The Confucius Institute at Wayne State University, whose mission is to advance Chinese educational opportunities in Michigan, is launching an association for teachers of Chinese across the state. The initial meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 18, on the 11th floor of 5057 Woodward (located between the Wayne State Welcome Center and the Detroit Public Library) from 5 to 6 p.m.

Current and future teachers of Chinese are welcome along with anyone interested in advancing Chinese educational opportunities in Michigan. Interested parties should RSVP by calling the Confucius Institute at (313) 577-0153 or by emailing ci@wayne.edu. Registration forms for both the teachers' organization and the China Quiz Bowl are available on the Confucius Institute Web site at: http://www.clas.wayne.edu/ci/

The proposed Chinese Teachers' Association of Michigan (CTAM), which targets educators from Kindergarten through university, will organize meetings, workshops and a Web site where members will be able to share questions, advice and theories about teaching Chinese to Michigan populations. The group will also organize an annual China Quiz Bowl where teams of four from Michigan schools will compete at various levels in the areas of Chinese language and geography. The China Quiz Bowl is tentatively set for Saturday, May 17, at Wayne State University.

CTAM and the China Quiz Bowl will, to some extent, mirror the Japan Teachers Association of Michigan (JTAM) and the Japan Quiz Bowl, both of which have grown steadily in popularity over the past 15 years. John Brender, assistant director of the Confucius Institute at Wayne State University, has volunteered at Japan Quiz Bowls in the past, and felt the basic structure and organization of the quiz bowl and the Japan teachers association could be utilized for teachers and students of Chinese in the state.

"With the growing importance of China to people all over Michigan," said Brender, "it is imperative that we provide every possible opportunity for teachers of Chinese to learn from one another so that they can grow in their profession and better teach a generation of students that will depend more and more on their knowledge of Chinese language and culture."

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students.