On 23^rd April, the Confucius Institute at Lancaster University and the Online Confucius Institute at The Open University jointly organized the “Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language Day,” which concluded with great success.

Held at Lancaster University, this hybrid event attracted over 50 participants interested in language teaching and international Chinese education, including primary and secondary school teachers, as well as PhD and undergraduate students.

The event commenced with an engaging in-person talk by Dr. Mirjam Hauck, who captivated the audience with her insights on Virtual Exchange (VE), an educational practice that combines the profound benefits of intercultural dialogue with the vast reach of digital technology. Through illustrative examples drawn from language education and various subject areas, she introduced VE and its diverse formats, providing a comprehensive overview of its potential.

Following Dr. Hauck’s session, Prof. Guo Zhiyan took the stage online to share her expertise on integrating VE into a Chinese language programme at Warwick University. Her presentation offered valuable insights into how VE can enhance language learning and cultural understanding.

In the afternoon, the audience was treated to a captivating talk by Professor Yang Mei, the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Lancaster University. She introduced the continuation theory, known as “xu-argument”, and elaborated on its application in Chinese language teaching, providing practical examples and insights.

The final session explored innovative methods for teaching and learning Chinese characters, led jointly by Dr. Kan Qian, Director of the Online Confucius Institute at The Open University, and Richard McCurry, founder of Newby Chinese. Dr. Kan outlined the theoretical framework underlying research on Chinese character learning strategies and its key findings, while Mr. McCurry offered a personal perspective as both a learner and a teacher of secondary education.

Both in-person and online participants engaged in the four sessions, eagerly sharing their experiences and posing inquiries. We are optimistic that this training day has not only equipped participants with new skills, but also inspired them to incorporate innovative teaching methods into their practice.

If you would like to view the slides and recordings of the sessions, please visit the Lancaster University Confucius Institute website.