China Institute of America
In Partnership with East China Normal University
Jointly designed by China Institute of 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.
As a continuation of the previous year’s program, it consists of two main components:
- Online Cultural Seminars
Online cultural seminars present carefully selected topics by renowned scholars and experts, each followed by guided discussions. Teachers of other subjects may find topics of interest and are also welcomed.
All seminars are free admission for in-service and pre-service teachers.
Please register each seminar separately in advance. Project Culture and Language Learning (Project CLL)
As an integral part of the Teacher Certificate Program, the 2026 Project CLL provides K–12 Chinese language teachers with the valuable opportunity to participate in workshops and study group discussions, empowering them with the skills to effectively integrate culture and language learning in K–12 classrooms. Under the mentorship of a master teacher trainer, participating teachers will design culture and language units and implement them in their own classrooms.
Upon completing the pedagogical workshop and classroom implementation, eligible participants will be supported in presenting and sharing their Project CLL units at regional and national Chinese language teaching conferences.
In 2026, Project CLL will focus on “Peking Opera 京剧” with an emphasis on exploring effective ways to design CLL units and integrate Peking Opera into K–12 Chinese language learning.
Project CLL 2026 is free for all K-12 in-service and pre-service teachers of Chinese. It is OPEN now for applications. For more information, please visit 2026 Project Culture and Language Learning.
What You Will Get
CTLE Hours: Upon completing each seminar or workshop, participants will get CTLE (Continuing Teaching and Leadership Education) hours approved by New York State Education Department.
PDP Certificate: In partnership with New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA) and Chinese Program at Tufts University, PDP certificate is available for NECLTA members.
CI Certificate: 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.
For questions, please contact Yongqiang Lin at [email protected]
Fall 2025
Farewell to the Old, Reunion for the New Year: A Journey Through Spring Festival Traditions 辞旧迎新团圆年：春节新年礼俗漫说
In 2024, the Spring Festival was officially recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking it as a festival holiday shared and cherished by people around the world.
Commonly referred to as “过年” (Guo Nian, cross the year) in China, the Spring Festival marks a passage through a series of meaningful rituals. Centered on bidding farewell to the old year, welcoming the new, praying for blessings, and family reunion, the festival unfolds in three major phases: seeing off the old year, gathering for the family reunion dinner and staying up late on New Year’s Eve, and welcoming the arrival of the new year.
The most comprehensive and celebrated holiday, the Spring Festival traditions include many lasting and evolving activities: Sweeping dust, cleaning the house, and decorating doorways; Ceremoniously sending off the Kitchen God and welcoming ancestors home; Preparing special New Year foods and hosting year-end gatherings; Enjoying the New Year’s Eve family reunion dinner; staying up late on New Year’s Eve (Shou Sui 守岁) to share stories and family time; Setting off firecrackers at the opening of the door to welcome the new year.; and paying New Year visits, exchanging greetings, and celebrating the season.
This seminar will take K-16 Chinese language teachers on a journey through the rich rituals and customs of the Spring Festival, as well as the believes, values and morals reflected in its colorful and meaningful traditions. Besides delicious food, fun activities and a break from the busy daily life, the Spring Festival continues to express the enduring values of harmony, gratitude, renewal, and family that have shaped Chinese culture for thousands of years.
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.
For questions, please contact Yongqiang Lin at [email protected]
This two-hour online seminar will be in Chinese.
该讲座为中文。
Spring 2026
Teaching Classical Chinese Garden in K-12 Classrooms
As a unique and significant embodiment of traditional Chinese culture, the classical Chinese garden creates an immersive space that is intricate and dense, yet harmonious and free from chaos within its enclosed walls. How, then, can this rich cultural form be effectively integrated into language instruction?
This workshop will demonstrate three teachers’ lesson-planning processes centered on the theme of the classical Chinese garden, showcasing instructional strategies designed to spark students’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of cultural perspectives.
Participants will explore practical ways to incorporate this unique cultural asset into their curriculum, enhancing student engagement and promoting cultural literacy across subjects such as history, literature, art, science, and language. Created by teachers, for teachers, this workshop also welcomes participants’ input and shared experiences.
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.
For questions, please contact Yongqiang Lin at [email protected]
This two-hour online seminar will be in Chinese
该讲座为中文
2026 Project Culture and Language Learning for K-12 Educators
Join the 2026 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, group study sessions, and classroom implementation.
Selected outstanding participants will be supported by China Institute to showcase their work on larger platforms, building leadership competence for future career development.
2026 Program at a Glance
As China Institute of America celebrates its 100th anniversary in May 2026 and commemorates Mr. Mei Lanfang’s 1930 American tour, Project CLL will explore innovative pedagogical strategies for developing students’ cultural competence and language proficiency through the appreciation and experience of Peking Opera 京剧, a unique traditional Chinese performing art.
Project CLL offers:
- A pedagogical workshop on Friday, March 6, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (EST). The workshop will be led by Dr. Wei-ling Wu, a master teacher trainer who will talk about the rationale and strategies for integrating cultural and linguistic learning within the context of Peking Opera. Participants will be guided through a step-by-step planning framework they can apply to develop their own K-12 CLL units. Dr, Wu will also share successful CLL units developed by previous cohorts.
- Support for unit design and implementation. From March to May, participants will design and implement CLL units for their own classrooms. Group meetings with Dr. Wu will be scheduled during this period based on needs.
- An opportunity to share in May. Participants will present their final CLL units at China Institute Learn, Share and Lead Workshop (online) in May 2026.
- Resources and materials. Peking Opera–related teaching resources will be shared, and China Institute will provide a limited funding for cultural supplies and materials based on teachers’ needs.
Project CLL features the following benefits:
- Free admission to all workshops and group meetings
- Continuing Education credits for applicable K-12 teachers in states of New York and New England. CTLE credits are offered for New York State teachers attending and sharing at the programs. In partnership with New England Chinese Language Teachers Association (NECLTA) and Chinese Program at Tufts University, PDP certificate is available for NECLTA members.
- 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 2026 cohort. It 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.
- Download the proposal form at: 2026 Project CLL Proposal Form. Submit a completed proposal that shows efforts and enthusiasm in CLL by Sunday 5:00 PM, February 22, 2026, through the link: 2026 Project CLL Proposal Submission
Join us and take a step forward in advancing your teaching.
We look forward to working with the 2026 cohort of Project CLL.
For questions, please contact Yongqiang Lin at [email protected]
Program Team
Anqi Ding, 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)
Lili Xie, 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
This series is made possible through the support of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, the ECNU Center, and generous supporters of China Institute of America.
