OU Named As A Confucius Institute By Chinese Government

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Chinese government has named the University of Oklahoma as a home for a Confucius Institute, which university officials say is important recognition of OU's growing Chinese

Monday, August 28th 2006, 6:15 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Chinese government has named the University of Oklahoma as a home for a Confucius Institute, which university officials say is important recognition of OU's growing Chinese language program.

The Confucius Institutes are being established around the world to promote Chinese culture and literature. OU's institute is one of only 80 in the world and only 11 in the U.S.

OU officials signed an agreement Wednesday that pairs the university with Beijing Normal University in China.

The universities will work together to create Web-based Chinese classes and summer language immersion programs in China.

OU has added five full- and part-time instructors to its Chinese language program during the last 12 years and now offers a major in the field.

Ming-Chao Gui, a Chinese language professor at OU, says Beijing Normal University is ready to send two more Chinese language teachers to Oklahoma.