CIG successfully organized teachers training in Switzerland initiated by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council 

The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of China launched a lecturers group to Switzerland from 26thApril to 2ndMay 2018, for the purpose of training overseas Chinese teachers. Chinese Institute Geneva Foundation (CIG) undertook the entire organization and reception work for the lecturers group in Geneva, Bern and Nyon. The lecturers group consists of 3 famous experts from China: Prof. Xiaolu Wang from Sichuan University, Prof. Ying Wan from Central China Normal University and Mrs. Jing Wang, President of the primary school sector of the middle school attached to Shandong University.

On 26thApril, accompanied by Mrs. Jun Chu (Founder and Director of CIG), the lecturers group visited the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva, and welcomed by Mr. Yangwu Zhang (Minister Counsellor) and Mr. Yaou Chen (Counsellor). Mr. Zhang expressed thanks to the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, for their support to the Chinese education in Switzerland. Meanwhile Mr. Zhang encouraged CIG to continue devoting to Chinese language education and promotion of Chinese culture. He especially noted CIG’s contribution to the Chinese Language and Culture Day at the United Nations on 16thApril 2018, where CIG brought about 60 local participants to this activity. 

On 28thApril, with the organization of CIG and the Confucius Institute at the University of Geneva, the lecturers group held their first training session at the Confucius Institute located by the beautiful lakeside of Geneva. From morning to afternoon, three lecturers presented on Chinese teaching under different languages environment, words teaching methods as well as teaching content designs. The audience benefited largely from these presentations and participated actively in the Q&A session.

After the training in Geneva, the lecturers group headed for Bern, the capital city of Switzerland, and provided training for Chinese teachers from Basel, Zurich, Zug, Bern, Lausanne, Neuchâtel and Fribourg. On 29thApril, accompanied by Consul Luo Rang Zha Xi and Consul Peng Wang, Mrs. Ling Li (Consular Director of the Embassy of China in Switzerland) welcomed the lecturers group and highly appreciated their effort for the training as well as the support provided by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office to overseas Chinese education. Mrs. Li also highlighted the emphasis the Embassy put onto Chinese education in Switzerland.

On 2ndMay, one of the lecturers, Mrs. Jing Wang, provided a demonstration class to CIG teachers and students in Nyon. Mrs. Wang managed to attract each student with her interesting language and also taught new words and grammars throughout various activities, such as “postman delivering letters from China to Swiss students”. The demonstration class was a big success, and a great experience for our students and teachers.

With the help of delicate reception arrangements from Mrs. Jun Chu (CIG Director) and cooperation of all parties, the teachers training project in Switzerland initiated by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council ended with great success. The lecturers group provided numbers of training sessions in Geneva, Bern and Nyon in 7 days. Nearly 100 overseas Chinese teachers from French and German speaking areas of Switzerland benefited from the trainings, which caused a sensation in the local society. 

CIG has always focused on improving the teaching quality and experience of our teachers. We will combine what we have learned from the lectures into our teaching practice and keep reinforcing our teaching team with all kinds of training opportunities.