On November 2, the Conference on Sino-Europe Cooperation and Development of Chinese Language Teaching Organizations was held online, which was hosted by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) and the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching and organized by the Professional Committee for Teachers' Development of the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching and the International College of Chinese Studies of East China Normal University. This conference aims to further strengthen the cooperation with the Chinese language education in Europe and to give full play of the role of regional Chinese language education organizations. Prof. Ma Jianfei, Director General of CLEC and Mr. Zhao Guocheng, Deputy Director-General, CLEC, attended the conference, with over 40 attendees such as representatives of European Chinese language education organizations, and experts and scholars from some Chinese universities.
Themed by "Integrated Development of Chinese Language Education and Local Needs", the conference focused on the cooperation and sustainable development of the Sino-Europe Chinese language education organizations. Prof. Ma Jianfei said in his speech that in the face of the pandemic and adversities unseen within the century, language, as the foundation of mutual appreciation between different cultures and cross-cultural communication, has become increasingly important. Though the pandemic is affecting human communication, CLEC has adopted many methods to promote the development of Chinese language teaching in different countries. Furthermore, Prof. Ma Jianfei introduced the current programs and those to be carried out by CLEC, and invited everyone to actively participate in these programs. He also expressed that CLEC would strengthen the cooperation with Chinese teaching organizations in European countries in five aspects, including teaching standards development, student exchange, teacher training, academic research and building expert teams, to explore new models for the development of international Chinese language education in Europe.
During the conference, the participants concentrated on how to help Chinese language teaching organizations play their roles in advancing the development of Chinese language education in Europe; what role Chinese language teachers' associations shall play in promoting the professional development of Chinese language teachers in Europe; the design and ways of joint cooperation projects between Chinese language education organizations in Europe. Topics also concerned about the innovation of cooperation projects between Chinese language teaching organizations in Europe, and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation and Chinese and foreign universities.
As an academic co-partner with important responsibilities in language education, Sino-Europe Chinese language education organizations should work together with other organizations to explore more diverse forms of cooperation, build a platform for cooperation and exchange in Chinese language education, and promote the deeper development of Chinese language education in Europe. In the future, the two sides should continue to strengthen the training of Chinese teachers in Europe, jointly organize workshops on Chinese language teaching in Europe and form a support mechanism for Chinese language teachers' professional development. Moreover, they should work together to promote the professional development of Chinese teachers in different regions, cooperate in the research unifying China's international Chinese education standards with relevant European standards, conduct research on pedagogy that meet the characteristics of European countries and on integrated online and offline Chinese language teaching, promote both theory and practice innovation in Chinese language education in Europe, cooperate in the development of Chinese language teaching textbooks and other teaching resources, and advance the sharing of Chinese language education resources in Europe. The conference on Sino-Europe Cooperation and Development of Chinese Language Teaching Organizations will be a mechanism and an opportunity to develop a new model of mutual support and sincere cooperation.
Finally, Mr. Zhao Guocheng expressed his gratitude to all the participants and their suggestions. He said that the professionalism and enthusiasm for international Chinese language education had laid a solid foundation for both sides to promote the development of Chinese language education in Europe. The Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) is ready to work hand in hand with Chinese language education organizations in Europe, and both sides will work together to contribute more to the Sino-Europe cooperation and development of language communication. (Information Sources:Center for Language Education and Cooperation)