China is the world’s oldest surviving civilization, and the Chinese language is often credited for its longevity. Today, close to 1.3 billion people, approximately 16% of the world’s population, speak Chinese. In the United States, that number is less than 1%.

Studying Chinese is important not only for gaining a greater understanding and deeper appreciation of Chinese culture but also for building bridges of friendship between the U.S. and China.

It is with much appreciation of the many teachers who have been teaching the Chinese Language in the Heartland region, often with little resources, that USHCA launched our inaugural Heartland Chinese Teacher Award in 2022, sponsored by LingoAce, to recognize the hard work of the many Chinese language teachers in the heartland region who have built cultural bridges through language learning.

The 2023 Heartland Chinese Teacher Award will once again seek to recognize exceptional K-12 Chinese language teachers in the 21-state heartland region based on:

• Creativity of their curriculum
• Impact on students
• Contribution to Chinese language learning and cultural dissemination in their community.