KU Edwards Campus Brings Chinese Culture and Language to Overland Park

Parents are getting a head start teaching their children different languages at a young age. Chinese is one language in particular that is rapidly increasing in popularity as a second language. One reason: China is perceived by many as an economic power our children should prepare for.

Facts that support this:

• Only 25,000 students in American public schools were studying Mandarin in 2000. Since then, public school systems in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Houston have stepped up Mandarin instruction, doubling that number, according to estimates by the Asia Society, a New York nonprofit organization aimed at boosting U.S.-Asia ties.

• Chinese-speaking nannies in the US earn, on average, $20,000 more than English-speaking nannies, according to BBC News.

• Nationwide, there are Chinese programs in more than 550 elementary, junior high and senior high schools, a 100 percent increase in two years, according to The Asia Society, an educational group.

KU Edwards Campus provides Kansas City youth an opportunity to get in front of a trend that doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

As part of the Confucius Institute at University of Kansas, KU Edwards Campus is offering Chinese culture and language camps to students K-12 during the month of June. These camps will address language as well as cultural arts including games, music, dance and martial arts.

For more information or details about the camps visit Confucius Institute summer camps.