今年中国两会期间，有人大代表提出英语教学减压的提案。在大洋彼岸，有美国众议院提出了加强中文教学的议案。我们不知道中国人大代表提案的全文，只能看到媒体上的只言片语，而美国众议院的提案在网上全文公布，我翻译了一下，从内容到形式，都值得中国两会代表参考。我们可以看到，这份提案的主旨是为了加强美国在21世纪的经济竞争能力，为此提出在美国中小学加强中文教育，有具体的实施方案，也有配套资金，还提出特别优先支持从娃娃抓起的连续中文教育。当然，这还只是一个议案，能否在国会得到足够的支持还是个未知数，几年前同样的一份议案就无疾而终，这次加利福尼亚众议院戴维斯（Davis）女士，偕同华盛顿州众议员科尔克（Kirk）、拉尔森（Larsen）先生以及伊斯拉尔（Israel）先生向众议院教育和劳工委员会再次提出“美中语言接触法案”，翻译如下（英语原文附后）：

美国-中国语言接触法案（众议院提案）

第111届国会第一次会议

H. R. 2313

为支持中国语言和文化教育以及其他目标的项目，提请美利坚合众国参议院和众议院大会审议通过
第一条：议案简称
本议案可以简称为“美中语言接触法案”

第二条：定义
本法案中：
（1）小学、地方教育部门、中学、州级教育部门：这些名词的定义与1965年“初等和中等教育法”（20 U.S.C. 7801）9101条的定义相同。
（2）实质交流：指在中美之间学术、专业或文化交流中涉及一个人或多人的国际旅行的交流。
（3）部长：指教育部长。
（4）虚拟交流：指在中美之间学术、专业或文化交流中无需涉及一个人或多人的国际旅行的交流。
第3条：中国语言和文化课程教育项目
 (a) 允许开展的项目-
(1) 一般规定- 在(e)条所允许的数额内，教育部长通过竞争的方式颁发资助，支持地方教育部门开展创新型的项目，在这些部门所服务的中小学内开设、改善或者扩大中国语言和文化课程。
(2) 时限- 在（1）所提到的资助时限为3年。
(b) 要求- 在向地方教育部门提供上文（a）中所提到的资助时，部长应支持下述项目 --
(1) 证明能够在其他地方教育部门推广的模式；
(2) 包括专业技能发展内容
(c) 保留金额- 部长可以保留不超过(2)条款所允许金额的0.05%用于评估各个项目的实际效果。
(d) 申请-
(1) 一般规定- 在本条款下有意申请资金的地方教育部门按照部长所规定的时间、方式、内容提出申请。
(2) 特殊考虑- 在颁发本条款规定的资助时，部长将对下述类型的申请予以特殊考虑： --
(A) 有助于发展专业技能的暑期中文强化教育项目，尤其是涉及实质交流的项目;
(B) 为促进双向语言学习，利用社区内中英双语人才的中小学；
(C) 鼓励从小学起为学生提供连续的中文教育;
(D) 有效利用技术手段，如计算机辅助教学、语言实验室或者远程教育，促进中文学习；
(E) 鼓励创新活动，如中文浸入式教学、部分浸入式教学或基于内容的教学方式；
(F) 鼓励全方位的中文学习，包括中国历史和文化。
(e) 批准的金额和划拨-
(1) 总体- 本条款下部长可支配的金额如下：2010财政年度2000万美元；2011至2014年间每个财政年度2500万元；以及此后批准的各财政年度所需资金。
(2) 资金的使用期限- 本条款下所划拨的资金额有效，直到全部使用完毕为止。
第4条：增强学校语言技术水平
 (a) 允许的项目- 从本条（e）款所规定的各财政年度拨款内，部长可以向地方教育部门颁发资助，用于购置通讯技术和设备以改善中小学的中文教学，开展计算机辅助教学、远程教育、虚拟交流。
(b) 申请-在本条款下有意申请资金的地方教育部门按照部长所规定的时间、方式、内容提出申请。
 (c) 优先- 在批准本条款下的资助时，部长将优先考虑购置通讯技术和设备用于中小学虚拟交流的地方教育部门的资金申请.
(d) 资金的使用- 在本条款下接受资助的地方教育部门可以购置下述通讯技术设备--
(1) 用于与下属机构合作创业--
(A) 1965年“高等教育法案”（20 U.S.C. 1122(a)）602条（a）所支持的外语、国外或国际研究中心;
(B) 1965年“高等教育法案”（20 U.S.C. 1123）601条所支持的国家语言资源和培训中心。
(2) 用于与中华人民共和国学校或其他教育机构虚拟交流。
(e) 批准的金额和划拨-
(1) 总体- 本条款下部长可支配的金额如下：2010至2013财政年度每年2000万美元；2014年财政年度1000万元；以及此后批准的各财政年度所需资金。
(2) 资金的使用期限- 本条款下所划拨的资金额有效，直到全部使用完毕为止。
第5条 国会对于增进对中国语言和文化了解的益处的认知
国会认为，在中学毕业前让更多的学生充分了解中国语言和文化有助于增进美国在21世纪全球经济竞争力。
 

