The Annual Gathering of the U.S. Language Education Community — the 2025 ACTFL Annual Convention — Grandly Opens in New Orleans from November 21 to 23. This year, the Ministry of Education has commissioned the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET) to lead Taiwan’s participation, joined by the Overseas Community Affairs Council, the Steering Committee for the Test of Proficiency—Huayu, the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange, as well as multiple universities and industry partners. In total, 17 delegations are taking part in the exhibition.

A major highlight of this year’s Taiwan Pavilion is the first-time participation of the National Palace Museum and the National Center for Traditional Arts. With a curatorial concept that integrates culture and language education, the pavilion showcases Taiwan’s rich and diverse cultural heritage while creating a more engaging and immersive Mandarin learning experience. The exhibition design blends traditional and modern elements to reflect the spirit of the “Learn Mandarin in Taiwan” brand, drawing strong attention from American educators and language learners.

On November 21, FICHET and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) co-hosted the “Educational Achievement Showcase: ACTFL–Taiwan Partnerships and Resources.” ACTFL President Milton Alan Turner and Executive Director Larry Paska delivered keynote speeches, presenting updates on Taiwan–U.S. collaborative initiatives and outlining future directions. The event served as a key platform for bilateral academic exchange and highlighted the close partnership between ACTFL and Taiwan in language promotion and professional resource integration.

Under the “U.S.–Taiwan Education Initiative,” the Ministry of Education and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) continue to advance bilateral educational exchanges. That afternoon, the Taiwan–U.S. Mandarin Education Exchange Forum was held at the Loews New Orleans Hotel. Distinguished guests included Ragini Gupta, Director for Press and Public Diplomacy of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Yu-Jen Chen, Deputy Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston; NCSSFL President Melissa Monroe; Xavier University of Louisiana Provost Marguerite S. Giguette; Shou-Wang Kuo, Vice President for International and Cross-Strait Affairs at Shih Chien University; and Hui-Yi Chou, Director of the Education Division at TECRO. Together, they explored how to build a more comprehensive global Mandarin learning ecosystem under the framework of the U.S.–Taiwan Education Initiative.

Participants included members of the National Council of State Supervisors for Languages (NCSSFL), the National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Languages (NADSFL), and numerous language education experts. The Taiwan delegation engaged in extensive discussions with U.S. educational leaders on teaching resources, faculty exchanges, and collaborative curriculum development, opening new opportunities for future Taiwan–U.S. cooperation in Mandarin education.

That evening, FICHET hosted the “Taiwan Night” networking banquet, attended by prominent government and academic leaders. Guests included Ingrid D. Larson, Managing Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Washington Headquarters; Overseas Community Affairs Council Minister Chi-Ching Hsu; and Deputy Director General Yu-Jen Chen of TECO in Houston. National Taiwan Normal University invited a renowned Taiwanese folk dance troupe to perform a contemporary fusion of traditional ritual dance, deity procession hip-hop, and interactive Eight Generals performance, offering audiences a vivid and innovative expression of Taiwanese culture that received enthusiastic acclaim.

Throughout the evening, Taiwanese and American representatives engaged in lively exchanges, not only strengthening institutional cooperation but also further advancing Taiwan’s international brand image of “Bringing Mandarin to the World.”

FICHET Executive Director Tzu-Bin Lin noted that, supported by the U.S.–Taiwan Education Initiative and the Executive Yuan’s “Mandarin Education 2025 Plan,” the Taiwan Huayu BEST Program has facilitated partnerships between 23 Taiwanese universities and 79 American universities, and has established seven Mandarin Learning Centers in the United States to provide structured instructional support and teacher training.

This year’s Taiwan Pavilion centres on cultural richness and educational innovation. With the participation of the National Palace Museum and the National Center for Traditional Arts, the pavilion presents an integrated learning experience that connects language and culture. Participating universities showcase a wide range of Mandarin programmes, including customised courses, Mandarin for professional domains, cultural immersion experiences, and experiential learning. Together, they demonstrate Taiwan’s innovation, confidence, and leadership in global Mandarin education.