China Institute in America
In Partnership with East China Normal University
Jointly designed by China Institute in America in New York City, and East China Normal University in Shanghai, the Teacher Certificate Program: Understand Chinese Culture and Practice is an innovative certificate program for K-12 teachers of Chinese as a second language to expand and advance a deeper understanding of the foundations of Chinese culture, making connections of traditions and contemporary applications, and support participants with skillsets and resources to engage with a school community that embraces diversity and cultural responsiveness.
From Fall 2024 to Spring 2025, monthly online cultural seminars present carefully selected topics by renowned scholars and experts, each followed by guided discussions. Pedagogical seminars and workshops, guided by master teaching experts, along with in-depth coaching and study group discussions, provide teacher participants a pathway to practice integrating cultural content into your K-12 classroom teaching Chinese as a second language.
Welcome all K-12 in-service and pre-service teachers of Chinese as a second language in foreign language, dual or immersion programs to join. Teachers of other subjects may find topics of interest and are also welcomed.
According to the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, all language teaching must include 5 Cs (Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons and Communities). For more specific goal areas and standards, please visit World-ReadinessStandardsforLearningLanguages.pdf.
This program will provide participants with subject content that meets the “Cultures” goal area of the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. The goal is to bring to world language learners a global competence for their future careers and experiences.
Participants can choose sessions to enroll in monthly. Upon completing the pedagogical workshop and in-depth coaching process, eligible teacher participants will be invited to present at a China Institute Learn, Share, and Lead Workshop.
For questions, please contact Yongqiang Lin at [email protected]
Fall 2024 Programs
Explore Shadow Puppetry in Chinese Language Teaching 中国皮影戏通识及在美中文教学资源
Led by Prof. Mingjie Li, this lecture will provide a comprehensive overview of Chinese shadow puppetry and explore available resources and collections in the United States. Additionally, the discussion will focus on the strategies to enrich and enhance Chinese language teaching.
2 hours of CTLE credits are offered for New York State teachers attending this program.
In partnership with New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA) and Chinese Program at Tufts University, PDP certificate is available for NECLTA members.
This two-hour online seminar will be in Chinese.
该讲座为中文。
Nature within Walls --- A Close Look into Chinese Classical Gardens
Classical Chinese gardens hold a unique and significant place in traditional China’s architectural culture. Within their enclosing walls, the small garden is filled with pavilions, ponds, artificial hills, flowers, birds, fish, and more. These natural and human-made elements create a space that is all-encompassing, intricate, dense, yet somehow free from chaos. Much like a Chinese landscape painting full of poetic details, these gardens foster a profound sense of tranquility and freedom for the mind.
Enlisted as the world’s cultural heritage, Suzhou literati gardens exemplify the essence of traditional garden design. They embody the philosophy of following the nature’s principles, while pursue “the virtue” (“德”), representing “the unity between heaven and humanity” (天人合一).
In this online seminar, participants will get a close look of the details of Suzhou literati garden. In addition to appreciating the exquisite garden art, participants will gain insights into how nature is perceived and revered in traditional Chinese culture.
2 hours of CTLE credits are offered for New York State teachers attending this program.
In partnership with New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA) and Chinese Program at Tufts University, PDP certificate is available for NECLTA members.
This two-hour online seminar will be in Chinese.
该讲座为中文。
Project Culture and Language Learning: An Innovative Approach for K-12 Chinese Classrooms
How can Chinese language teachers innovate to integrate cultural content into their lessons, promoting both language learning and deeper cultural understanding? This seminar is designed to introduce Project Culture and Language Learning (Project CLL) and explore innovative pedagogy that helps K-12 teachers develop lessons integrating language and culture for their own Chinese language classrooms. The seminar will discuss the importance and challenges of CLL for K-12 learners. Participants will see how innovative CLL instruction can improve both language learning and cultural understanding through presented units and activities. This enhanced understanding will inspire participants to experiment with new CLL approaches in their classrooms.
An integral part of China Institute's Teacher Certificate Program: Understand Chinese Culture and Practice, this seminar welcomes all interested teachers to attend. Following the seminar, participants will have the opportunity to join China Institute CLL workshop in January 2025, individual coaching sessions, and group sharing to further their experiment in CLL design and implementation.
2 hours of CTLE credits are offered for New York State teachers attending this program.
In partnership with New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA) and Chinese Program at Tufts University, PDP certificate is available for NECLTA members.
This two-hour online seminar will be in Chinese.
