In Beijing, the English Language Fellows were welcomed by U.S. Ambassador David Perdue (left), and connected and collaborated with Embassy officials during a three-day post-arrival orientation (right).
English Language Programs celebrates the recent arrival of four English Language Fellows in China. These four dedicated educators will spend ten months in cities throughout China, where they will teach courses at their host universities, train teachers, present at conferences, and engage in cultural exchange.
Before beginning their projects, the cohort participated in a post-arrival orientation in Beijing and were welcomed by David Perdue, the U.S. Ambassador to China. Their work supports the growing emphasis on English as the global language of commerce—what many call the “language currency” of the world. This mission aligns with the experience of Ambassador Perdue, a former U.S. Senator for Georgia (2015-2021) who chaired the Subcommittees on Sea Power and State Department Oversight and served on the Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Banking, Budget, and Agriculture Committees. As a former Fortune 500 CEO with decades of leadership across Asia, Perdue’s business background underscores the value of global readiness and workforce development.
During the three-day post-arrival orientation, the Fellows met Embassy officials, learned about the Chinese education system, and joined an English teaching seminar. The Fellows are now simultaneously settling in at their host universities while diving into their fellowship project duties.
As the only long-term U.S. Department of State exchange program on the ground in China, the Fellows’ projects aim to strengthen educational and cultural ties between the United States and China through strategic placements at local universities. Their projects will expand the U.S. Embassy’s network in East Asia and open the door for more people-to-people engagement. University students will benefit from the Fellows’ innovative, student-centered English instruction that will deepen their understanding of American culture and values, while university faculty will learn up-to-date pedagogy and techniques, improving the overall quality of English instruction. Through classroom observation, teaching, and teacher training in the Shanghai and Beijing regions, the Fellows will gain valuable insight into China’s English teaching landscape. This immersive experience will not only support English education in China but also enhance the Fellows’ own professional growth and reach when they return to the U.S.
Meet the Four Current Fellows in China
Mitchell Bradford
Mitchell grew up in a small farming community in Arkansas and now lives in Hangzhou, a city of more than 12 million, with his wife and two children. In the years preceding his fellowship, Mitchell was a Virtual Educator in Ukraine (2022-2023) and a part-time online ESL instructor for Arkansas State University, and he recently taught at Hangzhou City University, in the same city where he is now completing his fellowship project.
Alongside teaching thesis writing to graduate students and speaking and teaching methods to staff at Hangzhou Normal University, Mitchell will draw on his experience as a football coach in the U.S. to teach sports courses as well as coach flag football.
“I am very excited about going beyond the norm of teaching English and using sports as a way to develop students’ English as well as understanding of U.S. culture,” says Mitchell. He’s looking forward to coaching flag football, a sport that has gained more popularity in China and will make its debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic games. Mitchell’s fellowship project aims to enhance English instruction, foster U.S.-China engagement through person-to-person diplomacy, and promote mutual understanding through education and cultural exchange.
Stephanie Hanes
Stephanie recently moved from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she taught in the public schools, to her host city, Rizhao, to teach a writing course and a society & culture of English speaking countries course at Qufu Normal University (Rizhao Campus). A University of South Carolina alumna with a master’s in applied linguistics, she will also deliver guest lectures and present at English teaching conferences. Through her fellowship, Stephanie aims to deepen understanding of American culture and democratic values, promote cross-cultural exchange, support effective teaching practices, and contribute to broader U.S. public diplomacy efforts.
Upon arriving in China, Stephanie hit the ground running with her project duties. “After orientation in Beijing, my university counterpart and I took the high speed train to Rizhao, and I started teaching the next day!” Stephanie looks forward to the opportunity to present at conferences and to learn new things about her students, the culture and the area where she is living. She is also grateful for the support of her colleagues at her host university. “They even introduced me to a Senior student who has helped me with various things,” remarks Stephanie. “She has helped me with apps on my phone and even accompanied me to the police station to register, to the supermarket, to get my health exam, and to get my residence card.”
Michael Gatto
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Michael will now call Jinhua, China home for the next ten months where he’ll be teaching at the Foreign Language College at Zhejiang Normal University. Along with a BA in International Studies from The Ohio State University and an MA in TESOL, Michael brings to his fellowship a teaching career that spans three decades and that includes teaching roles at an American international school in Kuwait, universities in Oman and the United Arab Emirates, a school in South Korea, and New York City Public Schools.
At Zhejiang Normal University, Michael will teach a writing course that focuses on creativity and critical thinking and a course on English pronunciation. Additionally, he is busy designing professional development sessions for local K-12 teachers in China to familiarize them with the plethora of teaching resources found on the American English website. He will begin leading the professional development sessions later this month in Beijing and then Nanjing.
Michael is most excited to meet and collaborate with Chinese English language teachers. “I’ve already had the chance to introduce the American English website to a few teachers here in Jinhua,” Michael notes, “and became even more excited about my project when I saw their positive reaction to it.” By teaching and mentoring local educators, his fellowship promotes cultural exchange, enhances instructional practices, and furthers U.S. outreach efforts.
Renee Stern
Hailing from Seattle, Washington with degrees in Political Science, Asian Studies, and TESOL, Renee is settling into her host city of Xi’an where she will teach oral English to college freshmen at Xi’an International Studies University (XISU). She brings 14 years of public school teaching experience, along with a Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad fellowship (2017), during which she developed a globally focused curriculum on migration and transnational issues in Bulgaria and Greece.
Before she begins teaching at XISU, Renee has been meeting colleagues, getting paperwork together, and exploring the city. “Xi’An has so much to offer,” reports Renee. “Great food, kind people, vibrant night life, fun shopping, and nearby mountain adventures.”
What is Renee most looking forward to during her fellowship? “Getting to know the students, finding ways to help them improve their English and to grow as students and people.” She’s also excited to meet her new colleagues and find fresh ways to adapt her teaching to student needs. Renee’s fellowship project aims to promote mutual cultural understanding, enhance teaching practices, and support U.S. outreach through education and exchange.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: EXPLORING CHINA AND ENGAGING IN CULTURAL EXCHANGE
In Beijing, the Fellows met Embassy officials, joined an English teaching seminar, and shared a welcome dinner together before setting off for their host cities and host universities.
The four English Language Fellows in China are not only teaching university students, training educators, and sharing their expertise—they’re also immersing themselves in the culture, building meaningful connections, and exploring the beauty of the country firsthand. In fact, their immersions and explorations have already begun: Michael is savoring the delicious meals at his campus canteen (“The campus food is amazing!” he reports), while Renee recently ventured beyond the bustling city of Xi’an to hike the sacred peak of Huashan. As they settle into their communities, each Fellow will have daily opportunities to engage in citizen diplomacy and deepen their understanding of the people and places around them.
“As the English Language Fellow Program has showcased since 1969, when it comes to citizen diplomacy, there is no one better to send into action than a teacher!” says Michael. “I’m super excited to continue this legacy.”
