A new Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning (TCML) was unveiled in Temple City on May 25th, the only one recently approved by the Sun Yat Sen Chinese Institute.
The Sun Yat Sen Institute, named after Dr. Sun Yat Sen, a medical doctor and founder of the Republic of China, was established in 1982 as a nonprofit educational organization offering Mandarin classes, regardless of race, age ethnicity or disability. They also offer classes in the arts, culture and conversational Chinese to community members who do not have an Asian heritage background.
In addition to many San Gabriel Valley Mayors and Councilmembers there were several Chinese Community VIPS, including the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural L.A. Office, Mr. Amino C.Y. Chi, and Overseas Community Affairs Council, Vice Minister Liang-Ming Chang.
Congressmember Judy Chu, also in attendance, stated, “With today’s unveiling, the Institute enters an exciting new chapter as part of the nationwide Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning network, one of only 66 centers in the entire country, and the only new one approved in Southern California this year. This center represents something so vital: an opportunity for adult learners from all backgrounds and ages to gain practical language skills in a welcoming and culturally rich environment. Already, students from fields like medicine, engineering, and the performing arts are enrolled in Saturday classes. This demonstrates the power of access and inclusion in education.”
“Language is more than vocabulary; it is a bridge,” said Chu. “And with this new Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning, the Sun Yat Sen Chinese Institute is helping more people cross that bridge, bringing our communities closer together, and building a stronger, more connected future.”
Christine Che, Principal for the new TCML, also serves as President of the Southern California Chinese Council which includes approximately 80 schools in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego Counties. The new center is under this umbrella and will service not only Temple City, but Arcadia and San Gabriel. The classes are available for adults only, age 18 and up.
The Taiwan Center for Mandarin Leaning prides itself on the small classes of ten or less. “If the classes are any larger, they will lose the language opportunity,” Che said. “The best size is seven to ten students so they can interact more easily.”
In addition to classes in Mandarin, TCML offers classes in dancing, art, music, calligraphy and stretching exercises. The Southern California Chinese Council holds academic competitions every year for essay, drawing and calligraphy in Mandarin with over 600 students attending. Because they are so large, the competitions are held in Arcadia schools.
Summer classes will be offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m with three -hour classes in the morning and afternoon, for adults 18 and older, to learn Chinese Mandarin. The Taiwan Center for Mandarin is located at5626 Rosemead Blvd., Temple City, CA 91780.