U.S.-China Language Engagement Act (Introduced in House)
HR 2313 IH
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2313
To support programs that offer instruction in Chinese language and culture, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 7, 2009
Mrs. DAVIS of California (for herself, Mr. KIRK, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, and Mr. ISRAEL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
________________________________________
A BILL
To support programs that offer instruction in Chinese language and culture, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `U.S.-China Language Engagement Act'.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY, SECONDARY SCHOOL, STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY- The terms `elementary school', `local educational agency', `secondary school', and `State educational agency' have the meanings given such terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(2) PHYSICAL EXCHANGE- The term `physical exchange' means an academic, professional, or cultural exchange between the United States and the People's Republic of China that requires international travel by one or more individuals involved in the exchange.
(3) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Education.
(4) VIRTUAL EXCHANGE- The term `virtual exchange' means an academic, professional, or cultural exchange between the United States and the People's Republic of China that does not require international travel by one or more individuals involved in the exchange.
SEC. 3. PROGRAMS FOR CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL STUDIES INSTRUCTION.
(a) Program Authorized-
(1) IN GENERAL- From amounts appropriated under subsection (e), the Secretary of Education shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies to carry out innovative model programs providing for the establishment, improvement, or expansion of Chinese language and cultural studies instruction for elementary school and secondary school students in the schools served by such local educational agencies.
(2) DURATION- A grant under paragraph (1) shall be for a period of three years.
(b) Requirements- In awarding a grant under subsection (a) to a local educational agency, the Secretary shall support programs that--
(1) demonstrate approaches that can be disseminated and duplicated in other local educational agencies; and
(2) may include a professional development component.
(c) Reservation- The Secretary may reserve not more than .05 percent of funds appropriated under subsection (e) to uate the effectiveness of the programs funded under this section.
(d) Applications-
(1) IN GENERAL- A local educational agency desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(2) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give special consideration to applications describing programs that--
(A) include intensive summer Chinese language instruction programs for professional development, with particular regard to such programs that include physical exchanges;
(B) link speakers in the community who are bilingual in English and Chinese with elementary and secondary schools in order to promote two-way language learning;
(C) promote the sequential study of Chinese language for students, beginning in elementary school;
(D) make effective use of technology, such as computer-assisted instruction, language laboratories, or distance learning, to promote Chinese language study;
(E) promote innovative activities, such as Chinese language immersion, partial Chinese language immersion, or content-based instruction; and
(F) promote a comprehensive approach to learning Chinese, which includes programs on the history and culture of China.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations-
(1) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2014, and such sums as are necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.
(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS- Amounts appropriated under this subsection are authorized to remain available until expended.
SEC. 4. SCHOOL LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT.
(a) Program Authorized- From amounts appropriated under subsection (e) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants to local educational agencies in order for such agencies to acquire communications technologies or equipment to improve Chinese language instruction in elementary schools and secondary schools through computer-assisted instruction, distance learning, and virtual exchanges.
(b) Application- Each local educational agency desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(c) Priority- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to local educational agencies that commit to use the grant funds to acquire communications technologies or equipment for the purpose of conducting virtual exchanges involving elementary school students and secondary school students served by the local educational agencies.
(d) Use of Funds- A local educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant to acquire communications technologies or equipment that--
(1) may be used for collaborative ventures with--
(A) foreign language and area or international studies centers supported under section 602(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1122(a)); or
(B) national language resource and training centers supported under section 603 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1123); and
(2) shall be used to conduct virtual exchanges with schools or other educational institutions in the People's Republic of China.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations-
(1) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2013, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2014, and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.
(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS- Amounts appropriated under this subsection are authorized to remain available until expended.
SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING BENEFIT OF EXPOSURE TO CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.
It is the sense of Congress that an increase in the number of students who receive substantial exposure to Chinese language and cultural studies before graduating from secondary school will enhance the global economic competitiveness of the United States in the 21st century.