School and district leaders traveled to China for a one-week educational tour as guests of the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) in October. The goal of the program is to provide delegates with information and inspiration to start or expand Chinese language and culture programs in their own schools. The program also provided the delegation from the U.S. with the opportunity to learn about China, a country that is rapidly changing and rising on the global stage. The College Board co-organizes with Asia Society and National Chinese Language Conference to conduct the Chinese Bridge Delegation.
Hotel accommodations, ground transportation, group meals, visits to cultural and historical sites, and other local costs were covered by the program.
During the conference, we were able to immerse ourselves in many cultural experiences both in Beijing and the city of Changchun in Jilin province, in the northeast China (Manchuria).
In Beijing, we visited the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the 789 Art District. In Jilin, the group visited the Museum of the Imperial Palace and other local sites of interest. We were also immersed in the rich and delicious cuisine of China.
Every minute of the visit was packed with meetings, workshops, school visits and cultural sightseeing. The highlights of the trip were our visits to elementary, middle, and high schools in Beijing and Changchun. In each city, we visited several schools where we engaged in classroom visits and participated in robust workshops about education and instructional practices. During these amazing educational and cultural exchanges, we made new friendships and established partnerships with American and Chinese educational leadership representatives that were a part of the program.
Article written by SSD Coordinator of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Ronald Hammond who attended the delegation along with Assistant Superintendent Mala Ahuja.