China Institute

The China Institute in America (Chinese: 華美協進社; pinyin: Huáměi Xiéjìnshè; literally "Sino-American Cooperation Advancement Society"^[1]) is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution in New York City, that was founded in 1926.

Purpose

China Institute in America, located at 125 East 65th Street, New York City, advances a deeper understanding of China through programs in education, culture, business, and art in the belief that cross-cultural understanding strengthens the global community. It is the oldest bi-cultural, non-profit organization in America to focus exclusively on China.

The Institute offers programs, activities, courses and seminars on the visual and performing arts, culture, history, music, philosophy, language and literature. They are appropriate for people of all ages and backgrounds, as well as children’s programming, business and current affairs programs and professional development programs for teachers.^[2]

History

China Institute was founded primarily as an educational institution in 1926 by a group of American and Chinese educators, including educational philosopher John Dewey of Columbia University and Chinese educator Hu Shih (later president of Peking University and China's ambassador to the U.S.). It was funded with Boxer Rebellion indemnity money (paid by China to the United States) to help administer the Boxer Rebellion Indemnity Scholarship Program that provided funding for Chinese students to study in the U.S. Trustees were appointed by the Chinese and American governments.^[3] The Institute's School of Chinese Studies, founded in 1933, is the oldest educational center of its kind in the United States.

In 1944, the Institute was chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and defined as a continuing education organization whose purpose was:

To promote education and culture in art, literature, science, history, and other subjects among Chinese and Americans, and to cultivate a mutual understanding between China and the United States and the citizens thereof, by the administration of funds entrusted to the corporation for use in the establishment of scholarships and for other expenses of students studying in the United States...and for the exchange of information and views between Chinese and Americans.

Programs

Language

China Institute specializes in Mandarin language courses to students of all backgrounds and proficiency levels. Students are taught to speak, and to read and write using pinyin romanization and simplified characters. All instructors are native speakers with advanced degrees and training. Also offered are courses in Conversation, Reading, and Cantonese, as well as a private tutoring program designed for professionals with business interests in China.

Arts & Culture

The Institute offers instruction in traditional Chinese activities, such as calligraphy and taijiquan, as well as lectures, symposia, workshops, and short courses designed to contextualize traditional and contemporary Chinese art and culture. For K-12 students, Discover China Through Art (DCTA) is China Institute's arts exposure program, designed to introduce students to Chinese art and culture through participatory lectures and workshops based on the current Gallery exhibition.

Professional Development

China Institute provides resources to educators interested in promoting the integration of Chinese history, culture, and language into their curriculum through workshops, study tours, and curriculum guides. In a partnership with East China Normal University (ECNU) in Shanghai, the Institute offers a Joint Masters Program for training K-12 Chinese Language teachers. Educators who complete the program are eligible to become certified in New York State and thirty-five other states to teach in American public schools.

Corporate Programs

China Institute’s corporate programs are developed to provide executives from around the world with forums for networking and information-sharing on issues in U.S.-China business relations through lecture series, corporate Mandarin language programs, and corporate memberships. Each year, The China Institute Executive Summit, an invitation-only corporate conference, brings together leading corporate executives, government officials, entrepreneurs, and economists from China and the U.S for in-depth panel discussions.

References

1. ^ 華美協進社簡介 (About China Institute) (Chinese)
2. ^ China Institute Official Website]
3. ^ "Whither China Institute in America?", Phillips Talbot, August 31, 1982

External links

• China Institute is at coordinates 40°45′59″N 73°57′57″W / 40.766355°N 73.965964°W / 40.766355; -73.965964 (China Institute)Coordinates: 40°45′59″N 73°57′57″W / 40.766355°N 73.965964°W / 40.766355; -73.965964 (China Institute)