Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) is excited to announce the spring 2025 expansion of the dynamic two-year initiative launched in 2022 titled "Meeting the Terracotta Army, Understanding Qin Culture,” which is conducted by the Xidian University, Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, and the Smithsonian National Museum.

During the initial launch in 2022, students enrolled in Chinese classes (grades eight through 12) not only participated in 30 virtual Mandarin language classes but also engaged in five virtual field trips, connecting them to the rich history and cultural significance of ancient China. The initiative culminated in an immersive trip to China in 2024, as part of MKA’s Global Experience Program, where 23 Upper School students visited the Terracotta Warriors Museum and the Shaanxi History Museum, gaining a deeper understanding of cultural heritage and artifact restoration.

MKA students had the unique opportunity to engage in volunteer service related to artifact preservation, experiencing firsthand the importance of maintaining cultural legacies and connecting theoretical learning with practical applications. The trip brought students’ online learning to real life, deepening their understanding and appreciation of Asian culture. Proving to be invaluable in enriching students’ academic experience, this pioneering initiative serves as an illustration of the global experience they are encouraged to participate in, where their minds are being shaped with classroom learning while they engage in real-world applications that complement the curriculum.

Building on this success, Upper School Chinese teachers, Dr. River He and Ms. Tingting Chen, proudly represented MKA and independent secondary on the national stage at the 2024 American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Annual Convention in November. In collaboration with Professor Dong from the Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum, Ms. Tang from Sidwell Friends School, and Ms. Yang from Washington Yu Ying PCS, their presentation, titled “Building Global Connections through Collaborative Museum-School Partnership,” highlighted their work in 2022 and demonstrated how MKA’s Chinese program was able to harness online resources after the pandemic to deliver a multidimensional interactive teaching and learning experience.

With the expansion this year, all Upper School students who are interested in ancient culture, history, and language can now be included. Through online participation and coursework, students will earn certificates issued by the Terracotta Warriors Museum, highlighting their commitment to global learning and preparing students for leadership in an increasingly globalized world. At MKA, what places students at their leading edge is the school’s commitment to helping them develop a profound understanding of the world around them. As the World Languages Department continues to utilize digital tools, this new program will offer students the opportunity to use these emerging technologies to interact with native speakers, engage in cultural simulations, and gain global insights from a distance.