China-based online education tech startup company VIPKid partners with City of Chicago to enhance Mandarin Language Programming at Chicago Public Schools

VIPKid, a China-based online education tech startup company that connects teachers in North America with children around the world for real-time English immersion learning online, has signed a partnership agreement with City of Chicago to expand Mandarin Chinese learning opportunities through VIPKid’s Mandarin platform, Lingo Bus. VIPKid will offer Chicago Public Schools students free, real-time, online immersive courses, as well as a virtual pen pal program with students in China. The agreement was signed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, representing the City of Chicago, and VIPKid Co-Founder Jessie Chen  at 2018 Chicago Consular Corps Gala on November 30, 2018.

Chicago finds strength in its diversity, and VIPKid is helping our students with the skills necessary to succeed in an increasingly global world,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Once implemented, this program will encourage and empower Chicago students to connect with their peers in China and build a future together.”

VIPKid, one of the world’s largest education technology companies, announced the three-year partnership at the 2018 Chicago Consular Corps Gala. Once implemented, the program will expand educational ties between Chicago and China through language learning.

“VIPKid is honored to partner with the City of Chicago, World Business Chicago, and the Chicago Public Schools to connect the U.S. and China through Mandarin and English learning among Chinese and American students, especially in Chicago’s schools,” said VIPKid Founder and CEO Cindy Mi. “We believe VIPKid and the City of Chicago can provide a model for global educational exchange that will help bridge cultural differences and create globally-minded citizens. We are grateful for Mayor Emanuel’s visionary leadership.”

Currently, more than 10,000 students at 37 schools study Mandarin as a world language at Chicago Public Schools.

“We are excited to partner with VIPKid to offer innovative Mandarin-language resources to provide students across the city with innovative and interactive programming that will help students enhance their language skills,” said CPS CEdO LaTanya D. McDade.

Founded in 2013 by Cindy Mi, Jessie Chen and Victor Zhang, VIPKid is a global education technology company that connects children with the world’s best teachers for real-time online English immersion learning. VIPKid’s mission is to inspire and empower every child for the future. VIPKid envisions a global classroom that empowers students and teachers through personalized learning, connection of cultures across the world and the passion for lifelong learning. It believes that education is not one-size-fits-all, rather, all students are unique and the world is within their reach when connected with great teachers capable of personalizing learning and sparking curiosity.

VIPKid has become China’s market-leading online education startup, attracting investment from Tencent, Coatue Management, Sequoia Capital, Sinovation Ventures, Yunfeng Capital, Matrix Partners, Learn Capital, Northern Light VC and Bryant Stibel, among others. The VIPKid platform currently connects over 500,000 paying students with over 60,000 teachers in the US and Canada. The platform was formally launched in 2014. VIPKID is linking the world through education by providing an international learning experience that allows you to teach Chinese children from the comfort of their own homes. Teachers with passion for teaching can earn between $14 to $22/hour just to teach English to students in China.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and VIPKid Co-Founder Jessie Chen sign partnership at 2018 Chicago Consular Corps Gala