Since 1988, over 700 Chung'chong buk-do teachers have attended the eighteen Summer Institutes held on the CSU, Chico campus. Starting in 1988, with thirty secondary English teachers, the program continues to grow in size and stature. In its third year, the Institute was named the outstanding professional development program in education for all  of the Republic of Korea.  After the Republic of Korea instituted English language instruction beginning in third grade a few years ago, the institute expanded to include elementary school teachers. 

A popular facet of the program is the way it immerses the teachers in U.S. culture. After four hours of classroom instruction in the morning, the group breaks into smaller, guided groups of four to five to visit area landmarks and points of interest. The tours double as a chance to hone conversational skills through interactions with local  families in addition to their host family. On weekends, the group travels farther afield to places such as Lassen Volcanic National Park, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, and San Francisco. In addition, there are opportunities to meet and mingle with members of the North State's Korean-American community.

Friendship, Goodwill, and Mutual Understanding emerge as the central theme of each institute. The same methodologies could be taught anywhere, even in Korea, but Province officials have elected to stay with CSU, Chico. The hospitality and friendly atmosphere the teachers have found throughout the Chico community have enabled the program to continue.  It is regarded as a model program.  The Institute has served more than forty percent of the English teachers in the Chung'chong buk-do Province.  That's comparable to one-third of the Spanish teachers in Iowa and Kansas  attending one Institute in Spain or Mexico to learn methods for teaching Spanish.  The province has trusted the Center for Bilingual/ Multicultural Studies at CSU, Chico with the preparation of English teachers for an entire province.

 

Center for Bilingual/ Multicultural Studies
El Centro de Estudios Bilingues/Multiculturales
College of Communication and Education
California State University, Chico
Chico, California 95929-0444
(530) 898-4026