2025 Teach-in-China Program Overview

The 2025 Teach-in-China Program, organized by the Thousand Mile Initiative (TMI) in partnership with Sister Cities of Durham, was an incredible journey of learning, service, and cross-cultural exchange. Over the past six months, a team of 11 high school students from the RTP area trained together, built friendships, and prepared to serve as young ambassadors in Durham’s sister city, Zhuzhou, China.

Preparation & Training

Prior to departure, the team participated in a series of monthly training sessions. These included:

Lesson planning workshops, where students developed and practiced teaching English and culture lessons tailored to Chinese high school students.
Team-building exercises to strengthen collaboration and adaptability.
Cultural orientation sessions to prepare students for immersion in Chinese daily life.

These trainings ensured every team members were well-prepared to teach confidently and to represent Durham as respectful and open-minded ambassadors.

Program Activities

During the two-week stay, the delegation engaged in a wide range of activities:

1. Teaching & Classroom Engagement

The team (4 groups) taught 40 lessons to first-year students at Zhuzhou No. 2 High School.
Lessons covered aspects of American life and culture, presented in interactive ways.
Students used creative methods to boost engagement, such as rewards, peer-to-peer questioning, and group games, leading to highly participatory classes.

2. Cultural Exchange

American students lived in school dorms, ate daily meals in the campus cafeteria, and interacted closely with Chinese peers.
The Zhuzhou community warmly welcomed the delegation with gifts, notes, and invitations to socialize. Many lasting friendships were formed.
Evenings were spent exchanging stories, playing games, and visiting local attractions together.

3. Learning About Chinese Culture
The host school organized special classes and excursions, including:

Traditional arts: paper cutting, calligraphy, tea culture, Chinese chess, and cooking zongzi.
Modern experiences: flight simulation, 3D printing, and sports at the school’s gym.
City tours: visits to museums, local pottery factories, and cultural sites in Zhuzhou and Changsha.

Student Reflections

Our team members consistently described the program as “life-changing,” “eye-opening,” and “fun.” Several students expressed strong interest in returning to China or continuing similar global exchange work in the future. Many reflected that while they came expecting to teach, they ended up learning even more about Chinese culture and hospitality.

Highlights included bonding with Zhuzhou peers, teaching interactive lessons, and experiencing both traditional and modern aspects of China.

Conclusion

The 2025 Teach-in-China Program was a successful and meaningful international exchange that:

Strengthened ties between Durham and Zhuzhou.
Gave students practical teaching, leadership, and cross-cultural skills.
Promoted friendship and understanding across borders.

We are deeply grateful to Zhuzhou No. 2 High School, Zhuzhou Foreign Affairs Office, Durham City Council, student families, and all partners who made this exchange possible.

Explore the links below to relive highlights from our journey: