The passing away of Professor Elisabeth Croll is a great loss to the LCI. Professor Croll was instrumental in setting up the LCI at SOAS, served as a leading LCI council member, and was actively involved in running the LCI until her death in October 2007.
Professor Croll was an outstanding scholar (with over 40 books to her name), a devoted practitioner (especially on the issues of women and developmental studies) as well as a distinguished China expert (a pioneer researcher on Chinese women and families). Her contribution will be always remembered.
The British Chinese Language Teachers Society (BCLTS) 6th International Symposium will be held from 30th June to 2nd July 200 at SOAS, London. The theme is ‘Chinese Language Teaching and Learning: Theories and Practices’. Abstracts on the broad theme of Chinese teaching and learning are now invited ... more information.
Eltham College China Now Day [6 Mar 08]
Ms Teresa Zhu attended on behalf of the LCI, along with the representatives from the British Council and the Chinese Embassy. Eltham College Junior School is the first school in the UK to introduce Mandarin as the core foreign language learnt by all pupils. Junior school pupils aged seven and eight demonstrated their knowledge and skills with the newly-acquired language and everyone was able to participate in workshops including tai-chi, lion dancing, Chinese calligraphy, mask painting and Chinese acrobatics.
Headmaster Mr Paul Henderson commented "it is essential that we recognise a global perspective in education; the next generation will need to have the confidence to communicate with the world’s most populous nation. Bright boys aged seven or eight are not frightened by the differences of the Mandarin language, and their minds relish the intellectual challenges it poses." The school's Mandarin teacher, Mrs Angela McCullough, who was instrumental in the organisation and success of the day, praised the enthusiasm of all involved.
British Council and SSAT Chinese Teacher Professional Training Day [18 Apr 08]
Dr George Zhang and Ms Teresa Zhu attended the British Council and SSAT Chinese Teacher Professional Training Day held in Dulwich College. During the day event, Dr Zhang hosted a workshop on bringing Chinese culture into the teaching of Mandarin. The workshop received lots of positive feedback from the attending teachers.
British Museum China Late Event [Oct 07 – Mar 08]
From Oct 2007 to Apr 2008, the LCI has been involved in the China Late event in cooperation with the British Museum. We offered a couple of language and cultural workshops for the terracotta exhibition in the British Museum, including a Mandarin taster workshop, calligraphy workshop, paper cutting workshop, Mahjong workshop and Chinese dance workshop. The event has a huge influence in the local area and thousands of people took part.
2008 Chinese New Year [16 Feb 08]
On February 16th 2008, LCI and SOAS Language Centre jointly held the 2008 Chinese New Year Party. The party provided a wonderful opportunity to learn about China and Chinese culture. It attracted hundreds of the SOAS teachers, students and local residents to the various performances such as singing Chinese songs, poetry, a Chinese calligraphy display, and performances of martial arts and Chinese traditional music.
The students from Our Lady’s Convent High School and the
Ealing Chinese
School brought us wonderful Chinese drama and Chinese dance
performances.
5th Chinese Speech Competition [28 Feb 08]
The fifth Chinese Speech Competition was held in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London on 28th Feb 2008, with students from 34 UK schools participating. Dr. George Zhang, director of the LCI, was invited to be the chair of the judging panel of the performance group. The competition was jointly organised by the British Council, HSBC Education Foundation and the Educational Section of the Chinese Embassy.
Chinese Teaching Assistants Training Day [29 Feb 08]
The London Confucius Institute jointly organised a Chinese Teaching Assistants Training program with the British Council and SOAS Language Centre for the 85 Chinese teaching assistants of the BC China program on 29th Feb 2008. The training aimed to help the Chinese language teachers have a better understanding of the differences between the languages and cultures of the two countries. Dr. George Zhang delivered a lecture on the cultural differences of Chinese language teaching in UK schools. There followed two workshops facilitated by the LCI and the SOAS Language Centre on ideas and techniques for teaching Chinese language and cultures in the local schools.
