BCPS Participants 2012

In 2007, Baltimore County Public Schools entered into an exchange partnership with Tie Yi (First Railway) High school, a top performing school of approximately 7,000 students in Xi'an, China.  The partnership involves students from each school district living with families in the community and attending school in the host country for a six to eight week period.

BCPS host families gain insight into the Chinese culture by hosting a Tie Yi student during February and March.  While in the United States, the Chinese students attend classes in their host family's school, and participate in BCPS planned trips to New York City, Washington, D.C., the Baltimore Inner Harbor and Lancaster.

From mid-May to mid-July, BCPS host students and teachers then travel to Xi'an and live with the student they hosted in the US.  While there, they attend Chinese language and culture classes at Tie Yi, and explore Xi'an. The ancient capital city of Xi'an is 5000 years old. Xi'an's cultural heritage is especially rich because it was the terminal of China's ancient "Silk Road" which connected Europe and Asia for trade and cultural exchanges. It is also the home of the Terracotta Warriors.  As a transition on the return trip from China, students and teachers visit various historical and cultural sites in Beijing such as: The Great Wall, The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, The Summer Palace, The Temple of Heaven, Terracotta Warriors, and The Muslim Market. 

To participate in this program, complete the Student Ambassador Application and the Host Family Application and send them to:

China Cultural Exchange Program Coordinator
Office of World Languages
6901 N. Charles St.
Towson, Md. 21204
Questions?  Call 410-887-6756