2026 TEDA Spring International Chinese Language Class Opens with Multi-Campus Collaboration

On March 17, the TEDA Community College was filled with laughter amid the vibrant spring energy. 29 students from Russia, Germany, Poland, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, India, Iraq, Indonesia, and other countries gathered together to attend the opening session of the 2026 Spring International Chinese Language Class.

Since the inauguration of the International Chinese Language Program in 2014, TEDA Community College has helped expatriates quickly integrate into life in TEDA and deeply experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture through its distinctive Chinese language curriculum in the past 13 years.

Learning Chinese in the Warmth of Home

"I have lived in TEDA for a year and a half, and I've been coming to the International Chinese Class all along. I've made many Chinese friends here in TEDA, and this place feels more and more like my home!" In the first class of the new semester, Zamo, a student from Iraq, delivered his self-introduction in fluent Mandarin, earning rounds of applause. As a "veteran student," Zamo has made remarkable progress in his Chinese proficiency. For the new semester, he hopes to continue improving his Chinese through communication and learning.

In contrast to Zamo's composure, Max, a new student from Germany, had enthusiasm and confidence sparkling in his eyes: "I must learn Chinese well!"

To ease the students' unfamiliarity with their new environment, the teachers carefully designed ice-breaking sessions. In the classroom, there was no tedious grammar drilling; instead, basic Chinese knowledge was seamlessly integrated with everyday communication scenarios. In a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, the students expressed themselves boldly—from simple greetings to describing daily life. Pinyin, vocabulary, and sentences became bridges connecting hearts.

Campus-Community Collaboration to Serve Chinese and International Residents

The first lesson of the new semester featured a special highlight — the official unveiling of the Practical Teaching Base for Chinese International Education at the College of Humanities and Law at Tianjin University of Science and Technology. This marks a solid step forward for TEDA Community College in its campus-community collaboration model, ensuring that university intellectual resources will benefit local residents more directly.

"All the teachers in the TEDA International Chinese Language Class are undergraduates majoring in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages," said Zhang Haitao, Vice Dean of the College of Humanities and Law at Tianjin University of Science and Technology. He introduced that since the establishment of this program in 2008, it has developed a distinctive educational model that integrates "Chinese classical studies, artistic talents, and technology," cultivating a large number of application-oriented talents for the promotion of Chinese culture. Zhang Haitao encouraged the students, saying, "I hope you can take full advantage of this excellent platform to hone your skills, effectively apply your book knowledge to practical teaching, and share your expertise in the Chinese language with international friends. This will help them improve their Chinese proficiency, deepen their affection for China, and spread the best of traditional Chinese culture across the globe."

Chen Liang, Dean of TEDA Community College, stated that the College of Humanities and Law boasts extensive experience in international Chinese language education and will enhance the quality of international Chinese instruction at the community college. He also expressed delight in providing a platform for university faculty and students to engage in internships, research projects, and practical teaching. "The campus-community collaboration  allows the intellectual resources of universities to directly benefit the community, serving both Chinese and international residents and injecting new vitality into the development of a learning society," Chen Liang remarked.

This semester, in the international Chinese language classes, students from Tianjin University of Science and Technology will assist the teachers in conducting lessons and providing after-class services. They will help international learners improve their Chinese proficiency while honing their skills in international communication through practice.

13 Years of Dedication: Making TEDA a Second Hometown for Expats

As a pacesetter among national-level development zones, TEDA becomes more globalized amid its rapid economic growth. Currently, the area is home to approximately 5,000 expatriates from over 80 countries and regions, including Germany, Russia, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Canada, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The convergence of different languages and lifestyles has fostered a unique multicultural environment.

How can these friends from across the oceans better integrate into local life? Over the past 13 years, TEDA Community College has provided a heartfelt answer. Since the inauguration of its International Chinese Classes in September 2014, the college has remained committed to Chinese language education, serving more than 1,000 students. In addition to basic Chinese instruction, the college offers a variety of traditional Chinese cultural courses, including calligraphy, guzheng, painting, and tai chi, allowing students to experience the charm of Chinese culture through learning.

As the new semester begins, the TEDA Community College has meticulously planned a richer array of cultural experience activities. "We will organize students to learn how to cook Chinese dishes, experience intangible cultural heritage projects, and get a close-up look at traditional Chinese medicine. Such activities will allow everyone to experience TEDA, explore the Binhai New Area, understand Tianjin, and fall in love with China," Chen Liang said confidently about the new semester's curriculum.

With 13 years of dedication to international Chinese language education, the TEDA Community College is not only a platform for foreign friends to learn about Chinese culture but also a warm harbor for them to feel the vitality of TEDA and the pulse of China. Here, the distance between hearts is bridged time and again through learning Chinese and experiencing Chinese culture. With an open embrace, TEDA welcomes visitors from all over the world to jointly write a new chapter of high-quality development.