[186] MTSU Partner Institution From China To Visit Tennessee Next Week

Nov. 4, 2010
CONTACT: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919
MTSU PARTNER INSTITUTION FROM CHINA TO VISIT TENNESSEE NEXT WEEK
MURFREESBORO—Professor Lin Zhengfan, past president of Hangzhou Normal University, in Zhejiang, China, and his delegation will conduct a weeklong visit, beginning Sunday, Nov. 7, to Middle Tennessee State University, select local city schools and schools in east Tennessee to observe K-12 teaching methods in both city and rural settings.
Hangzhou Normal University is the partner institution with Middle Tennessee State University in sponsoring the recently established Confucius Institute at MTSU that offers cultural and educational programs.
On Tuesday of that week, President Lin will present a lecture to MTSU students titled, “The development and future perspective of the primary schools teachers in the rural areas in China.”
The delegation, which also includes Genzhen Zhen, Jing Zhang and Jianmei Shen, will visit the Discovery School at Reeves Rogers, Siegel Middle School and Siegel High School in Murfreesboro, where they will have the opportunity to observe local teachers in action. Two graduate students among the guests are interested specifically in the teaching of science to children.
Later in the week, the HNU officials will travel to east Tennessee to meet with Dr. Jack Parton, director of Sevier County Schools, where they will observe teaching methods in three rural schools: Jones Cove Elementary School, Pittman Center Elementary School and Gatlinburg-Pittman High. The visit to Sevier County will include a roundtable discussion with Parton and other administrators and teachers to exchange ideas and discuss the unique challenges facing their respective educational systems.
Before returning to China, President Lin will conclude his week in middle Tennessee with a visit to the Capitol to meet Gov. Phil Bredesen and tour the Tennessee State Museum and Frist Center.
To conclude their visit, President Lin and the delegation will attend the 29th annual Salute to Armed Services/Veterans Day events scheduled during the MTSU-North Texas football game on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 2:30 p.m.
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