数据显示:中国留美学生年龄越来越小

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。

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.

“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，”北京环宇鸿泽咨询有限公司创始人于浩洋说道。

"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.

“家长们相信在美国中学可以提供更好的英语教学和文化教育，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。