INSTRUCTOR'S REFLECTIONS-CONT'D

This web project...

This web project was motivated by one of my students who queried into the learning materials
that we used for Elementary Chinese 101,   Integrated Chinese   by Tao-Chung Yao, et al. published
by Tseng & Tsui Company.  After the initial several weeks of instruction in Elementary Chinese,
one student said to me,   Tseng Laoshi, I was wondering if we could have more dialogues to
listen to in the workbook.  I feel that the workbook's dialogues are not enough, and I want to
listen to more to improve my listening comprehension ability.    I was amazed at his efforts
and intention to want to learn more at the very initial stage when most students were still
struggling with fundamental elements such as tone marks.  His query, however, kept on
pounding upon me and ultimately motivated me to initiate this web project.

Student publications on this website include 1) student reflections of learning Mandarin
Chinese, 2) self-introduction in Chinese, and 3) selected compositions and dialogues in
Chinese.  Student reflections in English release the whole class's honest comments on learning
the Chinese language.  The student reflections disprove many myths about the nature of the
language and provide valuable insights into the success of learning through a student-to-student
channel. Student works in Chinese are composed of twenty-eight self-introductions and
approximately one hundred pieces of compositions, either narratives or dialogues, selected by
students themselves for generous sharing with interested Chinese learners.

Students' completion of works followed step-by-step instructions given by the instructor as
described below:

	1. The instructor provided assistance in possible improvement and correction to students'
	writings created for weekly oral performance.
	2. The students completed their own portfolio by collecting all dialogues and narratives
	that they created throughout the semester.
	3. The students selected three pieces of works that they felt were most satisfactory
	according to their individual preferences.
	4. The students signed consent forms to agree to have their work published on the web.

As a result, this project includes works completed by ALL students in the class.  We are lucky
to have several students who stayed on campus in the summer to help finish this project.  There
was tremendous work that needed to be done after the collection of students' portfolios at the
end of the semester. Therefore, students worked in the summer of 2000 to design the website,
type Chinese texts, and edit audio files under the instructor's guidance. Most of their work was
voluntary due to their attachment to the entire course.  The only task that was completed not by
students themselves, but by native speakers of Mandarin Chinese, was digital recordings aimed at
demonstrating accurate models of pronunciation in mandarin Chinese.  As you visit this website,
you will have access to both written and recorded materials.  Enjoy your visit!