Released on: February 7, 2008, 8:35 am

Press Release Author: Praxis Language Ltd

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary:
An Online Confucius Institute will be developed by Praxis Language, the creators of
ChinesePod.com and SpanishPod.com, and the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a
Foreign Language (NOCFL)



Press Release Body: February 07, 2008: Beijing/Shanghai -- Praxis Language is
partnering with the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language
(NOCFL, also known as the Hanban) to develop the Online Confucius Institute.

At present, 180 Confucius Institutes operate in 50 countries with independent
websites and promotional activities. With today\'s agreement, however, Praxis
Language will develop an official Online Confucius Institute to help unify their
activities. It will act as a centralized repository for NOCFL and Praxis Language
learning materials, such as ChinesePod. It will also offer students, teachers and
institutions up-to-date information on developments in the burgeoning Teaching
Chinese as a Foreign Language (TCFL) industry. In addition, new social networking
features will enable individuals/groups to integrate digital learning materials into
their studies. Teachers of Chinese around the world will have the tools to share,
connect, and collaborate, thus aiding the development of the TCFL. Praxis Language
CEO Hank Horkoff says the collaboration, \"will make Chinese learning significantly
easier by taking advantage of the best tools of the social web.\"

The Confucius Institute is a not-for-profit public organization whose mission is to
promote international understanding of Chinese language and culture. The phenomenal
growth of the Institutes in recent years reflects the tremendous global interest in
learning Mandarin. Senior adviser to Praxis Language, Ken Carroll: \"We think the
Hanban has made a wise choice. Getting web strategy right is very difficult for any
business these days. Through their collaboration with Praxis Language, they can now
leapfrog with their online development to become a leading player in global online
learning\".

About Praxis Language:
Praxis Language crafts integrated, language-learning programs around the needs of
students when, where, and how they prefer to study. Praxis Language believes that
learner-centric technologies combined with a strong pedagogical foundation will
define how people learn in the Information Age. With the huge popularity of its
ChinesePod.com and SpanishPod.com brands, Praxis Language has demonstrated its
global leadership in language learning in the Web 2.0 era.

About the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language:
The Chinese government attaches great importance to the promotion of Chinese
language throughout the world. In order to enhance the mutual understanding and
friendship between the Chinese people and other peoples of the world, to promote
economic and trade cooperation as well as scientific, technological and cultural
exchanges between them, the \"China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign
Language\" (NOCFL) was established in 1987. The leading group of the office is
composed of the leaders of 11 departments of the State Council.


Web Site: http://praxislanguage.com

Contact Details: Ken Carroll, Co-founder
Praxis Language
3/F, Bldg 4, 751 Huangpi Nan Rd.
Shanghai, China, 200025
tel: + 86-21-6385-9599
fax: + 86-21-6385-9577
email: ken.paul.carroll@gmail.com