wfn.org | NCCCUSA: 12 NEW TEACHERS OF ENGLISH TO CHINA

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
Email:  news@ncccusa.org    Web:  www.ncccusa.org

80NCC7/7/99 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC COMMISSIONS 12 NEW AMITY TEACHERS OF ENGLISH TO CHINA

 NEW YORK - The National Council of Churches June 24
commissioned 12 new English teachers to serve with the Amity
Teachers Program in China.  Set to start work this fall,
their term is for two academic years.

 The 12 spent June 18-25 at the Stony Point Conference
Center, Stony Point, N.Y., and in New York City for
orientation and commissioning, and will undertake additional
orientation and training at Nantong Teachers College in
Nantong, China, and in Nanjing, China, July 31-August 28.

 The new teachers are:

- William and Constance Brown of Midland, Mich., members of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), assigned
to Fuyang Teachers College.

- Scott Minson of Falls Church, Va., ELCA, assigned to Ji'an
Teachers College.

- Anastasia Sofranac of Phoenix, Ariz., ELCA, also assigned
to Nantong Teachers College.

- Kimberly TerAvest of Byron Center, Mich., Reformed Church
in America, assigned to Nantong Teachers College.

- Kim and John Strong of Louisville, Ky., commissioned by
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  Kim is assigned to
Jiangsu Institute of Education and John's work is to include
a specialized assignment in photography and graphic design
for the Amity Foundation's diverse humanitarian and
development projects throughout the country.

- Ann Streeter of Seattle, Wash., PCUSA, assigned to Huaiyin
Teachers College.

- Milton and Deborah (Kammy) Leathers of Athens, Ga.,
members of The Episcopal Church, assigned to Yancheng
Teachers College.

- Chris White of East Liverpool, Ohio, referred by The
Episcopal Church, assigned to Linyi Teachers College.

- Beth Roberts of Batavia, Ohio, also referred by The
Episcopal Church, assigned to Fuzhou Teachers College.

 The Amity Foundation, with offices in Nanjing, China,
and in Hong Kong, was established in 1985 as a non-
governmental organization. It was created at the initiative
of Chinese Christians, who continue to serve on its board.

Because it is a Chinese organization, Amity can offer a
genuine partnership with Chinese professionals who have a
vision for meeting the needs of disadvantaged members of
Chinese society. Christians from more than a dozen
countries, including the United States, have joined hands
with the Amity Foundation to promote friendship and
understanding and to contribute to Amity's efforts in rural
development, education, social welfare and Bible printing.

The Teachers Program has been a part of Amity's efforts
since the foundation's inception. The program has been
developed and refined over the years, based on the
experience of a succession of Amity teachers. The program
seeks to provide orientation as well as professional and
personal support for its volunteer teachers as they prepare
to adapt to life in China.  Most of them have had at least
some previous teaching experience, especially English as a
Foreign Language (EFL).

While a few teachers may be placed in major urban
centers of Eastern China where the program began, the
current emphasis is on helping students in less wealthy
areas. Schools in these areas, like others in the Chinese
educational system, strive to equip students to share in the
technological and scientific knowledge of the outside world,
which often entails learning English.

The lack of qualified English teachers places many
students in rural and inland areas at a disadvantage. A
typical Amity placement in a teacher-training school in a
medium-sized city meets a critical need and often lifts the
morale of the entire community.

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