Age-Lowering: An Issue Urgently Requiring Attention in International Chinese Language Education in the Belt and Road Initiative

The age-lowering of international Chinese education refers to the phenomenon and trend whereby the age structure of overseas Chinese learners is shifting downward toward basic and preschool education. This paper reviews scholarly attention and research on the issue of age-lowering in international Chinese language education, provides a comprehensive interpretation of the concept, and—based mainly on data from Belt and Road countries—proposes five dimensions and their composite indicators for measuring and understanding the level of age-lowering: age, educational stage, trend, cultural groups, and language. In the face of this age-lowering trend, international Chinese language education, especially in the Belt and Road context, must make timely adjustments in career planning, discipline building, teaching practice, and academic research. It is necessary to formulate dedicated age-lowering education plans, accelerate and sustain the construction of age-lowering databases, and establish teaching systems tailored to young Chinese learners. These efforts will make international Chinese education more targeted and enable comprehensive coverage of all categories of learners.

Keywords

international Chinese language education, Belt and Road Initiative, age-lowering, language education planning, age-lowering measurement indicators.

source

International Journal of Chinese Language Education; Dec 2025; Issue No. 18; p.5-25

Language

Chinese