With the assistance of the Taiwan representative office in San Francisco and the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center, the Cupertino City Government officially launched free Mandarin training courses for its municipal employees starting from January 13th. This program, a collaborative effort between the Taiwanese government and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), marks the second Mandarin training program provided by Taiwan to a California local government in Northern California.
The Mandarin Civic Class opening ceremony took place at the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino, and was hosted by Huifeng Kou, principal of the Silicon Valley Chinese School and chair of the Fremont Union High School District. Dignitaries in attendance included Director-General of the Taiwan Representative Office in San Francisco, Chih-Hsiang Wu, Director of the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center, Yasu Chuang, as well as other community figures such as Mayor Kitty Moore, Vice Mayor Liangfang Zhao, Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission members Dejan Vai and Wenxiong Li, among approximately thirty attendees.
Director-General Wu stated that the Mandarin Learning Center employs an open, relaxed, and culturally distinctive teaching approach to guide students in language acquisition and understanding Taiwanese culture. He praised the Cupertino City Government employees and Mayor for their dedication to learning, expressing hope for continued program expansion and direct communication in Mandarin with stakeholders.
Mayor Kitty Moore personally participated in the Mandarin learning program, sharing her transition from learning French through Duolingo to Mandarin about two weeks prior. She emphasized the program’s role in fostering intercultural understanding and connections within the city, providing a sense of value and inclusivity to residents, while aiming to weave together diverse cultural threads.
Vice Mayor Liangfang Zhao highlighted the significance of even knowing just a word or two in another language, as it conveys respect and acceptance, emphasizing its importance in intercultural communication.
Principal Huifeng Kou expressed gratitude to the Cupertino City Government and its team for driving the program forward, acknowledging the long-term support from the Taiwan Representative Office in San Francisco and other entities in promoting Mandarin education and cultural exchange in the Bay Area.
He emphasized that Mandarin learning goes beyond language acquisition, serving as a crucial pathway to understanding culture and enhancing cross-cultural communication. The program is expected to offer practical and enjoyable benefits to city employees and yield meaningful results, fostering continued cultural and educational exchange between Taiwan and the local level in the United States.
In line with the “Taiwan-U.S. Education Initiative,” the Overseas Community Affairs Council convened with global overseas schools to establish the Taiwan Chinese Language Learning Center (TCML), providing convenient Mandarin learning channels for mainstream communities. Since its launch in 2020, TCML has expanded globally with a total of 95 schools, including seven in Northern California.
The TCML Silicon Valley Chinese School joined the “Taiwan Chinese Language Learning Center (TCML)” initiative in 2021, receiving top ratings for teaching quality in global evaluations for two consecutive years, and a good rating in the third year. With endorsements from the Taiwan Representative Office in San Francisco, the Education Division, and Overseas Chinese Education Centers, TCML and the Cupertino City Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), jointly launching the “Mandarin Civic Class” program. This collaboration stands as the second successful case of cooperation between a local government and TCML in Northern California, following the partnership with the Fremont City Government.
Director Yasu Chuang of the Overseas Chinese Education Center recognized the collaboration between TCML and the Cupertino City Government as a milestone achievement driven by interdepartmental collaboration between the Overseas Community Affairs Council, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signifying a crucial step in Mandarin education and cooperation with local governments.
She noted that Cupertino, home to the Apple headquarters, boasts a high Asian population percentage. This partnership not only deepens mutual understanding and communication between the city government and the Chinese community but also contributes significantly to Taiwan-U.S. educational and cultural exchange.
Representing the Ministry of Education, Cheng-Feng Dong attended the event, commending the collaboration between TCML and Cupertino, affirming the Ministry’s commitment to promoting overseas Mandarin exchanges, thereby advancing educational and cultural diplomacy objectives.