About the Classroom
Maryknoll School Confucius Classroom is located in Honolulu, the state capital of Hawaii, and was established on September 15, 2021, through a partnership among Maryknoll School, BFSU Foreign Languages School (BFLS), and Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). As of the end of 2025, the Classroom has enrolled a total of 346 Chinese language learners and maintains a team of 16 teachers and administrative staff—11 from the US and 5 from China, including remotely stationed Chinese language instructors supported by BFSU.
Programs and Activities
Chinese Language Teaching & Examinations
The Classroom offers a comprehensive range of Chinese language programs, including Chinese immersion courses, elective Chinese courses, Advanced Placement (AP) Chinese, and BFSU-sponsored remote tutoring sessions. Since its founding, the Classroom has developed an active partnership with BFLS, collaborating on curriculum planning, resource sharing, and student exchange. Through 2025, six online and four in-person exchanges have taken place between the two schools, giving students direct exposure to cross-cultural differences and strengthening bilateral ties.
In 2025, the Classroom established an HSK testing center and hosted its first in-person HSK examination, with 36 candidates sitting the test.
Faculty Development
The Classroom actively supports the professional development of local Chinese language teachers across Hawaii. In partnership with the Chinese Language Education Association of Hawaii, it provides teacher training and Chinese language services to schools and communities in the surrounding area.
Cultural Programs
The Classroom organizes a wide range of cultural activities each year, including calligraphy and Chinese painting workshops, traditional Chinese holiday celebrations, Chinese character dictation contests, and Chinese song performances. In 2025, it hosted the “Chinese Bridge” statewide in-person competition for K–12 students across Hawaii. The Classroom also operates an official WeChat public account, documenting students’ learning journeys and archiving program milestones.
Looking Ahead
Going forward, the Classroom will focus on strengthening its teaching faculty through structured online and in-person training, expanding HSK examination services and the “Chinese Bridge” competition in Hawaii, and developing exchange programs—including remote language corners and China-based summer, spring, and winter camps—to build a strong foundation for American students pursuing study or higher education in China. The Classroom will also deepen its engagement with the local Chinese-speaking community by offering Chinese language instruction and cultural programming.
Contact
US Director: Shana Tong
Chinese Director: YANG Yanyan
Email: yanyan.yang@maryknollschool.org
Website: maryknollschool.org
Phone: +1 808-952-7180
Address: 1526 Alexander St., Honolulu, HI 96822, U.S.A.
