2026
News & Events

In addition to our quarterly programs, we are excited to announce the launch of online monthly Chinese group classes. Each term includes five classes, with new classes opening at the beginning of every month, making it easy to join at a time that works for you.

Class Schedule (Eastern Time):

• Basic Chinese: Mondays, 7:00–8:30 PM

• Intermediate Chinese: Tuesdays, 7:00–8:30 PM

• Advanced Chinese: Wednesdays, 7:00–8:30 PM

Now Open for Registration
📧 Contact us at: learnchinesedc@gmail.com

Understanding Chinese Thought Through Text, Strategy, and Myth

The Global Mandarin Academy Foundation is excited to introduce a new set of online humanities-based Chinese studies courses designed to explore how Chinese cultural values, reasoning, and worldviews are expressed through classical texts, mythology, and everyday wisdom. These classes are open to learners with cultural curiosity—no advanced language background required.

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🧠 Strategic Minds of China

Sun Zi’s The Art of War & the Thirty-Six Stratagems

This course examines The Art of War and the Thirty-Six Stratagems as more than military manuals, they are foundational texts shaping Chinese approaches to leadership, negotiation, ethics, and decision-making. Through close reading, historical context, and contemporary case studies, students analyze how indirect thinking, adaptability, and balance define strategic thought in Chinese culture.

Focus: cultural logic, strategic reasoning, leadership philosophy, and cross-cultural interpretation

🐉 Myths, Symbols, and Wisdom

Chinese Mythology, Culture, and Proverbs

This course explores Chinese mythology, folktales, and classical proverbs as living cultural frameworks that continue to influence values, social relationships, and moral reasoning. Students will examine legendary figures, symbolic animals, cosmology, and idiomatic wisdom to understand how stories and sayings reflect collective memory, ethics, and cultural identity.

 

Focus: myth as cultural narrative, symbolism, moral imagination, and traditional worldview

Why These Courses?

Together, these offerings invite students to analyze how Chinese people think, reason, and interpret the world through culture, revealing patterns of thought that continue to shape literature, language, strategy, and everyday life in Chinese societies.

Theme: Sustainable Motivation in a High-Performance World

In today’s fast-paced and achievement-driven environment, maintaining motivation while protecting well-being is more important than ever. Our foundation is proud to host a series of online talks exploring sustainable motivation, balance, and resilience.

Upcoming Sessions (Online):

• English Session:
  Friday, February 13 | 8:00 PM (Eastern Time)

• Chinese Session:
  Friday, February 20 | 8:00 PM (Eastern Time)
  Sunday (Taiwan): 9:00 AM

Registration is required: globalmandarinacademy@gmail.com

In Collaboration with the Montgomery Art Association

We are thrilled to announce that the Montgomery Art Association, in collaboration with the Global Mandarin Academy Foundation, will host a Chinese Calligraphy Workshop led by Dr. Claire Rodan.

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Workshop Title:
Brush & Identity: Discovering Chinese Calligraphy Through Your Name

Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Time: 1:00–4:00 PM

Location:
Oasis Learning Center & Gallery
Macy’s Home Store (2nd Floor)
7125 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20817

This hands-on, beginner-friendly workshop introduces participants to the beauty and philosophy of traditional Chinese calligraphy. Through guided instruction, each participant will learn the foundational strokes and write their own Chinese name using brush and ink.

* MMA membership required. 

The Global Mandarin Academy Foundation actively partners with and participates in programs with local and regional organizations to promote cultural exchange, arts education, and community engagement. Our collaborations include:

• Howard County Art Association

• Montgomery Art Association

• Annapolis Arts Alliance

• Rockville Art League

• Asian American Association

• Maple Lawn Spring & Fall Festivals

• Lunar New Year Arts Festival

Through these partnerships and community events, we support public programs, workshops, and festivals that celebrate cultural diversity, artistic expression, and cross-cultural understanding.