Teaching Chinese Through Culture and Community: Highlights from the 2026 Summer Teaching Conference
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Day 1
The conference opened with a focus on using culture as a meaningful pathway for language learning. Sessions highlighted how cultural products and experiences can serve as engaging instructional tools while supporting differentiated learning for students with diverse backgrounds. Crystal Hsia of the USC U.S.-China Institute presented "From One Size Fits All to Everyone is Included in the Classroom," emphasizing inclusive teaching practices that help every student participate meaningfully in language learning. The day also featured presentations by two instructors from Taiwan, who demonstrated creative ways to build immersive cultural experiences through virtual instruction.
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Exploring Chinese Culture
Participants further explored Chinese culture through interactive workshops in stamping art, calligraphy, Chinese painting, and martial arts, gaining classroom-ready ideas for integrating cultural learning into language instruction.
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Day 2
On the second day, UCLA Professor of Chinese Language and Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Hongyin Tao delivered a keynote on semantics and pragmatics in Chinese language education. His presentation examined how learners develop the ability to use appropriate language forms in different social contexts and encouraged educators to consider how limited resources in the United States can be supplemented to help students better understand contemporary Mandarin-speaking societies.
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Celebrating SCCCS’s 50th Anniversary
The evening concluded with SCCCS’s 50th Anniversary Golden Gala, which celebrated five decades of advancing Chinese language education, cultural programming, and teacher professional development. The event brought together educators, superintendents, and school district leaders to recognize the organization’s longstanding contributions and reaffirm its commitment to expanding Chinese language education in Southern California.
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Day 3
The conference concluded with discussions on the future of community-based Chinese schools in Southern California, encouraging participants to reflect on emerging challenges, opportunities, and long-term strategies for sustaining high-quality language programs. As educators departed with new instructional ideas, professional connections, and renewed inspiration, the conference once again demonstrated the importance of collaboration, innovation, and cultural understanding in preparing the next generation of Chinese language learners.