Volunteer Chinese teachers of SYSU shared their experience
Source: School of Chinese as a Second Language
Written by: School of Chinese as a Second Language
Translated by: Li Shouyi
Proofread by: Liang Jianxin
Edited by: Wang Dongmei
On March 20, 2015, the Volunteer Chinese Teachers’ Experience Sharing Meeting, organized by the Office of Confucius Institutes and the School of Chinese as a Second Language (SCSL) at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), was held on South Campus of SYSU. Ten volunteer Chinese teachers who were sent to the United States, Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, Ecuador and Hong Kong shared their overseas experiences with the audience.
According to Ms. Gu Wenli, Deputy Director of Office of International Cooperation & Exchange and Deputy Director of Office of Confucius Institutes of SYSU, the main responsibilities of the overseas Confucius Institutes include promoting the teaching of Chinese language, spreading Chinese culture and enhancing other countries’ understanding of China. Associate Professor Zhang Shitao, Vice Dean of SCSL, who was also the first director of the Confucius Institute established by SYSU, reviewed his experience in the Confucius Institute at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines, encouraging students to combine personal development with national development and national dream.
Volunteer Chinese teachers sharing their experience
Ten volunteer Chinese teachers shared their experiences of and reflections on teaching Chinese abroad in six groups. Yang Guirong and Sun Haiming told their stories of applying the pedagogical models of teaching Chinese as a second language, and combining the traditional Philippine singing and dancing with Chinese culture to motivate the students. Luo Chaoning and Guo Shenshen summarized the characteristics of language and culture teaching in primary and secondary schools in Australia, and pointed out some aspects of local Chinese teaching which need further improvement. Chen Hui, Li Yuchen and Zhang Mengru shared the interesting story of cooking Chinese dishes for students after class in South Korea, and emphasized the importance of respecting cultural differences. Lin Zheman told the audience that she has gathered experience, expanded her horizon and developed hobbies when she was teaching in Ecuador. She even learned oil painting there. Wang Xiaobo talked about his tasks in the more research-based Confucius Institute in Hong Kong. Huang Yanqiong illustrated the differences between Chinese and American culture with vivid examples, and presented her teaching activities in the United States with plentiful pictures. She was awarded as the “Outstanding Chinese Teacher” of the local high school as well as one of the “Ten Excellent Youth Volunteers” of SYSU.
Mr. Gao Jiuqun, Director of Academic Training Office of Graduate School, Associate Professor Luo Bin, Deputy Dean of School of International Studies, and Mr. He Jinpeng from SYSU Youth Association, gave comments on the presentations, expressing their support for the Volunteer Chinese Teacher Program and expecting more SYSU students to participate in the program.
Miguel Contreras, a Mexican student enrolled in 2014 in the Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL) program at SYSU, shared his stories of studying with volunteer Chinese teachers. He studied Chinese in the Confucius Institute at Autonomous University of Yucatan, jointly established by SYSU and the Autonomous University of Yucatan. To express his gratitude and respect to volunteer Chinese teachers, he presented his calligraphy work “Great Love for Chinese Language” to SYSU and SCSL.
Professor Zhou Xiaobing, Dean of SCSL, and Ms. Luo Jing, Vice Dean of SCSL, also attended the meeting. The activity was hosted by Ryeo Huang from South Korea and Jannatun Naher from Bangladesh, two students of the MTCSOL program.
It is learned that SYSU has established four Confucius Institutes in the Philippines, Mexico, the United States and South Africa. 165 volunteer Chinese teachers from SCSL have been sent to 23 countries and regions since 2008. Their outstanding performance has been widely recognized, with ten volunteers awarded as “Outstanding Volunteer Chinese Teacher” by Hanban, and one receiving “Silver Award for Volunteer Service in Guangdong Province”.
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