Peking University, Nov. 8, 2018: Co-organized by the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching, the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and Peking University, the 13th International Conference on Chinese Language Teaching and Research & the 1st Peking University World Chinese Forum commenced on November 8, 2018.
The two-day event, with the theme of the Research and Development of Chinese Language Teaching, attracted over 340 attendees from more than 32 countries. Zhao Guocheng, deputy director-general of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, presided over the opening ceremony, and three distinguished guests delivered their opening remarks. These include Xu Jialu, head of the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching, Hao Ping, president of Peking University, and Ma Jianfei, deputy director-general of the Confucius Institute Headquarters.
Xu Jialu
Hao Ping
Ma Jianfei
In his address, Xu Jialu acknowledged the need of global dialogue, and he believed that Chinese language teaching plays a significant role in strengthening the friendship and communication between people from China and the rest of the world. Hao Ping expressed his keen interest in the conference and stated that Peking University has set up Confucius Institutes in over ten universities abroad. He added that PKU would be always committed to Chinese language teaching. Ma Jianfei spoke highly of Peking University, saying that PKU’s academic spirit resonates with the aim of International Society for Chinese Language Teaching and the mission of Confucius Institute Headquarters, which will be a driving force for the development of Chinese language teaching.
Joel Bellassen
Andreas Guder
Nama Didier
Zhao Yang
Guest speakers from different countries also shared their latest findings and fresh insights regarding Chinese language teaching. Joel Bellassen, deputy head of the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching, gave a speech related to the motive of learning Chinese, while Andreas Guder, professor at the Georg-August-University of Göttingen, offered his thoughts about the Chinese language learners in European countries. Moreover, Ph.D. student Nama Didier also participated in the event and emphasized the importance of localizing the teaching pattern in his speech. Zhao Yang, dean of School of Chinese as a Second Language, introduced the past & future of Chinese language teaching by reviewing the history of this discipline over the past years and mapping out the trend for development.
The conference will last for two consecutive days, and it will continue tomorrow with parallel sessions and seminars covering a wide range of topics such as the Chinese Language Teaching from the Interdisciplinary Perspective and the Curriculum Design and Teaching Model of Chinese Language.
Reported by: Huang Weijian
Edited by: Zhang Jiang
Photo credit to: Zhang Zhenguo
