Educational Programs
English Language Training
Learning English is a high priority for the Chinese and they eagerly welcome English teachers. However, the focus has primarily been at the University level. Recognizing the need for English teaching in other arenas, the Shanxi Education Bureau asked Evergreen to help train teachers in remote areas who would then teach English to the common people. In response to this, Evergreen has created a variety of opportunities for our Chinese neighbors to learn and practice English, including:
• English Camps for children
• Intensive two-week English courses for Chinese English teachers
• Contracting our English teachers to outside projects and organizations
• Weekly gatherings for young Chinese adults and professionals
What makes Evergreen’s approach different is that our long-term English teachers are also proficient in Mandarin and are members of the community, and we frequently travel into remote areas with teams of English teachers. Evergreen’s English teachers teach not only conversational English, but also introduce participants to Western culture. This is an opportunity to describe holidays and other aspects of Western living, as we share our lives with these enthusiastic students.
Children’s Camps
Life is difficult for students in China. Urban youth are pressured to compete for limited college spots and rural youth rarely continue education past middle school. Learning English is a critical skill for Chinese children, as this allows opportunities for higher education and better jobs. However, lack of exposure to native English speakers leaves them unable to perform necessary oral English tasks. Evergreen’s camp programs are adventure-based and interactive, utilizing outdoor and sports activities as well as classroom learning to allow each child to grow in English, social, and leadership skills.
Taiyuan Training Center (TTC)
Created in 2005 as the international center for Evergreen operations, the TTC houses Evergreen professionals who are responsible for all the critical business, financial, and legal functions necessary to maintain a business in China with the highest integrity. The TTC also serves as a meeting place for community activities; TTC’s meeting rooms are used for Evergreen to connect with government officials and business leaders, as well as for weekly studies, English classes for Chinese professionals, Chinese language school for Evergreen staff, and training areas for special programs such as social work and leadership. Another key function of the TTC is serving as a visitors’ center. Visitors can walk the Evergreen history hall where they see photos of Peter Torjesen and other pieces of Evergreen’s past, and browse displays of Evergreen paper-cut cards.
Community Centers
Evergreen serves hundreds of people of all ages six days a week in our community centers in Yanqu and Yuci with English classes, educational activities and resources, social events, opportunities for volunteerism, and social work services.
The Yangqu Community center is also the base for our bookmobile project, which makes books accessible to the children of rural Shanxi Province, and helps to instill a love of learning. Traveling to twenty-six rural schools each month, the bookmobile has become critical in the lives of the children, as many of these schools are remote and without access to other facilities.
Evergreen Handcut Cards, the Yangqu medical offices and the Samaritan program are all housed in the Yangqu Community Center.
Soccer Club
Chinese children spend extensive time sitting in the classroom receiving didactic teaching. Evergreen’s soccer club is designed to give Chinese and foreign children the opportunity to exercise, learn teamwork, and enjoy the outdoors.
Shanxi Evergreen International School (SEIS)
SEIS was created to help meet the educational needs of the families of Evergreen, providing a quality education with integrated Biblical principles for the children of Evergreen members. This school offers Evergreen families a strong local schooling option for their children, enabling Evergreen members to stay on the field and focus on their work without worrying about educational needs or exorbitant schooling costs.
SEIS caters to children from kindergarten to grade eight, and provides support and resources to high school students who are doing independent study. Classes are taught in English based on an American curriculum. All students are required to study Mandarin, which is taught by a local Chinese language teacher.
SEIS strives to:
• Intensive two-week English courses for Chinese English teachers
• Contracting our English teachers to outside projects and organizations
• Weekly gatherings for young Chinese adults and professionals
What makes Evergreen’s approach different is that our long-term English teachers are also proficient in Mandarin and are members of the community, and we frequently travel into remote areas with teams of English teachers. Evergreen’s English teachers teach not only conversational English, but also introduce participants to Western culture. This is an opportunity to describe holidays and other aspects of Western living, as we share our lives with these enthusiastic students.
Children’s CampsLife is difficult for students in China. Urban youth are pressured to compete for limited college spots and rural youth rarely continue education past middle school. Learning English is a critical skill for Chinese children, as this allows opportunities for higher education and better jobs. However, lack of exposure to native English speakers leaves them unable to perform necessary oral English tasks. Evergreen’s camp programs are adventure-based and interactive, utilizing outdoor and sports activities as well as classroom learning to allow each child to grow in English, social, and leadership skills.
Taiyuan Training Center (TTC)
Created in 2005 as the international center for Evergreen operations, the TTC houses Evergreen professionals who are responsible for all the critical business, financial, and legal functions necessary to maintain a business in China with the highest integrity. The TTC also serves as a meeting place for community activities; TTC’s meeting rooms are used for Evergreen to connect with government officials and business leaders, as well as for weekly studies, English classes for Chinese professionals, Chinese language school for Evergreen staff, and training areas for special programs such as social work and leadership. Another key function of the TTC is serving as a visitors’ center. Visitors can walk the Evergreen history hall where they see photos of Peter Torjesen and other pieces of Evergreen’s past, and browse displays of Evergreen paper-cut cards.
Community Centers
Evergreen serves hundreds of people of all ages six days a week in our community centers in Yanqu and Yuci with English classes, educational activities and resources, social events, opportunities for volunteerism, and social work services. The Yangqu Community center is also the base for our bookmobile project, which makes books accessible to the children of rural Shanxi Province, and helps to instill a love of learning. Traveling to twenty-six rural schools each month, the bookmobile has become critical in the lives of the children, as many of these schools are remote and without access to other facilities.
Evergreen Handcut Cards, the Yangqu medical offices and the Samaritan program are all housed in the Yangqu Community Center.
Soccer Club
Chinese children spend extensive time sitting in the classroom receiving didactic teaching. Evergreen’s soccer club is designed to give Chinese and foreign children the opportunity to exercise, learn teamwork, and enjoy the outdoors.
Shanxi Evergreen International School (SEIS)SEIS was created to help meet the educational needs of the families of Evergreen, providing a quality education with integrated Biblical principles for the children of Evergreen members. This school offers Evergreen families a strong local schooling option for their children, enabling Evergreen members to stay on the field and focus on their work without worrying about educational needs or exorbitant schooling costs.
SEIS caters to children from kindergarten to grade eight, and provides support and resources to high school students who are doing independent study. Classes are taught in English based on an American curriculum. All students are required to study Mandarin, which is taught by a local Chinese language teacher.
SEIS strives to:
- prepare students mentally, socially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually to live godly lives in Chinese and home-country societies,
- equip students to interact comfortably with Chinese people, and
- aid students in making a smooth transition to their home country and higher education.
Professional Services:
- Medicine and Public Health
- Educational Programs
- Agricultural Development
- Business Incubation
- Orphan Care
- Global Consulting
- Family Outreach