On the Podium of International Chinese Language Teaching: Pursuing Dreams with Passion

With the development of international Chinese language education, more and more international Chinese language education professionals appear on the podium of international Chinese language teaching. They have unforgettable Chinese language learning experiences and bravely face the challenges in the process of teaching, contributing to introducing Chinese language and culture to students from around the world.

Chinese language teaching in the Philippines, Thailand and South Africa

From teaching in the Philippines to teaching in Thailand, then to teaching in South Africa, Yuan Shiyu has had an inseparable relationship with international Chinese language education.

Yuan Shiyu (center) taking photos with students

"Looking back, these moments were doors on my path towards international Chinese language education. I kept pushing these doors open, facing the unknown, welcoming the surprises, and growing up accompanied by the unknown and the surprises." Yuan Shiyu said.

Yuan Shiyu was once asked, "As an international Chinese language teacher, what has impressed you?" She replied, "The scene where I was greeted by Thai students was particularly memorable."

"Such an answer is the true feeling of my teaching experience at that time. But if I were to answer this question now, I would have a different answer: the nervousness and loss when I encountered naughty students while teaching Chinese in the Philippines; the touch and surprise when I ate the homemade snacks from students in Thailand; the response and relief when I had a disagreement with students in South Africa due to cultural differences. These tiny moments made me feel the charm of international Chinese language education." Yuan Shiyu said.

As her teaching experience grew, Yuan Shiyu's understanding of international Chinese language education was deepened. In her opinion, when she first stepped into the field of international Chinese language education, the focus was on being able to get in touch with people and things from different countries and experience different lives. "But later I would think more about what it means to be an international Chinese language teacher. Today, I am concerned about how to teach more Chinese in a class and how to help students know about the real China."

"It is fortunate to contribute what I have learned to the cause of international Chinese language education."

Becoming an international Chinese language teacher is a goal that Wu Rong has set since she was in junior high school. "At that time, I saw the 'Chinese Bridge' competition on TV and told myself that I wanted to work on the language and cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world in the future." Wu Rong said.

Wu Rong (third from left) teaching students to practice Chinese calligraphy

With such a dream, Wu Rong did not hesitate to choose Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL) as her college major. She studied hard for professional knowledge, worked hard to improve her foreign language proficiency, actively participated in cross-cultural lectures, and moved towards her dream step by step.

In 2017, Wu Rong welcomed her first opportunity to teach abroad, starting her Chinese language teaching journey in Nepal. With her passion for international Chinese language education and thanks to the professional accumulation during her university years, she quickly integrated into her new environment and her teaching work there went smoothly. What made Wu Rong even more confident was that her teaching was highly spoken of by her students and colleagues.

After finishing her teaching in Nepal, Wu Rong applied to teach in Ukraine. There, she encountered new confusion and challenges. "This teaching experience has taught me that knowledge from books needs to be adapted and adjusted to practice. But it is in the process of overcoming various difficulties that I have gained more teaching knowledge, more subtle cross-cultural skills, and more abundant language expressions." Wu Rong said.

After completing her teaching assignment back home, to go further in the path of international Chinese language teaching, Wu Rong went to Singapore to continue her studies in International Chinese Language Education to further improve herself. "This learning experience has given me a deeper understanding of the value and significance of international Chinese language education and has strengthened my determination to continue to pursue international Chinese language education. For me, I am incredibly fortunate to be able to contribute what I have learned to the cause of international Chinese language education." Wu Rong said.

Language is a Bridge, Invisible but Powerful

In 2019, as a member of volunteer Chinese language teachers to general primary and secondary schools in Thailand, Lv Li stood on the podium of an overseas school for the first time to teach Chinese and meanwhile initially experience cross-cultural work and life.

Lv Li (second from left) taking photos with Thai Grade 10 students receiving their Chinese language class certificates

"Being here has opened up many firsts in my life."  Lv Li said, "As a starting point, the journey has been a mixed bag of emotions and growth. From preparing for the volunteer exam, pre-service training, teaching in Thailand to returning home at the end of my term, I have been well trained and grown rapidly."

Lv Li admitted that during the period of Chinese language teaching in Thailand, there was the joy of hearing that Grade 12 students intended to major in Chinese, the gratitude of learning from the achievements of those pioneer teachers, and the insight of cross-cultural experience. "Language is a bridge, invisible but powerful. Such personal experiences and feelings make me filled with confidence and excitement about what I am doing now." She said.

Lv Li's second stop overseas for Chinese language teaching was Hungary. "While telling China stories in this unfamiliar country, we also experience cultural diversity in this land. Here, the friendly and warm image of the Chinese people and the language embedded with Chinese culture are conveyed through a '你好(hello)', cultural activities are organized in classes to introduce the development of contemporary China to students and local people, and the language and cultural exchange becomes vivid due to mutual interaction." Lv Li said.

Lv Li said that from Thailand to Hungary, the two countries have different cultural backgrounds, but the students are equally gracious and lovely. "They are just as likely to smile and greet me in Chinese on my way to and from class." This is what motivates her to continue working as a volunteer Chinese language teacher in Hungary today.

(All photos in this article are provided by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation)