campus of WKU in Helm Library Room 100. For more information please contact Terrill Martin (270-745-2530) or via email at terrill.martin@wku.edu.
February 5 - April 15, 2012 – Youth Chinese Language Classes began separated into two sections; Beginner and Intermediate. The classes take place every Sunday from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. All classes will take place at the Confucius Institute's Chinese Learning Center on the campus of WKU in Helm Library Room 100. For more information please contact Terrill Martin (270-745-2530) or via email at terrill.martin@wku.edu.
Every Wednesday - Starting February 4 – If you are studying Chinese at WKU and would like the chance to practice your Chinese conversational skills with other students, please come join Dr. Jianjun He, Assistant Professor in WKU's Chinese Flagship Program, every Wednesday from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. in the Confucius Institute's Chinese Learning Center, Helm 100
Every Monday - Starting February 6 – If you are a Native Chinese student and would like the chance to practice your English conversational skills with other students, please come join Dr. Ke Peng, Assistant Professor in WKU's Modern Languages, every Monday from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. in the Confucius Institute's Chinese Learning Center, Helm 100
February 11 - On behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Gary and Julie Ransdell, the Confucius Institute at WKU was invited to attend the Crane House's New Year Celebration at the Henry Clay Building, as they celebrated their 25th Anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Ted and Mary Nixon sponsored the WKU table for the event. It was a fundraising event, and consisted of traditional Asian dance and concluded with dinner. The Crane House, "The China Institute, Inc." opened in 1987 in the Old Louisville neighborhood near the University of Louisville. Its focus on China reflected the heritage of founder, Helen Lang, who was inspired to share her expertise and interest in Chinese cooking, history, and culture (the crane is an Asian symbol of longevity). In 1996 the organization expanded its programming to include all of East Asia and the following year, Crane House moved to its current location at 1244 South Third Street. For more information about the Crane House click here.
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February 16 - Ms. Catherine Warren and Brownie Troop #1026 visited and spent the day with Ms. Guo Shanfeng and Ms. Tian Xiaolin at the Chinese Learning Center. Here is a note of appreciation from Ms. Warren:
"How can I even start this thank you note with out.... WOW!!!!??? What a tremendous day our brownies had with the absolutely lovely, articulate, and amazing hosts, Shanfeng and Xiaolin. Every moment at the Confucius center was educational, exciting and made the world for an hour seem like a smaller place. The girls loved their time at the institute and will remember how to say, "I Love You" in Chinese and sing about happiness to the tune of Happy birthday for hopefully a Lifetime. I walked away thinking we didn't just learn about Chinese culture we got to meet two beautiful young woman who were not afraid to show love and share a genuine joy for their country and culture.
I am so thankful for today and I look forward to telling all my friends and other
brownie troops about the treasure found in the Helm library!
Blessings,
Catherine Warren and Brownie troop # 1026"
If you are interested in creating a specialized tour of the Chinese Learning Center, please contact either Guo Shanfeng (Shanfeng.Guo@wku.edu) or Tian Xiaolin (Xiaolin.Tian@wku.edu).
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February 17 – The Confucius Institute at WKU will be co-sponsoring a viewing of the film "Journey of the Universe" with the Department of Philosophy and Religion in the MMTH Auditorium at 5:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
February 22 – The Confucius Institute at WKU hosted a "Spring Festival in the DUC Auditorium from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., that followed with a reception in the Cupola Room. Hubei University's Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe performed in from of 550 WKU faculty, staff, students, and community members. Nine of the local schools that participate in our "Chinese Volunteer Teacher" program attended, and brought over 358 students along with their volunteer teachers. There were a total of nine performances that comprised the program, culminating to the most athletically challenging "Lion Dance" witnessed to date on the stage of WKU.
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March 16 – The Confucius Institute at WKU sponsored a performance by the Pre-College Springs Violin/Viola and Cello led by Assistant Professor of Music, Dr. Ching-Yi Lin in Van Meter Auditorium 6:00 P.M. Over 800 individuals came out to hear the Symphony Orchestra and Pre-College Strings perform around the theme of "East Meets West." The Confucius Institute provided t-shirts for the students of the program, and also followed with a receptions, again, hosted by the Confucius Institute.
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April 20 - April 26th - The Confucius Institute partners with the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, as Dr. Stephanie Kay Gandy, and Dr. Lisa Murley, went to Hanban (Confucius Institute at WKU's Sponsor) to prepare the incumbent "Volunteer Teacher's," as 18 of them are trying to attain official Kentucky Teacher Certification through KY's Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB).
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May 16 - May 30 - Follow the Confucius Institute China Experience 2012 via blog Confucius Institute China Experience 2012. The Confucius Institute will lead 29 faculty/staff, students, and community members for a two week adventure. The group consists of the following individuals:
- Jessica Brumley
- Margaret Cobane
- Rebecca Davis
- Amanda Garmon
- Evan Grantz
- Edit Hamburger
- Peter Hamburger
- Kelli Hogue
- Charvinia Neblett
- Cody Hutchins
- Anthony Martin
- Terrill Martin
- Hannah Pardue
- Aton Stewart
- Martin Stone
- Savannah Stone
- Lorraine Baushke
- Robert Deane
- Stehanie Hammons
- Lynn Hines
- Lisa Horn
- Christopher King
- Amanda Lich
- Elizabeth Sholar
- Michael Stephens
- John Hoover
- Ronda Talley
- Wei-Ping Pan
- George Rasmussen
August 4 - The Confucius Institute at WKU will be sponsoring a "Dragon Boat" at the 2nd Annual Owensboro Dragon Boat Festival. Last year, the Confucius Institute was invited to participate to row, and took 20 faculty, staff, students, and community members to Owensboro, KY. This year the Confucius Institute has sponsored a "Dragon Boat," and anticipate 40 faculty, staff, students, and community members to attend. More information to come.
