Zhongxuesheng Xuexi Bao and GACEE Co-Chart New Course for Chinese-Language Education

Recently, Zhongxuesheng Xuexi Bao (Middle School Students' Study Paper) and the Global Association of Cultural and Educational Exchange (GACEE) co-hosted a forum on overseas Chinese-language education in Zhengzhou. Representatives from Chinese-language schools in the United States, Canada, Singapore, Indonesia and other countries joined heads of domestic educational institutions to discuss five core topics: upgrading the World Chinese Composition Competition, innovating international study tours, improving Chinese-language teaching quality, inheriting intangible cultural heritage (ICH), and promoting China’s fine traditional culture globally. The forum established a platform connecting China’s high-quality educational media with frontline overseas Chinese-language educators, injecting fresh impetus into the high-quality development of overseas Chinese-language education.

Competition Upgrade: Enhancing Rigour and Creating a New Platform for Expression

As a major platform for ethnic Chinese students worldwide to demonstrate their Chinese-language proficiency and tell China’s stories, the upgrade of the World Chinese Composition Competition was a key topic of discussion. Participants exchanged views in depth on the award ceremony, judging mechanisms and outcomes display for the second edition of the competition, proposing measures to further strengthen its professionalism and authority, refine the judging process, diversify dissemination channels, and accommodate the varying conditions of Chinese-language education and students’ writing abilities across continents—thus turning the competition into a vital stage for inspiring ethnic Chinese students’ enthusiasm for learning Chinese and showcasing their creative talents.

Study-Tour Innovation: Customised Programmes for Immersive Learning

International study tours are a vital means for overseas ethnic Chinese youth to experience Chinese culture up close and consolidate their cultural foundations. Participants conducted a comprehensive discussion on innovation in this area, focusing on the design, itinerary planning and model optimisation of the 2026 “Walking China, Continuing the Cultural Thread” International Study Tour. Recognising the practical constraints faced by overseas students—such as short holiday periods and wide regional disparities—they agreed that such activities must integrate professional rigour with hands-on practice, prioritising customised programme design. Zhongxuesheng Xuexi Bao and GACEE jointly launched the 2026 International In-Depth Cultural Study Tour and related activity enhancement plans, proposing that over the next two to three years, Chinese-language education will serve as the core, integrated with interdisciplinary content to develop a diverse curriculum covering reading, writing, family education and traditional culture—with the Twenty-Four Solar Terms embedded into study-tour scenarios. They also plan to pilot new models such as parent-child study tours and parental workshops, building a collaborative, cross-border study-tour system involving families, schools and overseas partners.

Teaching Enhancement: A Tiered Curriculum to Strengthen Foundational Learning

Based on real-world experiences and challenges in overseas Chinese-language schooling, participants identified clear directions and concrete pathways for improving teaching quality—ensuring instruction better meets ethnic Chinese students’ learning needs. A representative of Zhongxuesheng Xuexi Bao stated that, drawing on over 40 years of experience in basic education publishing, the newspaper will develop a multi-tiered Chinese-language curriculum covering reading, writing, philology and classical Chinese studies, precisely matching the needs of learners at different proficiency levels. All parties agreed that enhancing students’ practical Chinese-language competence remains the central goal, and that future efforts will focus on sharing teaching experience and leveraging AI to support pedagogical transformation.

ICH Inheritance: Tapping Cultural-Educational Value for Classroom Integration

The integration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) into overseas Chinese-language education was designated a key agenda item. Following the forum, the organisers led overseas Chinese-school principals on an immersive cultural visit to “Huaxia Shouzao”, the ICH exhibition hall of Zhongyuan Publishing & Media Group, seeking inspiration for incorporating ICH into Chinese-language teaching. Participants reached consensus on embedding ICH elements into classroom practice—through hands-on activities, storytelling and other approaches—to foster cultural identity among ethnic Chinese youth in a subtle yet effective way.

Cultural Communication: Uniting Global Efforts to Bridge Civilisations

A GACEE representative noted that as enthusiasm for Chinese-language learning grows steadily among overseas ethnic Chinese families, Chinese-language education has become a crucial bond linking China and the global diaspora—and a key vehicle for mutual learning among civilisations. All parties expressed hope that the forum would serve as a springboard for deeper collaboration to advance overseas Chinese-language education.

Since 2025, Zhongxuesheng Xuexi Bao has partnered with GACEE to build a platform for international exchange and cooperation through initiatives including the International Chinese-Language Education Forum, the World Chinese Composition Competition, international study tours, and the formation of expert advisory teams. Going forward, both sides will deepen collaboration to refine curricula and activity formats—empowering ethnic Chinese youth to become young ambassadors for the global dissemination of Chinese culture. (Wang Ying, Ren Lu)

(Editor: Zhou Mengge)