该讲座为中文。
The Origin of Chinese Characters and the Nature of Calligraphy 汉字的产生与书法的性质
For nearly 2,000 years, Chinese people has transformed the act of writing characters into the art of calligraphy, a unique practice elevating the practicality of writing characters into an exceptional art form with rare similarities among other cultures in the world. Through the interplay of black and white, dots and lines, Chinese calligraphy embodies both intellectual creativity and emotional expression. The spiritual essence conveyed through calligraphy is deeply intertwined with the rich traditions of Chinese culture.
In this online seminar, Prof. Shuqiang Cui will guide participants to explore the relationship between Chinese characters and calligraphy, as well as the distinction between everyday writing and calligraphy as an art form. Participants will also learn how to appreciate the aesthetics of calligraphy and reflect on the meaning and value of studying calligraphy today.
2 hours of CTLE credits are offered for New York State teachers attending this program.
In partnership with New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA) and Chinese Program at Tufts University, PDP certificate is available for NECLTA members.
This two-hour online seminar will be in Chinese.
该讲座为中文。
Spring 2025 Programs
2025 Project Culture and Language Learning for K-12 Educators
Join the 2025 Cohort of China Institute’s Project Culture and Language Learning (Project CLL)!
Project CLL is an integral part of China Institute’s Teacher Certificate Program: Understand Chinese Culture and Practice, a program aiming to develop teaching excellence and strong leadership while building a supportive community for K-12 Chinese language teachers in the U.S.. It is an innovative project offering a structured path to effectively integrate culture and language learning in their classrooms through participant-centered workshops, seminars, and individualized coaching sessions. Advanced participants returning from the previous cohorts will gain opportunities to share and present at larger platforms including regional and national conferences, building leadership competence for future career development.
Program at a Glance
2025 Project CLL offers:
- A pedagogical workshop on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EST).
- February to April 2025: participants will design and implement Culture and Language Learning (CLL) units for their own classrooms. Individualized coaching by Master Educator Dr. Weiling Wu can be scheduled during this period based on needs.
- An opportunity to present their final CLL unit at China Institute Learn, Share and Lead Workshop (online) in May 2025.
2025 Project CLL features the following benefits:
- Free admission to all workshops and individual coaching sessions
- Continuing Education credits for applicable K-12 teachers in states of New York and New England
- Opportunities to be selected to present at regional and national conferences sponsored by China Institute
- Join a community of dedicated like-minded educators supported by China Institute and its partners!
Applications are now open for Project CLL 2025 cohort. Upon acceptance, participants will attend a pedagogical workshop on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 10: 00 AM to 12: 00 PM (EST) to gain a better understanding about how to design a CLL unit and develop effective strategies for classroom implementation. After the workshop, with expert guidance and individual coaching, participants will design and implement their own CLL units focusing on a selected cultural topic for their classrooms. Each participant will have the opportunity to share his/her unit plan and teaching practices at a China Institute Learn, Share and Lead Workshop in May 2025. Selected participants will be supported by China Institute to showcase their work on larger platforms, furthering their impact in the field of Chinese language education in the U.S. and beyond.
Join us and take a step forward in advancing your teaching. We look forward to working with the 2025 cohort of Project CLL.
Project CLL 2025 cohort is limited to 25 participants.
Applicants must meet the following requirements for consideration:
- Passionate about teaching Chinese culture in their classrooms.
- Currently teaching Chinese language in an accredited K-12 school in the United States.
- Submit a completed proposal that shows efforts and enthusiasm in CLL by Tuesday 5:00 PM, January 21, 2025, through the link: https://forms.gle/AL3Zcx7AJxRBmz926.
CTLE credits are offered for New York State teachers attending and sharing at the program organized workshops. In partnership with New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA) and Chinese Program at Tufts University, PDP certificate is available for NECLTA members.
Classical Chinese Theater: A Form of Symbolic Stage Art 写意的舞台艺术 — 中国古典戏剧
As one of the three oldest theaters in the world, Chinese theatre has a long history, takes root in the splendid Chinese culture, embodies Chinese aesthetical ideas, and is characterized by synthesis, impressionism and conventionalism. This lecture would introduce its origins and history, and interpret the singing, speech, dance and acrobatic fighting in episodes of the masterpieces The White Snake, The Peony Pavilion, The West Chamber and The Fork Road. In addition, this event would help us have a better understanding of the role categories, facial makeup and costumes in classical Chinese theater. We would also have an opportunity to enjoy an episode of the Peking Opera The White Snake that is performed in the English language!
A 30-minute discussion will be led by Ms. Angela Liao, Chinese Program Director, University of Southern California; Board Member, Chinese Language Teachers' Association of Southern California.
