The Confucius Institute

At The University of Montana

The Mansfield Center at the University of Montana has recently been designated as a Confucius Institute by the Ministry of Education of China.  Montana’s Confucius Institute is one of 269 established world wide to promote the teaching of Chinese language and culture.

“All across America there is a rapidly growing  interest in China,” commented the Director of The Confucius Institute at UM, Terry Weidner. “ Over one- fifth of the world’s population is Chinese, and educational opportunities  to learn about China and its language are increasingly in demand in the United States and around the world ,” Weidner said.  “Large numbers of Chinese study English, are drawn to American culture, and know quite a lot about our history and society.  It is time that we did the same with respect to China.”

Despite the expanding fascination with China, no K-12 program in Montana currently offers Chinese language studies, and few resources have been available to Montana teachers on  China’s history culture and current events. The Confucius Institute At UM hopes to change that. 

Tthe The initial plan in 2009 is to provide an on-line program that can be supplemented by mentoring of students by paid native Chinese speakers in Montana communities. 

Email:suhan.chen@mso.umt.edu

Tel: (406)243-2895

The Confucius Institute At The University of Montana
Mansfield Center MLIB 4th Floor
The University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812