With a topic of “Depth, Optimization, and Intensification — The Reform and Development of International Chinese Teachers’ Training,” The Fourth International Chinese Teacher Training Forum was held at the Open University of China (OUC) on October 24 and 25.
Nearly 30 experts and scholars from Asia, North America, and Europe were invited. Via onsite and distance video conferencing, members and guests discussed and debated during the two day brainstorming conference with an emphasis being placed on three topics, “Research on International Chinese Teachers and Educators,” “Curricula and Cultivation Methods of International Chinese Teachers,” and “Research on the Issues of Localization of International Chinese Teachers.”
Experts focused on the issues related to the training of international Chinese teachers, including essential knowledge and abilities, whether international Chinese education is a subject or a career, what a curriculum focusing on international Chinese education should focus on, how to prioritize Chinese knowledge, methods, ideas, and how to adapt to local needs in training international Chinese teachers.
With the goal of continuously enlarging the discipline and broadening the research horizons of the previous three forums, this forum invited experts from the OUC Credit Bank Office to introduce the national research tasks for the “Study and Practice of the Learning Outcomes Accreditation, Accumulation, and Transfer System of National Continuing Education,” which provided new inspiration and ideas with regards to the integration of degree and non-degree education, certificate based education, and the lifelong learning of international Chinese teachers.
The forum also used a new teaching product, the Dot Matrix Digital Pen, giving participants a new experience, including new ways to sign their names and take notes. Experts from all over the world also drew up plans for their “ideal Chinese learning classroom,” after which their notes and diagrams were simultaneously displayed on large digital screens. Technology made this very easy and was no different than writing and teaching with normal teaching materials. The excited experts used the technology in explaining their teaching concepts and describing their ideal classroom.
“Ideal Classroom” of the Experts (photo taken by Li Hongyin)
The International Chinese Teacher Training Forum hosted by the OUC was to provide a public service platform for international Chinese education employees, teachers, and experts to carry out industrial communication, academic studies, and programme cooperation, with the objective of “cooperation, service, openness and sharing”. In order to guarantee and continuously improve the academic quality of the platform, the forum formed a series of working mechanisms for future development. For example, a committee of experts working continuously between the former and later forums was established to appraise theses, communicate development tendencies inside and outside of the industry, provide work policy updates, etc. During the past four years, this forum has received widespread attention, strong approval, and high praise from all those involved.
By Wu Di, Jiang Nan, and Cui Jiaxing, the OUC