Source: Base for International Chinese Teaching Materials Development & Teacher Training
Written by: Liu Runxin
Proofread by: Gao Xuesong and Liang Jianxin
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

From April 10 to 19, 2016, the education delegation from South Africa visited China. The event was hosted by the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and undertaken by the Base for International Chinese Teaching Materials Development & Teacher Training (CTM) at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). Accompanied by Professor Qin Shengyong, Director of Confucius Institute of University of Cape Town (CIUCT), two education officials, twelve headmasters from South African primary and secondary schools and two teachers from UCT participated in the event.
On the morning of April 11, the opening ceremony was held on South Campus of SYSU. Gu Wenli, Deputy Director of Office of International Cooperation & Exchange and Executive Deputy Director of Office of Confucius Institute at SYSU, extended a warm welcome towards the guests. She introduced the history and development of SYSU and the general situation of the four Confucius Institutes co-constructed by universities overseas and SYSU. Professor Zhou Xiaobing, Director of CTM, introduced the general situation of CTM and teaching Chinese as second language at SYSU, and detailed the study and life of international students from South Africa as well as the volunteer Chinese teachers. He hoped to establish cooperation with secondary & primary schools and universities in South Africa.

Robert Philip Le Roux, the headmaster of Westford High School said that he believed this visit would provide a deeper understanding of Chinese language and culture. Elizabeth Ann Morton, the headmaster of Pinelands North Primary School, and Marius Heinreich Willemse Ehrenreich, the headmaster of Groote Schuur High School, introduced the general situation of their schools respectively, including teachers, students, Chinese courses, etc. Wayne Michael Wagenaar, the Financial Officer from UCT gave a brief introduction about the history of UCT and the situation of international students at UCT. He appreciated those volunteer Chinese teachers from SYSU, and looked forward to further cooperation with SYSU. Zhang Shitao, Vice Dean of School of Foreign Languages and Deputy Director of CTM, and Zhang Nian, Director of Training Department of CTM attended the opening ceremony as well.

During their stay in Guangzhou, the delegation attended a series of lectures about Chinese education system and general introduction of China, which deepened their understanding of the new curriculum reform in basic education throughout China, and the history, geography, custom and cultural taboos in China. Besides, the delegation visited the Affiliated Primary School of SYSU and Zhixin High school, at which they learned about the culture on campus, observed English classes and exchanged ideas on teaching with teachers there. They also experienced the profound and unique Chinese culture, by having classes on calligraphy, guqin, tea art and Chinese fan, having Morning Tea and visiting the Chen Clan Academy.

On April 15, the summing-up meeting was held at SYSU. Chen Lin, Deputy Director of Training Department of CTM expressed her vision of the event: to foster the acknowledgement and friendship, and to further develop exchange and cooperation between both sides. The delegation expressed their thankfulness to Hanban and SYSU, and their aim to promote the development of Chinese language teaching in South Africa.

From April 16 to 19, the delegation took part in a series of cultural activities in Beijing, such as visiting Tiananmen Square, The Palace Museum, Peking University as well as Hanban.

It is learned that ten groups of delegations have visited SYSU through the events hosted by Hanban and undertaken by CTM since 2011. A total of 148 principals and officials from countries like the USA, France and Thailand, have experienced Chinese culture and communicated with various teachers from schools in Guangzhou.