Purpose and Goals

Communicating in a relaxed atmosphere during planned lessons, at meal time, during games and projects, and apart from regularly scheduled activities, all make it possible for students to improve their English.  In short, among the purposes of a GCC considered to be most important in planning include:

1. Sharing of information about cultures to advance international understanding;
2. Making friends across cultures;
3. Teaching of American style English by promoting verbal exchanges;
4. Creating classroom activities that combine the best practices of American education with the traditional style of Chinese learning.

The Director has the following responsibilities:

• Coordinate overall community planning;
• Prepare and distribute staff recruitment materials;
• Organize arrangements for travel to China;
• Organize tours;
• Appoint Deans;
• Administer the preparation, development, and implementation of the budget;
• Coordinate staff selection;
• Orient staff on travel matters (passports, visas, medical needs, etc.);
• Oversee selection of International Board of Advisors;
• Head long range planning efforts;
• Arrange and provide “passports” for community students;
• Organize evening camp activities.

The Associate Director will:

• Explore possible Chinese schools for language community partnerships;
• Establish strong liaison with selected schools;
• Negotiate school and language community joint-venture partners;
• Advise Americans in matters of cultural understanding and diplomacy, as needed;
• Assist in development of budget and supervise its implementation;
• Supervise host school efforts to select and orient learners;
• Create regional or provincial support groups.

The host school will:

• Provide facilities (including a teacher office/meeting room);
• Provide meals and meal services;
• Provide housing for learners and Western-style housing for staff;
• Provide over-night care and supervision of learners;
• Receive and expend finances as established in village budget;
• Provide for use of classroom technology and duplicating equipment;
• Prepare and display necessary signage;
• Coordinate recruitment and selection of learners;
• Limit enrollment to an agreed upon number;
• Provide learners and parents with necessary orientation;
• Arrange health care for learners;
• Arrange and provide tour opportunities for Visiting Staff;
• Arrange and provide transportation for town and region visits for Visiting Staff;
• Arrange and provide name tags for community students.

The American Dean will:

• Serve as overall director of a designated language community;
• Orient and supervise faculty;
• Collaborate in curriculum development for all communities;
• Direct and administer own curriculum;
• Assist in liaison with Chinese sponsors;
• Provide means for program evaluation.

The Visiting Teachers will:

• Come from the United States;
• Be at least 18 years old;
• Be adventurous and non-ethnocentric;
• Need not know the language of the host nation;
• Although need not be certified teachers;
• Participate actively as an integral member of the GCC team;
• Provide small group instruction on a ratio of 1 to 15-25 students;
• Lead activities such as sports, music, dramatics, crafts, community newspaper, radio, bank, and mini-mart (sometimes in greater ratio of 1 to 15-20 students);
• Bring three unique lessons that can be adapted for all age groups:
  • Provide a unique state lesson
  • Provide a unique craft lesson
  • Provide a unique physical activity
• Share personal knowledge and skills in elective classes
• Decorate their classroom in an American style with particular emphasis on the state represented (world map, US map, state map, state flag);
• Be fully engaged for the term of the community;
• Attend and participate in staff meetings.

Visiting teachers may be sent back to the United States due to several issues. Any such rejections will require the visiting teacher cover cost of any local legal fees as well as return travel costs. Among the reasons are the following:

• the teacher becomes too ill to fulfill obligations to GCC and the host school;
• family emergency;
• dangerous or irresponsible behavior such as proselyting, excessive drinking, aggressive or immoral behavior, or any behavior that would bring shame on the Chinese hosts, GCC, China, or America as determined by the GCC  administrator and/or the host school administration.

The National Teachers will：

• Be from the host country;
• Be qualified to teach English to students in their country;
• Be a resource to the Visiting Staff for the cultural understanding of the visitors;
• Assist Visiting Teachers in instruction;
• Assist in activities and special projects;
• Help prepare instructional materials;
• Attend and participate in staff meetings;
• Together, organize and participate in an evening staff talent show;
• Organize a student evening talent show;
• Have two half-days off during the duration of the community;
• Be fully occupied for the term of the community;
• Provide translations in the classroom when necessary.