Written by Er Guan
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
On August 24, 2025, Tzu Chi Academy Dallas officially became the site of a Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning (TCML), established in partnership with the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) of the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan). A plaque-unveiling ceremony marked the center’s opening on campus, offering the public a free, diverse environment to learn Traditional Chinese and experience Taiwanese culture, marking a new chapter in cultural exchange for the Dallas-area Chinese community.
Witnessing a Grand Opening Ceremony
The official opening of a TCML at Tzu Chi Academy Dallas marks the start of a collaboration between OCAC and Tzu Chi to advance Mandarin education. Fifty distinguished guests, including Amir Omar, Mayor of the City of Richardson; Nakia Douglas, Founding Principal of the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy; Arthur Chen, Commissioner of the OCAC; and Eric Mu, Senior Advisor of the OCAC, joined 50 guests from the overseas Chinese community and the education sector to witness the occasion.
With Tzu Chi USA Central Region Deputy Executive Director Mengchi Chang hosting, the ceremony commenced at 11 AM in a solemn yet vibrant atmosphere. Tzu Chi USA Central Region Executive Director Yuanliang Ling delivered welcoming remarks, reflecting on more than two decades of dedicated educational service by Tzu Chi Academy Dallas in North Texas. He expressed gratitude for the OCAC’s trust and support and shared his hope that the new center will promote Chinese culture and facilitate greater exchange.
Recognizing Tzu Chi's Commitment to Education
A highlight of the ceremony was the attendance of Yvonne Hsiao, Director General of TECO in Houston, and Yingjung Wang, Director of TECO in Houston’s Culture Center, who traveled from Houston to Dallas for the occasion. Director General Hsiao affirmed Tzu Chi’s dedication to education and cultural heritage. She expressed hope that the TCML will serve as a bridge between Taiwanese and American societies, enabling U.S. youth and adults to understand Taiwanese culture and democratic values through Mandarin learning.
TCML is an overseas Chinese-language program launched by the OCAC in 2021, targeting adults aged 18 and above from non-Chinese-language backgrounds. The courses are taught primarily in Traditional Chinese characters and use OCAC-developed materials that integrate Taiwan’s distinctive cultural and humanistic values. The program aims to guide students toward a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture and lifestyle through language learning.
In her brief remarks, Director Yingjung Wang reviewed the program’s development and outlined future prospects.
Honoring Two Decades of Tzu Chi Academy in Dallas
Tzu Chi Academy Dallas, which focuses on both language instruction and moral character cultivation, has served North Texas for more than two decades. Over that time, the school has nurtured thousands of students, who, in addition to mastering Chinese, have learned through the school’s humanities curriculum values rooted in respect, gratitude, environmental stewardship, and compassion. This strong foundation makes Tzu Chi Academy Dallas an ideal partner for the OCAC and TECO in Houston for the new TCML, injecting new vitality into Chinese-language learning in the Dallas region.
Distinguished guests gathered at the Tzu Chi Academy Dallas entrance for the plaque-unveiling ceremony. Yvonne Hsiao, Director General of TECO in Houston; Yingjung Wang, Director of TECO in Houston’s Culture Center; Tzu Chi USA Central Region Executive Director Yuanliang Ling; and other guests pulled down the red curtain to reveal the golden plaque, formally marking the establishment of the TCML in North Texas.
The new TCML will begin enrollment in January 2026, offering two classes with a total of 20 adult learners (18+). Courses will be taught by bilingual-certified instructors and will run for 12 weeks per session.
The first Tzu Chi Academy was established in Los Angeles in 1994, with a unique focus on teaching not only Chinese language and culture but also the practice of joyous giving through sincere compassion. Today, Tzu Chi Academies operate across 14 states.
