In the evolving landscape of English education in China, a profound integration of traditional Chinese culture and language learning has emerged as a transformative trend. This approach not only enhances linguistic proficiency but also empowers students to become ambassadors of Chinese civilization. A vivid example unfolded in Yichuan Middle School, Shaanxi Province, where a groundbreaking “Big Class for Telling Chinese Stories in English” has redefined classroom dynamics. Here, students weave familiar Chinese classics into English narratives, igniting their passion for language learning while deepening their understanding of China’s cultural heritage.
A Classroom Revolution in Yichuan
In a senior high school English class at Yichuan Middle School, students like Yuan Zhuoran are embracing a novel educational experience. “The teacher makes it humorous—presenting Chinese stories in English is incredibly interesting,” Yuan shares. “It not only improves our English but also enables us to spread Chinese culture.”
The class, led by educator Simon Smith, embodies a philosophy that learning a foreign language through familiar cultural contexts is both valuable and effective. “By connecting English study with stories students know intimately, we help them realize that English can be a bridge to share Chinese culture globally,” Smith explains.
This initiative stems from a collaborative effort between the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education and New Channel International Education Group, part of a poverty-alleviation project in education. Across 56 poverty-stricken counties in Shaanxi, primary and secondary schools have received video courses of the Big Class worth 20 million yuan, donated by New Channel.
A Tripartite Educational Innovation
Hu Min, a renowned English education expert and chief editor of Telling Chinese Stories in English, describes the curriculum as a domestic innovation serving three core functions: English learning, cultural immersion, and ideological education. Leveraging AI technology, the program tracks each student’s progress, providing detailed learning reports through online assessments.
For English teacher He Kaixuan, the impact is tangible. Recalling a lesson on Wang Zhaojun’s journey to the frontier, she notes how guided learning of speech expressions helped students internalize both language and culture. “This approach inspires me to adopt more engaging methods to teach accessible content,” she says.
A Literary Bridge Between East and West
The Big Class curriculum draws from the Telling Chinese Stories in English series published by People’s Education Press. Developed over two years by New Channel in collaboration with domestic and international education experts, the 丛书 (series) features 226 classic Chinese stories across six themes: Chinese landscapes, customs, arts, achievements, figures, and spirit. It marks the first bilingual series in China designed to teach culture and language simultaneously. Students can even adapt stories into short plays to deepen their engagement.
Hu Min emphasizes the meticulous planning behind the series: “We intended it to be a Chinese language reader, crafted by Chinese language teachers from elite schools. Meanwhile, English experts with dual cultural fluency ensured authenticity in cross-cultural expression.”
British translator Paul White, deputy editor of the series, highlights the clarity of its framework. When translating idioms like “桃李满天下” (lit. “peaches and plums fill the world”), he contextualized it as “talents who serve the nation,” bridging linguistic and cultural gaps.
Voices from Beyond: A Foreigner’s Perspective
Pan Weilian, a Xiamen University professor and the first foreigner to settle in Xiamen, offers a unique view. Author of I Am Not an Outsider and Charming Fujian, Pan—who was named one of “China’s Most Inspiring Figures” in 2019—explains Hu Min’s vision: “Many Chinese students study abroad and learn Western stories, but they lack knowledge of their own heritage. Hu Min believed they should understand China’s stories and history to share them globally.”
As the saying goes, “Friendship between nations hinges on people-to-people bonds, and such bonds grow from mutual understanding.” Telling Chinese stories is a timely mission, and telling them well is a cultural responsibility. As more Chinese youth engage with the world through study and exchange, they become the torchbearers of China’s narrative, bridging civilizations one story at a time.