USTB-DMU CI Director GU Wei Led a Team to Visit the Affiliated Confucius Classroom
Release Time: 2023-05-27Views:
On May 25th, Prof. GU Wei, Director of the Confucius Institute(CI) at USTB-DMU (University of Science and Technology Beijing - De Montfort University), led Mandarin teachers ZHANG Dongming and HAN Guangxian to visit Little Bowden Primary School where the Confucius Classroom is located. They had a friendly meeting with the school's head Mr. Miller and the language teaching supervisor, Emma.
The current head of Little Bowden Primary School, Mr. Miller, extended a warm welcome to Prof. GU and her delegation and introduced the development of the school and the cooperation with the Confucius Institute in recent years. He expressed a strong desire to continue and strengthen the close collaboration between the two sides. Emma shared her love for China and her students’ enthusiasm for learning Chinese. She also spoke highly of the dedication and wholehearted commitment of CI leaders and teachers in Chinese language teaching and cultural activities over the years. They then introduced a Chinese play they were rehearsing recently and invited teachers from the Confucius Institute to attend the performance in mid-June. Prof. GU sincerely thanked Little Bowden for their genuine support and cooperation over the years and expressed anticipation for deeper collaboration in the future. During the meeting, specific discussions were also held on strengthening YCT (Youth Chinese Test) teaching and examination, Chinese language curriculum design and teacher selection, summer camps, and China Day events. At the end of the meeting, Prof. GU also extended an invitation to Mr. Miller and Emma for CI's 9th anniversary celebration, which they readily accepted.
Prof . GU Wei meets with the Head of Little Bowden Primary School
After the meeting, accompanied by Mr. Miller and Emma, Prof. GU and her teachers toured the school, focusing on the Chinese language classrooms and students' Chinese homework display. The class work was vivid, sincere and well organized, which made a deep impression on everyone. Prof. GU also had a cordial conversation with the students who love learning Chinese.
Reading pupils' Chinese practice notes with joy
Little Bowden Primary School is the first Confucius Classroom affiliated to the Confucius Institute at De Montfort University in Leicester, UK. It has been running for nine years. The school has a well-established Chinese language programme with comprehensive curriculum settings and relatively stable teaching staff. The Confucius Classroom frequently organizes vibrant and interesting cultural activities for the children, attracting more students to learn Chinese. Currently, many students are eager to have the opportunity to participate in study trips or travel to China to communicate with Chinese people in Chinese. In addition to teaching Chinese in classrooms filled with Chinese elements, the Confucius Classroom also organizes various extracurricular activities, such as the "China Day" event during traditional Chinese festivals, where students sing Chinese songs, play jianzi (a traditional Chinese game), and learn Tai Chi fan dance, creating a joyful atmosphere for learning Chinese and understanding Chinese culture.
Chinese classroom full of Chinese elements
Leaders of both sides take photos in front of the Confucius Classroom
This visit will play a positive role in expanding the breadth and depth of the cooperation with the Confucius Classroom and further advancing the development of Chinese language education and people-to-people friendship of the Confucius Institute at De Montfort University.
Draft: YU Xingrui
Revision: GU Wei & ZHANG Dongming
