China wants American students to learn the most widely spoken first language in the world, Standard Mandarin, and to study its culture. To facilitate this, China's Office of Chinese Language Council International, known as Hanban, teamed up with the College Board to bring teachers from China to the United States through the Chinese Guest Teacher Program. There are about 100 of these teachers who have been placed in schools and districts in 23 states, where they instruct high school, middle school and elementary school.

The program provides teachers with monthly stipends and international transportation, while host schools and districts provide housing, local transportation and administrative fees. As part of the selection process, the College Board interviews guest teachers about teaching methods, classroom management, cultural tolerance and language skills in both Chinese and English.

Once the guest teachers arrive in the United States, they attend an intensive training program, the Chinese Guest Teacher Summer Institute, before they are sent to their assigned districts. The 10-day professional development program, held at Stanford University last August, included guidance from language experts, as well as guest teachers who had already been working in the program, to provide all guest teachers with support and professional development in areas critical to their success in U.S. classrooms.

"The session addressed issues concerning the nature of living and teaching in the United States, structure and expectations of the American education system, and language teaching curricula goals, class management, assessment," remarked Junli Wei, Chinese guest teacher at Urbana School District. "I not only acquired theoretical and practical skills to more effectively teach Mandarin Chinese language and culture, but also gained access to professional development networks and resources, which is very helpful for me to commit to long-term engagement in professional activities that will support the teaching and learning."

Most Chinese guest teachers are the first in their schools, launching new language and culture programs for students with no background in the language. They work at host schools for two years and then renew for an additional year, if both the school and teacher are satisfied. The guest teacher program offers an opportunity for the schools to start a new program affordably and to participate in an international exchange, with the goal of continuing the Chinese program by hiring a teacher locally after the guest teacher leaves.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for young Americans to be a part of globalization at a fundamental level, learning the language and discovering the Chinese culture," said College Board President Gaston Caperton. "This program's success should demonstrate the growing awareness among Americans that we need to offer a 21st-century choice to our students."

The Hanban-College Board partnership also offers scholarships to select universities preparing U.S. teacher candidates who are seeking state certification to teach Chinese. A total of 99 teachers received scholarships this year to attend four summer institutes on Chinese university campuses in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing.

The partnership also sponsors an annual trip to China during which U.S. educators and administrators can familiarize themselves with China's culture, language and education systems. The trip, known as the Chinese Bridge Delegation, provides hands-on incentives and strategies for educators to return to their own schools better equipped to support their Chinese programs.