On the afternoon of September 13th last Saturday, the Taiwan Chinese Language Learning Center (TCML) in Northern California held a graduation ceremony and achievement exhibition at the Tian Le Language School. Participants showcased their Chinese language learning achievements and cultural enthusiasm through self-introductions and performances, receiving continuous applause and becoming the best witnesses to promoting Chinese language education and cultural exchange.
The ceremony was opened by Peter Yeh, the Chairman of the Tian Le Language School. He humorously expressed his anticipation for Taiwanese cuisine, sparking laughter in the audience. He specially thanked the Overseas Community Affairs Council and the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center for their support.
During her speech, Director Zhuang Yashu of the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center congratulated the students on successfully completing the course and encouraged them to continue improving their Chinese language skills. She pointed out that the Overseas Community Affairs Council has established 88 TCMLs globally, with six in Northern California, and Tian Le Language School being the only one on the San Francisco Peninsula. Since its establishment in April 2024, Tian Le has shown remarkable teaching results, attracting a diverse group of students from different ethnic backgrounds. Overseas Community Affairs Councilor Wei Dezhen was also present to offer blessings and commendation to the students.
This term’s students were divided into three groups – beginner, intermediate, and advanced. They each conducted self-introductions in Chinese, covering family stories, work experiences, and future plans, impressing the guests with their fluent pronunciation.
Following this, Chairman Peter Yeh and Director Zhuang Yashu jointly presented graduation certificates and Taiwan-themed commemorative gifts. Students who participated in summer volunteer services were awarded certificates for community service hours, recognizing their spirit of dedication. After the certificate presentation, Chairman Peter Yeh played the guitar and led the students in singing “If” and “Congratulations,” with the songs resonating joy of learning and enthusiasm for Taiwanese culture, garnering enthusiastic applause. The event concluded with a group photo of all teachers, students, and volunteers, marking a warm end to the achievement exhibition.
In an interview with a reporter, Director Zhuang Yashu emphasized TCML’s mission to encourage adults in mainstream communities to learn Chinese and promote cross-cultural exchange through language learning. She further revealed that TCML has collaborated with local governments and technology companies, such as the well-known enterprise Portwell, and plans to expand to more companies and elementary schools in the future to benefit more ethnic groups. She also pointed out, “Chinese language not only helps in career development but also bridges cultural gaps and enhances community integration.”
Principal Carol Chen of Tian Le Language School, reflected on the school’s founding principles since 1998 during the interview. She mentioned that the school has attracted students from 25 countries and combines language learning with cross-cultural understanding through bilingual education and cultural interactions. She specifically highlighted the “Golden Mind” mental arithmetic program and collaborative projects with public schools, integrating Taiwanese characteristics into education and providing free resources to benefit more students.
Councilor Wei Dezhen, in his interview, expressed that the impressive self-introductions by the students left a deep impression. They not only mastered the language but also gained a deeper understanding of Taiwanese cuisine and culture, showcasing the solid results of TCML’s teaching.
Student representative Lewis Dane shared his insights. Coming from the United States with a wife from Guangdong, China, he thanked teachers Peter and Carol for their professional guidance, believing that learning Chinese has made life more interesting and meaningful. He jokingly stated that one of the motivations for learning Chinese is to “become a better husband.”
As one of the six TCMLs in Northern California, Tian Le Language School, through language education and cultural promotion, has opened a window for the mainstream community to understand Taiwan. Director Zhuang Yashu emphasized that learning Chinese serves as a bridge for cultural exchange and not just language skills. In the future, TCML will continue to promote projects such as the “i-Overseas Card” and “Employment Gold Card,” encouraging students to personally experience Taiwanese culture and life in Taiwan.
The organizers stated that TCML will continue to focus on Chinese language education as its core, inherit Chinese culture, promote ethnic exchanges, and facilitate the integration and harmony of diverse communities. ◇