Many young Tibetan and other minority nationality students in China are bilingual in Chinese and their mother tongue, and focus on these two languages in primary and middle school. When opportunities to study English arise, they present the challenge of a third language. Current government policies aim to expand English teaching at all levels of the educational system; Trace Foundation has supported this effort since 1997 by intensive English teacher training programs.

The foundation supports the Nationalities Department of Qinghai Normal University in Xining, Qinghai Province, and the Tibetan Department of Northwest Nationalities University in Lanzhou, Gansu Province to train Tibetan English teachers. After an intensive preparatory course, students progress to a two-year junior college diploma program. Qinghai Normal University also offers an additional two-year BA program to students who pass the entrance exam. Standards in both projects are high and students make rapid progress. After graduation, the teachers will return to work in their hometowns, thereby providing high-quality English-language teaching in rural areas and giving students broader study and employment opportunities through the acquisition of English language skills. In cooperation with the universities, the foundation also supports graduate follow-up activities and in-service English teacher-training projects.

Another approach is the placement of foreign English teachers at selected institutions in China, both directly by the foundation, for example at Kangding Teachers College in Sichuan, and in cooperation with other organizations, for example support for volunteer teachers posted to Prefecture-level Normal Schools in Qinghai and Gansu Provinces by the British organization, Voluntary Service Overseas.

Recent Grants in English Language Training

Qinghai Normal University
Xining (Siling), Qinghai (Tsong'on) Province

For a three-year English language training program to train students from Qinghai Province at vocational middle school (zhong-zhuan) level and for a two-year training program to train students from Qinghai Province at junior college (da-zhuan) level. Qinghai Normal University is responsible for the administration of the program and provision of dormitories, classrooms, and local teaching staff.

Amount of Support: $172,650 plus recruitment expenses, support for four English teachers and miscellaneous fund

Northwest Nationalities University
Lanzhou, Gansu Province

For a three-year English language training program to train one class of 30 students from Gansu and Sichuan Provinces at vocational middle school (zhong-zhuan) level. Northwest Nationalities University is responsible for the administration of the program and provision of dormitories, classrooms and local teaching staff.

Amount of Support: $64,285 plus recruitment expenses, support for two English teachers and miscellaneous funds

Kangding Teachers College
Kangding (Dartsedo) County, Ganzi (Kandze) Prefecture, Sichuan Province

For English-language teaching to students in the English and Tibetan departments of Kangding Teachers College. Kangding Teachers College provides accommodations, local transportation and personal computers for the teachers.

Amount of Support: $46,000

Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO)
Beijing Municipality

To cover the contributions (for salaries and travel allowances) usually paid by local schools for the placement of seven foreign English teachers at Prefecture Nationalities Normal Schools in Qinghai (Tsong'on) and Gansu Provinces. VSO covers all other placement costs, a total of $123,375 for seven teachers.

Amount of Support: $17,337