Chinese Classes Explode in Popularity Across America's Schools.

Nationwide Plan to Promote Chinese Language Kicks Off at the Institute for the Teaching of Chinese Language and Culture

SAN FRANCISCO -- In response to the growing demand for Chinese language instruction across the United States, the Institute for the Teaching of Chinese Language and Culture at Chinese American International School (CAIS) today announced their plan to promote the teaching of Chinese language and culture at the pre-collegiate level in American schools. To kick off the plan, the Institute today hosted the 2nd CAIS Chinese Program Tour for school administrators and faculty members interested in developing Chinese language programs.

Under the plan, the Institute will conduct a series of programs to develop and sustain Chinese language programs for English-speaking, American students across the country. Key 2006-2007 events include multiple CAIS Chinese Program Tours, Institute National Conference in March 2007, and CAIS 25th Anniversary Gala in May 2007. In addition, the Institute will also offer professional development programs, study abroad, and after-school auxiliary programs for Chinese language teachers and students throughout the year.

Chinese is the world's most spoken language with over one billion speakers. One of out every five persons in the world speaks Chinese. As China emerges as a major economic and political influence, and an increasing cultural force, the interest in the study of Chinese will dramatically expand in American schools over the next decade.

Founded in 1989, the Institute is a leading resource for developing and sustaining pre-collegiate Chinese language and culture programs in American schools. The Institute collaborates with a broad range of organizations in the U.S. and China. The Institute promotes professional development, community outreach, and educational programs developed over the past 25 years at CAIS, the oldest PreK-8 Chinese-English immersion school in the nation.

Recently, CAIS was profiled in Asia Society's "Creating a Chinese Language Program in Your School: An Introductory Guide" as a case study for successful Chinese-English immersion education.

In early 2006, President Bush requested $114 million dollars to fund the National Security Language Initiative to facilitate increased instruction in "critical languages," including Chinese, Arabic, and Persian. The Chinese K-16 Flagship Initiative, in particular, aims to boost the number of Americans who are linguistically and culturally fluent in Mandarin Chinese by teaching the language at the pre-collegiate level.

As a result, elementary schools from Kansas to Michigan to North Carolina are scrambling to set up adequate Chinese language programs given a limited pool of qualified instructors. Encouraged by the popular demand from around the nation, the Institute aims to share its Chinese language and culture expertise and resources with the larger community.

"As the world's political economy shifts to the Asia Pacific region, the time is right to expand the cultural and linguistic horizons of pre-collegiate students throughout America," said Andrew Corcoran, Executive Director, Institute for the Teaching of Chinese Language and Culture and Head of School, Chinese American International School (CAIS). "The Institute is a much needed resource for educators around the nation, fostering global citizens with a multicultural perspective. We continue to welcome interested educators seeking resources on developing Chinese language and Chinese-English immersion educational programs."

About the CAIS Chinese Program Tours

In November 2006, the Institute will host its 3rd Chinese Program Tour for educators and school administrators who are interested in starting a Chinese language program. Held in San Francisco, the tour will include a campus visit, seminars, and a Q&A session with school administrators and faculty about their experience teaching Chinese. To attend, please contact Heather Lin, Executive Assistant, CAIS at [e-mail] or 415-865-6088.

About the Institute for the Teaching of Chinese Language and Culture at CAIS

The Institute for the Teaching of Chinese Language and Culture at CAIS is a leading resource for developing and sustaining Chinese language programs in American schools. Founded in 1989, the Institute collaborates with a broad range of organizations in the U.S. and China. Based on the Chinese-English immersion educational model developed over the past 25 years at the Chinese American International School (CAIS), The Institute continues to promote professional development, community outreach and educational programs. For more information, please visit www.cais.org/institute.html.

About Chinese American International School (CAIS)

Chinese American International School (CAIS) is the nation's pre-eminent and oldest school offering Chinese-English immersion education. Founded in 1981, CAIS is a preK-8th grade independent school in San Francisco, California, that offers a bilingual and multicultural learning experience for American students of all backgrounds. CAIS celebrates its 25th anniversary this year promoting Chinese language and cultural education. For more information, please visit www.cais.org.