【CLTSC】Taitung University's Mandarin Teaching Series: Unleashing the Power of Cloud in Harmony with New Southbound Trends
Amidst globalization, Chinese language education is experiencing unprecedented opportunities. CLTSC recently initiated online Mandarin courses with Thai, Vietnamese, and Malaysian universities in late 2023. Simultaneously, we organized dynamic Mandarin teaching events to enhance the global outlook of Chinese language education. Our goal is to delve into emerging trends and the transformative role of cloud technology in shaping the future of Mandarin instruction.
On December 18, CLTSC launched the "Seminar on Overseas Employment Market Analysis for Mandarin Native Language Teachers." This hybrid event, blending physical and online formats, drew enthusiastic participation from global students and teachers keen on overseas teaching opportunities.
The seminar opened with remarks from CLTSC Director Fu Ji-Gong and Deputy Director Shu Zhao-Min, highlighting the center's commitment to advancing Chinese language education. The aim of the seminar is to equip Mandarin teaching professionals with insights into overseas market dynamics and trends in Chinese language education.
During the seminar, invited experts shared valuable insights. Su Wen-Lin, a Chinese language teacher at Chapin School Princeton in the United States, conducted a comprehensive analysis of the American education system and student needs. Emphasizing the significance of Chinese language learning for American students, he provided profound insights into local demand trends. Following this, Lin Qin-Hui, a Chinese language lecturer at Humboldt University in Germany, shared her teaching experiences, highlighting the relevance of learning Chinese to international relations with Taiwan and emphasizing its positive impact on cross-cultural communication.
Olan Sumananusorn, Director of the Intercultural Center at CP All Management Institute, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, delivered a thorough analysis of Chinese language learning trends in Thailand. He emphasized the essential qualities Chinese language teachers in Thailand should possess, underscoring the pivotal role of personal abilities and mindset in securing teaching opportunities. Special attention was given to the impact of learning Chinese on Thai students and the value of learning in a cross-cultural environment.Concluding the seminar, Guo Hui-Zhen, a teacher from Xiong Wang High School in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, provided insights into the Chinese language education market in Vietnam. She focused on trends among Vietnamese students learning Chinese and shared advancements in trilingual education within Vietnamese elementary schools.
On December 22, 2023, the Mandarin Chinese Literature Department at National Taitung University hosted the "Dongshan Huayuan" 113th Mandarin Teaching Graduation Exhibition, conducted both in-person and online globally. Students exhibited four years of learning through dynamic and creative presentations, showcasing tangible and online teaching materials, board games, picture books, and more. The materials centered on Taiwan's festivals, classical culture, and tourism, offering insights into local experiences and daily life. The outcome was Mandarin teaching materials with distinct Taiwanese characteristics.
The exhibition featured eight thematic outcomes, such as the board game "Treasure Island Festival Adventure," the picture book "Mystery of Spring," and the innovative "I Ching" board game. Other highlights included "Chinese Chess Mandarin," "Exploring the National Palace Museum through Mandarin," the e-book "Ten Big and Small Things in Taiwan," "Let's Have Fun on Green Island Together," and "Houshan Mandarin." These teaching materials vividly demonstrated the deep integration of Taiwanese culture and Mandarin education.
The global online presentation featured insights from scholars and experts in Mandarin teaching worldwide. The distinguished panel included Dr. Chen Chang-Hsu, Dean of Queen's University in Thailand; Professor Meng Zhu-Yi from Korea University of Foreign Studies; Professor Geng Hua from Moscow State University in Russia; Director Gao Yu-Gui from Woodieland Explorer, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Teacher He Wei-Lu from Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted in Vietnam; President Jiang Hai-Ning from the Chinese School Association in the United States; Principal Tseng Yi-Hua from Fo Guang Chinese School in the North Island of New Zealand; and Professor Chen Shui-Ying from North Bangkok University in Thailand.The use of the Google Meet online video conferencing system facilitated global synchronous connections, breaking down spatial limitations. This enabled students to share their achievements with Mandarin teaching veterans worldwide, engaging in real-time interactions with professional scholars. The aspiration is that the 113th Mandarin Department students can learn from their predecessors, seek advice, and continuously strive for improvement and excellence as they present their accomplishments to a broader audience.
On December 23rd and 24th, the Mandarin Center at National Taitung University hosted a hands-on seminar on cloud-based Mandarin teaching and marketing. Conducted by Mr. Chen Jian-Hong, Education Training Manager at Apple, the session focused on digital technology integration in Mandarin instruction. Mr. Chen provided insights into creating digital teaching materials and utilizing online workshops to enhance student participation.
The speaker underscored the benefits of remote teaching, including synchronous online lectures and the ability to overcome time and space constraints. Practical online tools such as Padlet, Nearpod, Popplet, and other apps were introduced to elevate teaching effectiveness and ignite student learning motivation.
Through CLTSC and the Department of Mandarin's events, students not only grasp the challenges and opportunities arising from the New Southbound Policy in global Mandarin education but also witness the limitless potential of cloud technology in teaching. From online Mandarin courses for New Southbound countries, seminars on overseas employment markets, and showcasing graduation project outcomes to practical lectures on cloud teaching, these activities amalgamate global professional insights, collectively forging a more diverse and innovative future for Mandarin education.
Currently, Mandarin teaching in Taiwan is entering a new era of internationalization and digitization. We eagerly anticipate future exchanges and collaborations, working together to shape a dynamic landscape for Mandarin education.
▶️泰國、越南、馬來西亞線上課程始業式直播連結：
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/iPFMF733asoYXCbQ/?mibextid=WC7FNe
▶️座談會直播回顧連結：
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/bEEaYoGBeujaP7oX/?mibextid=WC7FNe
▶️專題發表直播連結：
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/fERHZGAhE1nuNvnK/?mibextid=WC7FNe
