Building a Bridge to
Chinese Language and Culture

About Us

Our Mission

Texas Phoenix International School’s mission is to build a cultural bridge between China and America here in the diverse and vibrant community of Greater Houston.  We aim to help local youth and adults alike become citizens of the world through language and cultural programs that open the door to China and create opportunities for business, education, and cultural exchange.
Our language programs include classes on using Mandarin Chinese for travel or business for adults, as well as after-school lessons in Mandarin or summer language camps that allow children to think in a new language as they explore Chinese culture.
We are also committed to developing international exchanges, including organizing exchanges between Chinese and American students, organizing group tours of China, and sponsoring speeches and conferences for international business exchanges. Through meaningful trips across China and in-depth Chinese-American business activities, these international exchanges will help children and adults experience and understand the essence of ancient Chinese civilization as well as contemporary business opportunities.

China is a rapidly developing country with over a billion people, a fascinating ancient culture, and the world’s most widely spoken language and the world’s largest commercial market. Learning Chinese language and culture truly opens up a new world, a new opportunity. We welcome you and your children to join us in building a bridge that deepens your understanding of China and gives you practical and impactful tools to become citizens of the world and globally minded leaders.”

徳凰国际学校的使命是在多元化的,充满活力的大休斯顿地区,构建一条中国和美国之间的文化桥梁!开设汉语学习和文化体验课程与项目,多渠道缔结文化和商务交流机缘,帮助各年龄段的社区成员掌握汉语,了解中国文化,成为具备国际视野的世界公民!
我们的语言项目包括小学课后中文课程,暑期中文学校和中文夏令营以及成人的商务旅行汉语。我们的文化交流项目包括中国文化活动,研习会,游学营,中国文化旅行,国际商务交流与会议。我们的语言项目以主题式课程设计为核心,采用浸入式的语言学习方式,生动活泼的教学手段引导儿童学习汉语。文化体验和交流项目以生动的,深入的文化体验和旅游活动为载体,实现汉语体验学习和中国文化认知和理解,营造语言文化学习环境和商务契机。
迅猛发展的中国文化绚丽,人口众多,是世界上最大的一个商务市场!汉语是世界上使用人口最多的语言!学习汉语,了解中国文化是对未来的投资,开拓人生道路!欢迎您和您的孩子和我们德凰国际学校一起构筑文化桥梁;掌握汉语,了解中国文化,成为具有国际知识、视野与能力的公民和领袖。

Our Philosophy

Rising with integrity (like the Chinese phoenix)

 

The Phoenix is a legendary bird in ancient Chinese mythology.  It symbolizes the ultimate spirit of truthfulness, goodness and beauty.  The oldest Chinese dictionary <说文解字> says, “the legendary Phoenix resides in the East country, soars to the outside world, and seeks world peace. The Phoenix Nirvana legend has it that the Phoenix will sacrifice its own life every 500 years by flying into flames for harmony and happiness in the human world.  In the process, the Phoenix will be reborn and turn into a Fire Phoenix that will never perish.  In Chinese culture, therefore, the Phoenix also embodies such virtues. Following the spirit of virtue and commitment of the Phoenix, our school aims to promote deep learning, self-improvement, mutual respect and friendship among Eastern and Western cultures, commitment, aspiration and perfection.

我们的教育理念: 厚德载物,凤凰涅槃,大翼腾飞
凤凰是中国古老传说中的的神鸟,是至真、至善、至美的神灵。《说文解字》说:“凤,神鸟。……出於东方君子之国,翺翔四海之外……见则天下大安宁。”在凤凰涅槃传说中,每五百年,凤凰就要投身烈火,以生命和美丽的终结换取人世的祥和与幸福。但凤凰也浴火重生,成为辉煌永生的火凤凰,大翼腾飞。因此在中国文化中凤凰也代表着义无反顾,不断追求和提升自我的精神。 德凰国际学校,以中国文化中至真至善至美的凤凰为精神象征的图腾,体现和代表我们尊崇厚德载物,凤凰涅槃的精神,从而实现大翼腾飞的事业追求。

Our Campus

We are currently serving schools in the Conroe, the Woodlands,  Klein, Spring, Cypress and Tomball ISDs. Our after-school program is conveniently held at your child’s school campus, so that you can pick your child up from their school at the end of each lesson. More information will be available at registration.

