ELLS NEWS

·The First Technical Work Group (TWG) Meeting
In Sep. 24th –25th, 2002，the first TWG meeting was held in Beijing.

· Signing the Memorandum of Understanding
On Oct. 21, 2002，Zhou Ji, the then Chinese Vice Minister of Education and Rod Paige, U.S. Secretary of Education signed a Memorandum Of Understanding on E-Language System, thus launching the U.S.-China E-Language Learning System.

· The Second TWG Meeting
In Jan. 27th-29th, 2003, based on eight reports ( respectively on Chinese and English teaching syllabi analysis, textbooks analysis, speech recognition, telecommunications and platform technologies, platform evaluation, and plot design ) completed by experts from both sides, the Second TWG Meeting was held in Hawaii. Two agreements ( about the Olympic theme and storyline, and the beginning and final levels of Chinese and English teaching ) were reached in the meeting.

· American Focus Group Visited China
In March 17－24, 2003，American focus group came to China and carried out surveys in Beijing (No.27 Middle School and Doudian Middle School) and Kunming ( No. 15 Middle School, No. 19 Middle School, and Shilin Nationality School).

· ELLS Bidding
On April 12, 2003, ELLS invited bids, and Huaxia Dadi Co. got the bid.

· U.S.-China Executive Group Conference Call
On May 14th, 2003, a conference call between American and Chinese executive groups was held in Chinese Ministry of Education. In May, 2003, the program developed by ELLS was named ‘Chengo’ in English and ‘Chengfeng’ in Chinese, and the Chinese and American sides reached an agreement on pilot school selection.

· Progress in The Period of SARS outbreak
On May 28, 2003, a mechanism of regular video conferences between MOE and USDE and weekly video conferences between the Chinese and American work groups was established. In a following video conference, the U.S. ED suggested a second Memorandum of Understanding to expand the cooperation to the fields of mathematics, biology, physics, and chemistry.

· VM of MOE Met With Consular to Secretary of U.S. ED
In June, 2003, ZHANG Xinsheng, Vice Minister of Chinese Ministry of Education met with Ms. Sclafani, Consular to Secretary Paige of U.S. Department of Education and talked on the issues of ELLS pilot and future management entity.

· ELLS Logo Defined

On July 8th, 2003, the Chinese MOE and U.S. DoE defined the ELLS logo.

· Chinese Work Group Visited The U.S.

In July 2003, the Prototype Alpha of the Chinese and English programs was finished. In July 7-20, 2003, the Chinese work group visited the U.S. to work with Little Planet Co. on the analysis of Chinese and English testing versions production.

· The Third TWG Meeting

In Aug. 12-14, 2003，the third TWG meeting was held in Kunming.

· U.S.-China Education Leaders Forum
On Sep. 20th, 2003, U.S.-China Education Leaders Forum was held in Beijing.

· American ‘New Majority’ Delegation Visited MOE
On Nov. 18th, 2003, Liu Fengtai, Deputy Director General of High Education Department met with American 'New Majority’ delegation, and talked on the promotion work of ELLS in America.

· Chinese Pilot Group Visited The U.S.
In Nov. 17-24, 2003，Chinese Pilot Group piloted in two schools of Maryland and New York and got positive feedbacks on the first Episode of the program.

· VM of MOE Met With Consular to Secretary Paige of U.S. DoE.
On Jan.14, 2003, Zhang Xinsheng, Vice Minister of MOE met with Ms. Susan Sclafani, Consular to Secretary Paige of U.S. Department of Education.

· Deputy Director General of MOE Met With Vice Chairman of Asia Society
On Jan 14, 2004, Zhang Xiuqin, Deputy Director General of Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of MOE met with Ms. Vivien Stewart, Vice Chairman of Asia Society.