For American Schools

Chinese Bridge for American Schools

Introduction:

The "Chinese Bridge for American Schools" is sponsored by Hanban in partnership with the College Board. As an important part of the College Board's Chinese Language and Culture initiatives, the program aims to help principals and educational officials in the United States learn more about China and encourage the growth of Chinese language programs in their schools. Since its launch in 2006, over 3000 principals of major K-12 schools and educational officials have been invited through the program to visit China.

During their visit to China, the delegates will attend a welcoming ceremony held in Beijing and lectures on Chinese culture given by well-known scholars invited by Hanban. Then, they will go to visit primary and secondary schools in different provinces, learn about Chinese society, and hold meetings with Chinese educators.

The program helps the American educators get a new profound understanding of China's society and economy as well as Chinese language, culture and education. Their witnessing Chinese people's enthusiasm and China's opening-up and the modernization lays a very solid foundation for their cooperation in education and culture with China in the future, and plays a positive role in giving them confidence in cooperating with Chinese schools, promoting Chinese education in foreign schools and enhancing friendship between people of different countries. According to statistics, there is an increase in the number of primary and secondary schools offering Chinese courses, from 263 in 2005 to today's about 4000. The Chinese language has now firmly established itself as one of the fastest growing languages in the United States.

Participation:

Interested applicants can sign up for the program on the website of the College Board. The College Board will extend invitation to shortlisted applicants, guide them to register at Hanban North America Office and pay the application fee (900 dollars/person in 2009, non-refundable). Hanban North America Office will be responsible for coordinating issues related to the international airplane tickets for the delegates to Beijing.

Application:

http://professionals.collegeboard.com/k-12/awards/chinese/bridge

Interested applicants can sign up for the program on the website of the College Board: http://professionals.collegeboard.com/k-12/awards/chinese/bridge, and be selected by the College Board.

Contact:

Xue Jiao

Tel: 010-58595914

Fax: 010-58595957

E-mail: xuejiao@hanban.org