The following is a brief history of teaching Chinese as a foreign language in China:

1950 July: A Chinese language training class was offered at Tsinghua University for exchange students from Eastern Europe, which was the first organization for teaching Chinese as a foreign language (TCFL).

1952: Zhu Dexi and other teachers were sent to Bulgaria and Korea to teach Chinese. This marked the beginning of sending teachers abroad to teach Chinese since the founding of the PRC. By 2004, the country had sent 1,314 teachers abroad.

1958: The first Chinese language textbook "Chinese (Russian edition)" was compiled by Peking University and published by Time Press. Up to now, more than 1000 kinds of Chinese textbooks for foreign students have been published.

1961: Students majoring in Chinese and foreign languages were chosen from 11 universities as reserved teachers for teaching Chinese abroad. Altogether 112 students had been chosen and trained in four years time. More students were chosen in 1972 and after the reform and opening-up in 1979.

1962 April: China Radio International (CRI) taught Chinese in its Japanese language program, the first program of this kind in China. CRI now broadcasts a Chinese language teaching program in 39 languages daily.

1965 January: Higher Preparatory School for Foreign Students was officially named as the Beijing Language Institute and later was renamed Beijing Language and Culture University. This was the only higher education institute aimed at TCFL then. Now, 420 higher education institutes of this kind have been established.

1978: During the summer vacation, the Beijing Language Institute provided a short-term Chinese course for 28 French students, which started a pattern of short-term Chinese training in China. Now, the short-term courses have been an important pattern in teaching Chinese as a foreign language.

1980 May: The first set of textbooks for short-term training in Chinese were published and put into use.

1981 October: China's first Chinese teaching video was made.

1984: The Beijing Language Institute began to design a Chinese proficiency test (HSK) at the request of the Ministry of Education. The test was put in practice in 1990, and so far, 154 test sites have been established in 37 countries. More than 400, 000 people have taken part in the test.

1985: Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Shanghai International Studies University and Huadong Normal University opened majors in teaching Chinese as a foreign language. Today, the TCFL major in 62 Chinese universities enroll almost 4,000 students each year.

1985 August: The first international conference on Chinese teaching was held in Beijing. There were 260 representatives from 20 countries and regions. The eighth conference is due on July 23-25. More than 500 representatives from 30 countries are expected.

1987: The State Council established the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language.

1987: Chinese Teaching in the World magazine was established.

1990: Criteria for qualified teachers to teach Chinese as a foreign language were drawn and came into effect in 1991. 5,361 people qualified by the year 2004. In 2004, the Ministry of Education issued Measures for Certifying Teachers' Ability to Teach Chinese as a Foreign Language.

1998: Teaching Chinese as a foreign language became a postgraduate course.

1999: A Friendship Award for the Chinese Language and Culture was initiated by the Minitry of Education. The award has been given to 10 individuals so far.

2001-2004: More than 23,000 foreign Chinese teachers were trained globally, among whom 20,000 went through training overseas, the rest inside China.

2001- now: 11 schools, including University of Heilongjiang, University of Yanbian, Univeristy of Shandong, University of Xiamen, Normal University of Fujian, Jinan Univerisity, Huaqiao University, Guangxi Nationality University, Normal University of Yunnan, University of Yunnan and University of Lanzhou have become partners to promote Chinese among neighboring countries. Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing Normal University, Fudan University, Peking University, Nankai University, Huadong Normal University, Nanjing Normal University and Renmin University are teaching bases for teaching Chinese as a foreign language.

2002 August: The first annual Chinese Bridge Language Competition was held. The fourth competition takes place in July, 2005 in Beijing. 100 participants from more than 40 countries compete in the contest.

2002 September: China's Ministry of Education and USA's Department of Education started the US-China E-Language Learning Program to encourage children between 12 and 15 in both countries to learn each other's language. It's the biggest sino-US educational project so far.

2003: The National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (NOTCFL) invited the first foreign expert in Chinese to visit China. 83 foreign experts have favored from the project.

2003 December: China and US initiated an AP program. Sessions will begin in 2006 with an exam in 2007.

2004, April 15: The Ministry of Education initiated a program for Chinese volunteers to teach Chinese overseas. Today, 447 volunteers are carrying out the program in 14 foreign countries.

2004, May: The State Council approved the Chinese Bridge project by the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (NOTCFL), whose focus is on TCFL programs in the next five years.

2004, Nov. 21: The world's first Confucius Institute was set up in Seoul. By June 20, 2005, eight such institutes were registered. Some 50 organizations are working with China in building up Chinese language institutes.

2005, July 20: The World Chinese Conference opened in Beijing, the first of its kind held by the Chinese government. The theme for the conference is multicultural communication and demand for the Chinese language.

Source: Xinhua