Cultural Exchange

Cultural Exchange Event Hosted by Confucius Institute at Newcastle University : Journey of Chinese Culture from Minnesota to Newcastle

On July 13th, the Confucius Institute at Newcastle University organized a cultural exchange event for a group of students and teachers from the Chinese Language and Culture Partnership Programs at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, USA. The visit, led by program director Andrew Stanoch, marked their first collaboration with the CI and included a series of engaging cross-cultural activities.

The event started with a themed lecture titled "From Minnesota to Newcastle: Exploring Chinese Language and Cross-cultural Communication," held at the Old Library of Newcastle University at 1:30 pm. Chaired by Professor Ruojuan Zheng, the Chinese director of the CI, the session began with an introduction to the Confucius Institute by Wanxiu Chen, a CI Chinese teacher.

In this lecture, three distinguished representatives from the local Chinese community and Chinese language education professionals in the UK were invited: Mr. Shanxiong Wu, Mr. Ricky Kong and Ms. Angeline Liu, who discussed topics such as promoting the Chinese language, the significance of the Chinese diaspora in British society, the importance of learning Chinese, and practical techniques for learning Chinese in non-Chinese language environments.

During the Q&A session that followed the lecture, the visiting students actively engaged and raised questions about Chinese language learning and understanding Chinese culture. The guest speakers patiently addressed their inquiries, sharing valuable insights and experiences. Mr. Wu concluded the session by presenting Chinese cultural-related books as gifts to the visiting students and teachers from the USA.

The visit, led by CI teacher Xiaolu Tan and supported by CI teachers and volunteers, included a campus tour and visits to the Hatton Gallery, Hancock Museum, and Newcastle's Chinatown. The students were captivated by Chinese calligraphy, paintings, and traditional Chinese instruments displayed in the CI office. They also participated in cultural activities like tea tasting and table tennis.

The visiting students expressed their appreciation for the rich content and invaluable experiences gained during the exchange event. The program director, Andrew Stanoch, commended the meticulous arrangements by the CI and looks forward to continued collaboration for more cross-cultural exchange activities, fostering friendship and cooperation between the institutions.