We welcome you to stop by our home campus, Cunae International school campus, conveniently located at Creekside Forest Drive on Gosling Road. Our campus is newly-built, and our warm and friendly environment provides a high-quality Chinese learning experience that includes classes and activities.  Our doors are always open for anyone who wants to begin their journey in Chinese!

Address: 5655 Creekside Forest Dr., the Woodlands, TX, 77389

 

 

Our Administration

Dr. Shu Yu (Sarah) Yan

President and Founder

Dr. Shu Yu Yan always possessed a passion for education and a strong belief in connecting the friendship of China and the United States. As the President and Founder of Texas Phoenix International School, she now has made her dream a reality by making Phoenix International School available to all students who wish to study the Chinese language and culture. Essentially, creating a bridge of friendship through learning more about the Chinese language and culture is Dr. Yan’s goal.

Dr. Yan holds a Ph.D. in Education and Curriculum Development from East China Normal University in Shanghai and has over 20 years of experience teaching in elementary and higher education. She has also taught Chinese at Lone Star College for 10 years.

Dr. Wei Li

Vice President

As Vice President of Phoenix International School, Dr. Wei Li works successfully to help many students improve their skills in written and spoken Chinese. Dr. Li has always believed the future of students is very important and that there is no better way to help students than to encourage them to learn something new and broaden their horizons.

Dr. Li received his doctorate from Missouri University-Columbia in 1992. He taught English and Chinese at Lone Star College from 1992-2016. As Lead Faculty, he also taught at Qufu Normal University from 2014-2016 and led three China Study groups of Lone Star College Honors students to visit Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai in the summers of 2014, 2015, and 2016.

 

Dr. Donald Stewart

Special Advisor

Dr. Stewart has more than 10 years of university level instruction in Spanish Language and more than 13 years as a Labor Certification Specialist in immigration law. As a publicly elected Trustee of North Harris Montgomery County College District (now Lone Star College) from 1985 to 1996, including two years as President of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Stewart oversaw policy for operations of a multi-campus college district, including expansion of the District and construction of new campuses in Tomball and The Woodlands.

As a special advisor of Texas Phoenix International School, he has been a great source of support and encouragement. Dr. Stewart cares a great deal for his students and always encourages them to improve their education and better themselves. He also studies Chinese himself and has developed a great love for the Chinese language and culture. So, not only does he motivate others to improve their skills in Chinese, he has made himself a student of the Chinese language.

Dr. Janet Beckwith Stewart

Special Advisor

 

Dr. Stewart has more than 8 years of university level instruction in Spanish Language and more than 24 years as a Business Analyst and Contracts Specialist in upstream and midstream sectors of a major international oil company, including 7 years work overseas in the Caucasus. As a publicly elected Director of a local Municipal Utility District for six years, including 4 years as the President of the Board of Directors, Dr. Stewart oversaw contracted services for legal, engineering, operations, and accounting.

As a special advisor of Texas Phoenix International School, Janet Stewart has traveled the world and seen the great advantages of being bilingual and multicultural. She has also traveled to China with her husband and learned more about the Chinese language and culture. She is a great source of support and encouragement for our team and students here at Texas Phoenix International School.

Dr. Xiaohong Wen

Special Advisor

Dr. Xiaohong Wen is Professor of Applied Linguistics and Chinese Language Acquisition at the University of Houston. Her publications include three books (Teaching Chinese as a Second Language: Curriculum Design and Instruction, 2015; Studies of Chinese Language Acquisition by English Speakers, 2012; Learning and Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, 2008). Her motivation instrument has been adapted and used in other language studies such as ESL, Spanish, and Arabic. Xiaohong Wen is the founding director of Chinese Studies at UH. She is a Guest Seat Professor at four universities in China and Taiwan. She has received teaching awards including the Sydney B. Karofsky Teaching Prize, the Lence Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Global Faculty Award from Bowdoin College and the University of Houston. She has been invited to be a keynote and plenary speaker to many conferences and conducted teacher training workshops numerous times in the USA and abroad. She has served on several editorial, national and international boards of directors for academic associations.