China – U.S. Conference on Literacy
July 23-26, 2007
Beijing, People’s Republic of China
"The conference was so enlightening. Learning about education in China was a great experience and helps to provide some perspective on the changing time in China."
--Conference Delegate
Conference Purpose
- To accelerate the exchange of best practices, technologies, and research between professionals and specialists in the field of literacy education.
- To develop partnerships between individuals, institutions, and agencies to continue the dialogue and exchange and to create sustainable relationships that will impact the field of literacy education worldwide.
Conference Leaders
Conference Topics
- Print Literacy
- Media Literacy
- Oral Literacy
- Technology & Literacy
- Creative and Critical Thinking (or Higher-Order Thinking)
- Social and Cultural Literacy
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages/English Language Learners (TESOL/ELL)
Keynote & Featured Speakers
Conference Design
The Conference is an interactive learning experience, requiring each participant to play an active role in the dialogue and communication around the topic areas. Presenters, selected through the Call for Papers process, will be matched with Chinese presenters to speak on the same, or similar, topic. Conference presentations are intended to be a catalyst for conversations and dialogue. A facilitated discussion with the audience will follow the paired presentations.
Executive Summary
Global Interactions Inc. is, again, privileged to partner with the China International Conference Center for Science and Technology and Beijing Normal University to convene a conference that will address issues of concern for professionals in both countries. China’s economic and social development over the last decade is unprecedented. In what New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman describes as the twenty-first century "flat world," it is increasing important to focus on the level of literacy in our country and the ability of Americans to function in a global society. China is rapidly moving forward as a leader in the global marketplace. Their economic growth over the last decade is unprecedented in history. It is important to learn and understand how they are addressing their education needs, promoting literacy throughout their country, and preparing teachers and youth to live and work in a global society. Building partnerships with Chinese education leaders opens opportunities to share best practices in our field. As we work together on issues of common concern, we benefit through understanding and expanding our perception of the world.
Comparing China and the United States
China differs significantly from the United States in many ways. China has five times more people (1.3 billion compared to our 296 million); a significantly longer history (5,000 years compared to our 230 years); a government structure and leadership (Socialist system compared to our Democratic system); income per capita ($1740 in China compared to our $44,000); and students (China has more children attending school than there are people living in America!) China educates 20 percent of the world’s young people.
Peace, Development, and Cooperation
China is wholeheartedly implementing strategies to push forward economic and social development and is committed to a foreign policy that can be expressed in three words: Peace, Development, and Cooperation. China is eager to achieve lasting peace, sustainable development and friendly cooperating.
Common Concerns
In spite of the vast differences between China and the U.S. in many areas, we also share many common concerns. The need for education for our children is one important concern that has generated cooperation between Global Interactions and Chinese educators for more than 22 years. Today’s common concerns include the rising cost of education, increased knowledge and information necessary for our educators and their students to become productive global citizens. Meeting the supply and demand needs for high quality teachers and administrators as well as meeting the need for uniform education standards among all socio-economic classes in both rural and urban settings. Both countries must focus on the necessity for comprehensive continuing education for teachers and all education staff, and the importance of workforce development for a global economy. Education leaders charged with the responsibility of responding to these urgent and immediate issues will forge a promising future by embracing understanding, building collaborative partnerships, and creating sustainable professional relationships around the world.
Learning from Each Other
The 2007 China – U.S. Conference on Literacy offers professions in this field the opportunity to learn from their Chinese counterparts and promote understanding through the work we do. Global Interactions is committed to building on the work of previous conferences and delegates. We wish to broaden the network of educators committed to a better future for our children, our nations, and our world. We invite you to be with us in Beijing, July 23-26, to share your expertise, discuss the issues important to each of us, and explore opportunities for your colleagues and students. Through collaboration and institutional partnerships we can sustain our work beyond our time in Beijing. Join us!