Advanced training programs for Chinese teachers of the Confucius class GF NSU

In the first item of Key Projects of «Confucius Institutes Development Program (2012-2020)», it was pointed out that a priority should be given to the training of local teachers as the key project. Confucius Classrooms at Novosibirsk State University takes the training of local teachers as one of the key tasks and has drawn out three patterns of training local Chinese teachers as follows: centralized special topic training, training on teaching materials and online e-training respectively. To satisfy the demands of the local Chinese teachers in Novosibirsk Confucius Classrooms at Novosibirsk State University asked the Confucius Institutes Headquarters to send an expert in Chinese teaching to hold a centralized special topic training at Novosibirsk State University. For the purpose of targeted training and guaranteeing training quality, a questionnaire concerning training time, training experts, training contents, training patterns and special topic of training was designed and sent to local Chinese teachers in Novosibirsk to seek their advice and proposals. In accordance with the requirements of Hanban for centralized training of local Chinese teachers, Chinese experts’ trainings take up only one half of the overall lectures, and the other half of lectures must be given by local experts. The 2015 training’s special topic was «Lexicology and Chinese Teaching Methodology». Lectures were delivered by professor of Capital Normal University (Beijing) Lin Xuqin, senior lecturer of Novosibirsk State University Tatyana Zavyalova and senior lecturer of Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University Marina Kuratchenko. In addition, 2-hour experience classes of Chinese culture such as calligraphy, Chinese knot, paper-cutting, tea art, martial arts, and Yangko dance were offered every day. Training on teaching materials and methods focuses on textbooks and teaching methods, it is held twice a term. In line with the Chinese teaching situation in universities, middle schools and elementary schools in Novosibirsk, New Practical Chinese Reader Textbook, Kuaile Hanyu (Fun with Chinese) and Chinese Paradise, which were recommended by Hanban, have been taken as the main training textbooks. Under the guidance of experienced trainers, the trainees discuss and exchange ideas on the teaching plans, teaching methods, courseware etc. through interaction and discussion. Confucius Classroom at NSU plans to start the first online e-training for Chinese teachers in October 2015. Tatyana Zavyalova will give a six-month-long course of lectures (from October through December 2015 and from March through May 2016), once a week, and total 48 hours. This year theme is «Basic Classical Chinese». After the lecture, the trainees are supposed to make a report on their learning, and then a teacher will give some comments and award the qualified trainees certificates.