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

From May 29 to June 11, 2016, the Professional Development Program for Southeast Asian Chinese Teachers was held at Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). The program was hosted by Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and undertaken by the Base for International Chinese Teaching Materials Development & Teacher Training (CTM) at SYSU. 20 local Chinese teachers from Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand participated in the program.

On the morning of May 30, the opening ceremony was held on South Campus of SYSU. Ms. 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 tradition and development of SYSU and the general situation of the four Confucius Institutes co-constructed by universities overseas as well as SYSU, especially the establishment of Confucius Institute at Ateneo de Manila University in 2006. Prof. 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 Southeast Asia, as well as the Chinese teaching materials used in Southeast Asia. He hoped to establish further cooperation with schools in Southeast Asia through this program. Zhang Shitao, Vice Dean of the School of Foreign Languages (FLS) and Deputy Director of CTM, Associate Professor Li Hai’ou, Associate Professor Deng Xiaoning, Zhang Nian, Director of Training Department of CTM, and Jin Tan, Director of R&D Department of CTM, attended the opening ceremony.

During the program, Southeast Asian teachers attended various professional courses, including Chinese Linguistics and Teaching Skills, Teaching Materials and Resources: Evaluation and Application, Chinese Culture and Intercultural Communication, Curriculum Organization and Classroom Management. Besides, they participated in classroom observation, including Listening Comprehension, Speaking Chinese and Comprehensive Chinese, and carried out the simulation teaching. They also experienced the profound and unique Chinese culture by having class on Chinese fan, visiting Guangdong Provincial Museum and the Chen Clan Academy.
On June 9, the closing ceremony was held at SYSU. Zhang Shitao wished the Southeast Asian teachers a happy Dragon Boat Festival and expressed his vision of the program: to foster understanding and friendship, and to advance exchange and cooperation between both sides. Southeast Asian teachers expressed their gratitude to Hanban and SYSU, as well as the teacher trainers who taught them new teaching ideas and techniques.

It is learned that nine professional development programs have been hosted by Hanban and undertaken by CTM since 2010. A total of 687 overseas Chinese language teachers from countries like the USA, Australia, France, have participated in the programs. In 2016, Hanban will host 24 training programs at 16 universities in China, and CTM undertakes two programs in May and July. The program aims at improving Chinese language teaching techniques of local Chinese teachers, spreading Chinese language and culture, and promoting cultural exchange between China and other countries.