Before the workshop, Education Division Director Min-Ling Yang, Professor Der-lin Chao from Hunter College, and Dr. Ron Woo from NYU had a work meeting and discussed about the profession and the efficiency of the MOE Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language ( TOCFL). Dr. Yang explained the profound impact of TOCFL for all level of the Chinese language learners and looking forward to the recognition by the New York State Education Department. Dr. Woo also commit to cooperate for the partnership establishment in the future.
On the opening reception, there were many heritage school teachers and professors attending to the workshop.
The workshop divided into two parts: seminar and Q&A session. The workshop has invited a famous speaker, Ron Woo who is an educator with more than 45 years of experience in public school and higher education with expertise in educational policy and law, second language acquisition, and educational leadership and teacher preparation. In higher education, Ron oversaw alternative teacher certification programs, and serves as a senior policy associate. He teaches graduate educational leadership courses in education policy and law. Ron holds a BA in Education, MA in TESOL/Applied Linguistics, and JD. He holds permanent NYS SDA and SAS certificates and permanent teaching certificates in Childhood Education and TESOL. During the seminar, he introduced that in recognition of the importance of bilingualism, many states, including New York, are beginning to award a seal of biliteracy in formal recognition of students who have studied and attained a high proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.
The New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB), passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Cuomo on July 31, 2012, was established to recognize high school graduates who have attained a "high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages, in addition to English." Chapter 271 of the Laws of 2012 (Section 815 of Education Law) established the NYSSB. The NYSSB will be awarded by the Commissioner to students who meet criteria established by the Board of Regents and who attend schools in districts that voluntarily agree to participate in the program. The NYSSB will be affixed to the high school diploma and transcript of graduating pupils attaining the NYSSB criteria and must be made available to students at no cost.
The NYSSB acknowledges the importance of being bilingual in today’s global society. It highlights the hard work and achievement of students, and encourages students to pursue language study while in school. The recognition of attaining biliteracy becomes part of the high school transcript and diploma for these students and is a statement of accomplishment for future employers and for college admission.
Reference:
- NYU website: https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/metrocenter/staff/woo_ron