Chinese students in the United States are getting an earlier start。
中国留美学生年龄出现越来越小的趋势。
In the 1970s， a typical Chinese student in the US was there for a master’s or doctoral degree。 They were then followed by students pursuing undergraduate degrees。
上世纪70年代，大部分中国学生留美是为了攻读硕士和博士学位。随后又有一些学生留美攻读学士学位。
Now， Chinese are the largest international group in US kindergarten-through-12th grade， or K-12， programs of study。
现在，中国人成为美国境内国际留学生中幼儿园到12年级学生的主力军。
November statistics show that 34，578 Chinese students were studying in primary and secondary schools in the US， or 52 percent of all international students there。
11月份，数据显示，在美国的中小学留学生中有34578名中国学生，占据国际留学生的52%。
Five years ago， the number was 8，857， according to The Wall Street Journal。 It cited statistics from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program， a Department of Homeland Security unit that tracks foreigners in the US on student visas and the schools they attend。
根据华尔街日报报道，五年前，中国留美的中小学生只有8857名。数据援引自国土安全部中负责中学生和交流访问者项目的一个部门，这个项目跟踪外国人在美国的学生签证和学习学校的统计数据。
At The Brook Hill School in Bullard， Texas， the number of Chinese students grew from six to 20 in the past six years， the maximum allowed from one foreign nation。
在美国德克萨斯州的布鲁克溪山学校，六年前中国留学生只有6名，现在增长至20名，达到了一国增长数量的最高限制数额。
When Tang Weite first arrived at the school in 2009， the 18-year-old found that South Koreans were the dominant group at their boarding house。 Shawn Rhodes， director of residence life， said， “That trend shifted to China， as China has increased in affluence and prosperity。”
2009年唐伟德第一次来到这个学校，当时18岁的他发现朝鲜人是住宿学校的主要人群。宿管管理人Shawn Rhodes 表示，“随着中国的兴旺繁荣，现在主要人群已经转向了中国。”
Ma Shuheng， a senior at the pre-K-12 day and boarding Christian school near Dallas， said： “Not only the number is increasing。 The standard （for admission） is higher， too。”
马书恒，达拉斯城市附近的一所住宿基督教学校的高年级学生说道，“不仅数量在增长，其入学门槛也提高了。”
He said that when he first applied in 2012， there was hardly any barrier to entry。 “Now， most students who get in have a 90-plus TOEFL score，” he added， referring to the
他说，2012年他第一次申请这个学校时，几乎没有入学要求。“现在，入学的学生大多都取得90分以上的托福成绩，”他说道，托福是指一项测验英语语言能力的考试。
One of the reasons for many Chinese students studying in US schools is to escape the gaokao， China’s national entrance examination， and the fierce competition that comes with it。 The other motivation is to get prepared for US colleges。
许多中国学生去美国留学的主要原因是躲避中国高考的激烈竞争压力。另外一些学生则是为了准备考取美国的大学。
“More younger Chinese students choose to go to US high schools， as more parents believe that this leads to a better education if their kids finally choose to go to US universities and colleges，” said Yu Haoyang， founder of Global Intellect Consulting in Beijing， which prepares Chinese students to apply to US schools。
“很多中国年轻学生选择去美国读中学，因为其父母相信美国教育更好并为最终考取美国大学打下基础，”于浩洋，为中国赴美学生准备申请工作的全球智力咨询创始人说道。
“They believe that US high schools offer better English-language and cultural training， and it is easier for their kids to master these skills and become more competitive，” she said。
“家长们相信美国中学可以提供更好的英语教学和文化培训，可以让孩子们耳濡目染地掌握语言技巧，以此来提高自身的竞争力，”她说道。
Rhodes noticed that Chinese students nowadays arrive at a younger age， with most starting in the ninth grade。 “It’s better for assimilation， worldview， and to get culturally immersed so that they are much more ready for the switch to college。”
Rhodes 说道，如今中国留学生年龄越来越小，很多从九年级就开始在美留学。“这样有助于学生更快融入美国文化生活和扩展学生视野，从而能够更自如地进入美国大学学习。”
Tang at Brook Hill said： “The earlier the better。”
布鲁克溪山学校的唐同学说：“留学越早越好。”
He came for the 11th grade in 2009。 “Back then， we came late， so it’s harder to join an athletic group or a club， which decides your social circle。” He was a substitute player on the soccer team。
他在2009年来美国进入11年级学习。“因为我来的比较晚，很难加入运动社团或者俱乐部，这些社团取决于你的社交圈。”他后来成为一个足球队的替补队员。
Rhodes said that extracurricular groups often play an important role as international students assimilate into student life。
Rhodes说道，课外活动在国际留学生融入学生生活中发挥着重要作用。
（The groups） connect them with a different group and identify them as someone other than a boarding student， he said。 “When a student comes later， it’s more of a challenge。”
“（这些课外小组）和其他一些小组联系密切，让留学生不再感到自己只是一名寄宿学生，”他说，“如果学生入学晚，加入课外小组将会变得很难。”
He said a Chinese girl named Yiling came to the school for eighth grade。“She’s a cheerleader。 She’s very well-known。 And she runs for student council office； she made the most of her time at The Brook Hill，” Rhodes said。
他例举了一名八年级叫伊玲的中国女孩。“她是名拉拉队队长，非常有名，她还管理学生会，充分利用了布鲁克山小学的在校学习时间。”
责任编辑：陈熙