2 hours of CTLE credits are offered for New York State teachers attending this program.
In partnership with New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA) and Chinese Program at Tufts University, PDP certificate is available for NECLTA members.
This two-hour online seminar will be in Chinese.
该讲座为中文。
The Effective Integration of Cultural Elements in International Chinese Language Teaching
文化要素在国际中文教学中的有效融入
Intercultural competence is an essential component of teaching Chinese as a foreign language (TCFL). This workshop will begin with a discussion on the definitions of culture in the CFL field and the importance of developing intercultural communicative competence. Then, based on the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements for Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC), we will explore how to effectively integrate intercultural competence into the teaching and learning Chinese as a foreign language. Through specific instructional examples, we will demonstrate how the CAN-DO statements can be used to improve teaching and the assessment of intercultural communicative competence. Additionally, we will show how to develop both linguistic competence and intercultural communicative competence in teaching Chinese as a foreign language.
2 hours of CTLE credits are offered for New York State teachers attending this program.
In partnership with New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA) and Chinese Program at Tufts University, PDP certificate is available for NECLTA members.
This two-hour online workshop will be in English.
该讲座为英文。
Introduction to Traditional Chinese Auspicious Pattern and Its Cultural Meaning
中国传统吉祥图案的文化阐释
A New Year painting of a chubby baby holding a fish, a carved window adorned with auspicious cloud patterns, a blue-and-white porcelain vase painted with lotus designs… These traditional Chinese auspicious patterns, so familiar to the Chinese people, embody their understanding and pursuit of a happy life. What cultural codes and emotional expressions are hidden within these images? How do they reflect the unique Chinese way of thinking and collective unconscious? In today’s ever-evolving era, how can these patterns adapt to contemporary trends while preserving both a sense of fashion and national charm?
This lecture will lead you into the world of traditional patterns, exploring the meanings and significance of Chinese auspicious patterns through their deconstruction and reconstruction. We will delve into the cultural emotions embedded within them and explore how these traditions can continue to evolve and shine with new meaning in today’s world.
2 hours of CTLE credits are offered for New York State teachers attending this program.
In partnership with New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA) and Chinese Program at Tufts University, PDP certificate is available for NECLTA members.
This two-hour online seminar will be in Chinese.
该讲座为中文。
Speaker Bio
Mingjie Li 李明洁
Mingjie Li 李明洁, professor at Institute of Folklore of East China Normal University, doctoral supervisor of Cultural Anthropology and Folklore, Visiting Scholar of Folklore at Indiana University. In recent years, Prof.Li has devoted herself to the study of Sinology Collections and Folklore Materials, with particular emphasis on the study of visual memory. Her latest scholarly book “Sacred Understanding: The Research on Chinese Paper Gods Collection at the C.V. Starr East Asian Library of Columbia University” will be published by the Commercial Press (Beijing) in 2024.
Tao Jianmin 陶健敏
Dr. Tao Jianmin is an assistant professor from the School of International Chinese Studies at East China Normal University (ECNU), supervisor in the master program in Applied Linguistics. He got his Doctorate Degree in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics from ECNU. Dr. Tao has studied and worked in renowned universities in China, U.S., South Korea and Australia, with rich academic research and practical experience in Chinese language education and Chinese culture transmission both at home and abroad. He has published over 20 academic papers and three books on language education and contrastive linguistics.
Wei–ling Wu 吴威玲
Dr. Wei–ling Wu (Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania), teacher of Chinese, consultant, and trainer of Chinese language teachers. A master Chinese teacher, Dr. Wu taught in K–12 schools in the United States for twenty-five years. Over her long career as a teacher trainer, Dr. Wu has taught courses for teachers of Chinese at New York University, East China Normal University in Shanghai, and other colleges as an adjunct instructor. She has trained hundreds of Chinese language teachers through the Asia Society and the China Institute in the past decade. Dr. Wu has also served on various projects for Chinese language instruction and curriculum development, including those conducted by STARTALK and Chinese Language Schools. Dr. Wu is the designer, coach, and script writer of the Asia Society’s TEQ video lesson series for teaching Chinese, which is accessible across the country and around the world. Her endeavor as chief author since 1994 has resulted in a range of Chinese textbooks for K–12 students.
