From April 8 to 10, Asia Society and College Board welcomed more than 1,200 educators for the 10th annual National Chinese Language Conference in Houston. Attendees came from 47 U.S. states, China, Australia, Canada, Croatia, Myanmar, and the United Kingdom. Over the course of three days, these educators participated in 100+ workshops and presentations, visited more than a dozen school programs in the greater Houston area, and enjoyed engaging plenary sessions and performances. The conference's theme was "A Decade of Progress," inviting participants and speakers to look back at trends over the past 10 years in Mandarin instruction and what challenges and opportunities lie in the decade ahead. 

Some of the high-profile speakers at the conference included businessman Neil Bush, NFL star Chad Lewis, and Rice University President David Leebron. In a letter to the NCLC, native Houstonian and former President George H.W. Bush told attendees, “Your mission of educating the next generation of global citizens as to the importance of speaking Mandarin in order to enhance our U.S. bilateral relations abroad is more important today than ever before.” See photos from the conference above. Below, see conference video, highlights, and other coverage. 

See the complete photo set.