Chinese school

Chinese school
A student practices writing Chinese characters
Chinese	中文学校
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin zhōng wén xué xiào

A Chinese school (simplified Chinese: 中文学校; traditional Chinese: 中文學校; pinyin: zhōng wén xué xiào) is a school, particularly outside of China, that is established for the purpose of teaching the varieties of Chinese (in particular, Mandarin and Cantonese), though the purpose can vary to teaching different aspects of Chinese culture such as Chinese art, calligraphy, and martial arts. The programs can either be an independent institution or a part of an existing educational institution. For example, The Huaxia Chinese School in Great Valley, Pennsylvania operates independently from the Great Valley High School where it is taught. However, some programs are part of the school curriculum and is generally a branch of the foreign language department. According to various mission statements, many Chinese schools are purposed to preserve traditional Chinese language and culture. In 2007, USA Today dubbed Chinese "... is the new English." A recent trend in 2011 shows that the Chinese government has also provided funding to U.S. school districts with additional funding on top of funding they already receive from the U.S. government. As a result, there has also been concern that the Chinese government may also be infiltrating the education system outside its borders, as some people at a school district in Columbus, Ohio feel it has done.

Prior to the year 1996, there were two Chinese immersion programs in the United States, both of which existed in the San Francisco bay area. In that year, the first Chinese immersion program outside of the Bay Area started in Potomac, Maryland and has spread to many other parts of the United States. Depending on region, there is typically a governing body that regulates and networks various Chinese schools together. In the United States for example, the Chinese School Association in the United States is one such governing body founded in 1994. Other agencies exist throughout the world.