Shuqiang Cui 崔树强
Shuqiang Cui, PhD in Philosophy from Peking University, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, Postdoctoral Mentor, and Vice Dean of the College of Fine Arts, East China Normal University (ECNU). He is also the Director of the ECNU Research Center for Chinese Calligraphy Education and Psychology, member of the ECNU Degree Evaluation Committee, and leader of the Fine Arts and Calligraphy Degree Evaluation Group. He serves as a member of the Chinese Calligraphy Education Steering Committee of the Ministry of Education, the 7th Education Committee and the 8th Academic Committee of the China Calligraphers Association, and a researcher at the Aesthetics and Aesthetic Education Research Center of Peking University.
Prof. Cui primarily engages in calligraphy teaching, creation, and research, with his research interests focusing on the aesthetics of calligraphy and the history and theory of calligraphy. He is currently the chief expert of the major national social science project “Research on the Construction of the Aesthetic Theory System of Chinese Calligraphy,” and the head of the national social science key project in the arts, “General History of Chinese Calligraphy Aesthetics (Four Volumes).” He has published 10 books, including the monograph The Thought of Qi and Chinese Calligraphy, and has served as editor and co-author of 9 books, including General Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy (4 volumes) and Core Literacy in Calligraphy. He has published more than 130 academic papers and held a solo exhibition of his calligraphy works in Shanghai in 2019.
Maoqing Chen 陈茂庆
Dr. Maoqing CHEN, Professor of English Department, College of Foreign Languages, East China Normal University, Visiting Research Scholar at the University of Hawaii (2013), Fulbright Research Scholar at the University of California at Irvine (2013-14), Visiting Scholar at the University of Warwick, the U. K. (2024)，Chinese Director at Confucius Institute of the University of Oregon (2016-19)， He has accomplished the Project of National Endowment for Social Sciences “The Dissemination and Reception of Traditional Chinese Theater in the United States of America” (2014-2020)，and published monographs Dream in Drama: A Comparative Study of Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare (2008) and The Dissemination and Reception of Chinese Opera in Hawaii (2021).
Xiaofei Yin 尹笑非
Yin Xiaofei, Ph.D. in Literature, is an Associate Professor at the International Chinese Culture College of East China Normal University and Director of the ECNU Research Center for the Safeguarding of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. She also serves as Vice President and Head of the Theoretical Committee of the Shanghai Arts and Crafts Society, Board Member of the Shanghai Folk Literature and Art Association, and Member of the Expert Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection in Shanghai. Dr. Yin has been a visiting researcher at Kanagawa University in Japan and a visiting scholar at the University of Melbourne in Australia. Her research focuses on literary folklore, intangible cultural heritage preservation, and traditional folk arts and crafts.
What You Will Get
Upon completing each seminar or workshop (1.5 to 2 hours), participants will get CTLE (Continuing Teaching and Leadership Education) hours approved by New York State Education Department.
In partnership with New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA) and Chinese Program at Tufts University, PDP certificate is available for NECLTA members.
Upon completing required participation of seminars and workshops, participants will get a “Certificate in General Understanding of Chinese Culture”, jointly issued by China Institute and East China Normal University.
How to Join
All seminars and workshops are free admission for in-service and pre-service teachers.
Please register each session separately in advance.
Program Team
Anqi Ding, Vice President of School of International Chinese Studies, Deputy Director of the Institute of Global Chinese Language Teacher Education, East China Normal University
Shenzhan Liao, SVP, Education, China Institute
Yongqiang Lin, ECNU Guest Faculty and Program Coordinator, China Institute
Suosi He, Assistant to Director, International Cooperation & Exchange Division, East China Normal University (ECNU)
Ruoyi Pu, Program Coordinator, Institute of Global Chinese Language Teacher Education, ECNU
Wei Zhang, Director of Teacher Education Center, Institute of Global Chinese Language Teacher Education, ECNU
Yong Zhou, Deputy Director, International Cooperation & Exchange Division, East China Normal University (ECNU)
Advisory Committee
Yong Ho, PhD, Executive Director of the Chinese Language Teachers Association of Greater New York
Hongyun Sun, Senior Lecturer in Chinese, Boston University; President, New England Chinese Teachers Association
Frank Lixing Tang, PhD, Research Professor & Co-Director, Project for Developing Chinese Language Teachers (DCLT), The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, & Human Development, New York University
Mingquan Wang, PhD, Language Coordinator, Chinese Program, Tufts University; Executive Director, New England Chinese Language Teachers Association
Ron Woo, Executive Director, NYS Statewide Language RBERN; Metropolitan Center at New York University
Xuejun (Jim) Yu, PhD, Chairperson, World Languages Department, Miami Dade College – Wolfson Campus
Partner Organizations
Institute of Global Chinese Language Teacher Education, East China Normal University
New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA)
Chinese Program at Tufts University
