Standards and Backwards Mapping

---Yanhua Wang

I enjoy teaching every day. I like to see the smiles of my students when I help them solve the problems. I am now teaching Mandarin Chinese in a high school. Many of my students choose Mandarin Chinese as a second language because they are attracted by the Chinese cultures. And with more and more school districts offer Mandarin Chinese as one of the second languages, serial standards or guides have been made and issued. One of them is the Common Core of Learning-World Languages.The document is based upon the work of the National Standards in Foreign Language Education Project (1996) and recent research findings in world language education.It also provides a progressive development of essential concepts and skills for Grades pre-kindergarten - 12.

In this Unit, I am going to introduce 5 different topics to students, so that:        1.Students will understand and interpret spoken and written language on a variety of topics. (Interpretive)                         

2.Students will present information, concepts and ideas to listeners or readers on a variety of topics. (Presentational)                         

3.Students will demonstrate an understanding of the traditions, products and perspectives of the cultures studied.

In order to test how well do the students grasp the knowledge points of this unit, corresponding assessments are taken to  help me know students are meeting the standard.

1. Students will take a written quiz after finishing the unit. The quiz includes Pinyin, tones, Character writing and sentence writing.  After the quiz, I will analyze each part of the quiz. I will adjust the lesson plans to improve students academic performance.

2. Students are asked to make a book “story of me”. Students design, write and draw according to the requirement and the topics.

3. Students introduce the book to their classmates. They are going to introduce the book in Mandarin.

In the class, various teaching methods and activities are taking to attract students attention. Engaged students mean easier way to make sure students meet the standards. Activities in this unit include:

1. Stuff picking game: Students use chopsticks to pick up pasta and beans in given time. The one who pick the most wins the game and gets a prize. It’s a good time to introduce the history of using chopsticks in China.

2. Introduce what their partners are wearing today. When students are learning lesson “clothing”, they have to tell the rest of the class what their partners are wearing today. Students like to observe what other students are wearing, and with their introduction, students insensibly  review the-the expression of “clothing”.

3. Bring some balls with me to school. It’s a surprise to the students when they see the balls. But they only way they can play is to tell me the names of the balls and the expressions about sports.