03 May - 13 December
Mission
CLASS is a national organization that provides leadership, advocacy, and support for PreK-12 Chinese language and culture educators to advance quality teaching and learning for 21st century world-readiness.
Featured News
CLASS 2025 Innovative Teaching Contest Winners Annouced
CLASS 2025中文教学之星教学创新大赛获奖者公布
In April 2025, CLASS proudly launched the inaugural “Chinese Teaching Star” Innovative Teaching Contest to promote innovative practices and professional growth in Chinese language education.
The theme of the 2025 competition is “Language as a Bridge, Communication at the Core: Innovative Practices of the Three Modes of Communication in the Chinese Classroom.”
Among the 32 lesson submissions from 14 states, representing preschool through Grade 12 and a range of immersion, world language, and weekend Chinese school programs, the review committee recognized outstanding instructional quality and pedagogical innovation across diverse themes. Six teachers were awarded first, second, and third prizes, and eight received individual awards. Please visit https://sites.google.com/view/innovativeteachingcontest to learn about the award recipients.
The contest served as a valuable platform for Chinese educators to share best practices and advance the field. The 2026 CLASS Innovative Teaching Contest will be announced in April—you could be the next Chinese Teaching Star!
Latest Events & Announcements
16 August - 31 October
01 December - 31 January
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CONTESTS
CLASS ESSAY, POSTER &
SPEECH CONTESTS
CLASS sponsors several contests annually, allowing students to compete at the national level and distinguish themselves in areas of essay writing, public speaking and contest design.
The CLASS Essay contest, held every year since 2003, is announced in the spring with an October deadline.
The CLASS Speech Contest, held since 2011, is the preliminary qualifying competition for the international Chinese Bridge Chinese Competition.
The CLASS National Chinese Talent contest, the newest competition, began in 2023. It is announced in November with a January deadline. Results are announced in the beginning of February during the Chinese New Year.
The CLASS National Poster contest began in 2022. It is announced in March with an April deadline. Results are announced in May for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.
NCHS
National Chinese Honor Society
The National Chinese Honor Society (NCHS) was established by CLASS in 1993 to recognize high school students who excel in studying Chinese as a world language. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning, promote cultural exchange, and foster global citizenship among our members. To achieve this, we aim to create a vibrant community of local NCHS chapters that facilitate bridging Chinese-speaking cultures with the USA and actively contribute to making the world a better place.
By recognizing students who demonstrate outstanding citizenship, leadership, and community service, NCHS encourages its members to become engaged, responsible, and contributing members of their communities. Through our programs and initiatives, we seek to inspire our members to become lifelong learners, gain a deeper appreciation of the Chinese language and culture, and actively engage as global citizens. Together, we can create a better world through cultural exchange and collaboration.
Frontline Series & Webinar Series
CLASS 热点谈系列讲座
CLASS frontline series & webinar series are comprehensive programs that cover various aspects of teaching and learning. It includes educational technology tools, assessments, teaching strategies, instructional activities, and focuses on important topics such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as well as emotional learning. The series features video contents provided by experienced language teachers and experts in the field, ensuring a valuable learning experience for educators looking to enhance their skills and knowledge in teaching Chinese language.
Overall, the webinar series aims to empower educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to deliver effective and inclusive Chinese language instruction. It seeks to enhance the teaching profession by providing ongoing professional development opportunities and fostering a supportive community of language educators.