The Sino-American Education Consortium (SAEC) plans to recruit about 20 Chinese-language teachers in southwest China to meet the US increasing demand for Chinese courses, said Song Zhihui, vice chairman of the southwest branch of the SAEC.

As China's influence has been expanding in the world, Chinese language teaching becomes more and more popular in the US. Some middle and primary schools have started the courses.

But the US has a critical shortage of Chinese-language teachers. Overseas Chinese students lack necessary qualifications in teaching Chinese, nor have they had teaching experience, so many US schools are eager to hire experienced and qualified teachers in China, said Song.

According to Song, the 20 teachers to be hired would teach some basic Chinese language in primary and middle schools in the state of Georgia. The posts will be opened to both college graduates and experienced teachers in southwest China including Sichuan Province.

The recruitment will be launched from May 25 to May 28 at the seventh Western China International Exposition to be held in Chengdu. Once applicants are chosen, American schools would sign a three-year contract with them.

According to statistics from US Modern Language Association, among the 3000 universities in the US, some 800 have started Chinese courses.

So far, nearly 2400 American high schools have expressed an interest in offering the Advanced Placement Chinese Course and Exams in 2006-2007 semester. Some 2500 middle and primary schools have planned to begin Chinese-language courses.

Lately, China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language signed a five-year agreement of cooperation in promoting Chinese language and culture programs in the United States with the US College Board.

According to the agreement, some 150 guest teachers will be sent to the US to teach Chinese in the next three years. To ensure program continuity when the guest teachers return to China, the program will also support nearly 300 American students who love to teach Chinese to attain the Chinese-language teacher certification.

In addition, nearly 600 American educators will be invited to China during summer holidays each year to have a better understanding about Chinese language, culture and educational system.

By People's Daily Online