Students and teachers from schools across England are travelling to China this week to improve their Mandarin language skills and cultural awareness.

This year, 1,164 students and 164 teachers from 62 schools are taking part in the eleven-day immersive trip, where they will participate in language and cultural activities and connect with pupils from Chinese schools.

As part of the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP), the tour will take students to cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xi’an, Chengdu, Kunming, Shenyang, Dalian, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Guangzhou.

One of the students, KT, says

I’m really excited for this trip, because the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in the culture.

Speaking to native speakers can improve your fluency in a language because you start to speak without thinking. I think it’s a really cool language to learn.

A classmate, Martin, adds

Rather than just learning in a classroom, we’re going to have the chance to learn from real life scenarios. I think in the future, Mandarin skills will give me an advantage when applying to university or college.

The MEP is a flagship initiative, which has guided more than 11,000 young learners on the path to fluency in Mandarin since its launch in 2016.

The programme has played a key role in building a sustained pipeline of Mandarin speakers who contribute their skills to the UK workforce, including in diplomacy and security.

It is delivered by the UCL Institute of Education on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) in partnership with the British Council and with the support of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC).

Mandarin is the most widely spoken language globally and is considered a highly valuable skill for young people in the UK to learn. According to British Council research, Mandarin ranks as the second most important foreign language for the UK’s global influence.

Katharine Carruthers, the Mandarin Excellence Programme’s Strategic Director says:

The Mandarin Excellence Programme intensive learning visit is a fabulous opportunity for students to experience China in person and advance their language skills.

This is an unrivalled opportunity which rewards Year 9 MEP students who have been learning Mandarin Chinese in school for the past three years, many of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds. The students will benefit from an unforgettable experience as part of their journey to becoming the next generation of fluent Mandarin speakers in the UK.

Shannon West, the British Council’s Head of UK Schools, says:

This year, almost 1,200 students will benefit from this amazing opportunity to visit China and immerse themselves in its vibrant and dynamic culture, practising their Mandarin skills as well as their intercultural skills.

We know from studies of previous trips that this unique experience will build life skills, confidence and resilience, motivate them to continue their studies, and create lasting friendships between people in the UK and China.