Newcastle University Confucius Institute Teaching Team Attends London Training and Wins Awards at the Final Competition of 5th Chinese Teaching Championship for English-Speaking Countries in Europe - 2026

From 30 January to 1 February 2026, a delegation of eight teachers from the Confucius Institute at Newcastle University travelled to London to take part in a professional development programme and the Final of the 5th Chinese Teaching Championship for English-Speaking Countries in Europe. The visit was organised and coordinated by Professor Yuxiao Su, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Newcastle University.

Over a tightly scheduled three-day programme, participants engaged in teacher training sessions, academic exchange activities, and the the 5th Chinese Teaching Championship final, achieving strong professional and competitive outcomes.

At 5th Chinese Teaching Championship for English-Speaking Countries in Europe, two  Chinese language teachers from Newcastle University Confucius Institute—Ms Miao Wang and Ms Shijia Chen—advanced to the final round and were both awarded the “Excellence Award”. The judging panel commended their high level of professional expertise, innovative lesson design and confident classroom delivery.

Ms Wang’s teaching demonstration, *Distinguishing “Tongguo” (通过) and “Jingguo” (经过)*, used scenes from the film *Paddington 2* to create authentic learning contexts familiar to UK learners. Through guided comparison and contextualised practice, students were supported in understanding subtle differences in usage. The lesson also incorporated cross-cultural perspectives, highlighting how linguistic choices in Chinese reflect social relationships and mediation.

Ms Chen’s lesson was based on an adapted picture book, *What’s Wrong with Labubu?*, and combined Total Physical Response (TPR) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) approaches. By linking emotion-related vocabulary with colours, movement and storytelling, the lesson encouraged active participation while supporting learners’ emotional awareness. The innovative format and strong learner engagement were well received by judges and observers.

Throughout the preparation process, both teachers received sustained academic guidance from Dr Fang Su of Newcastle University’s School of Modern Languages. Her support in lesson planning, trial teaching and refinement played a key role in the teachers’ successful performances.

Alongside the competition, the delegation participated in a two-day training programme featuring lectures and teaching demonstrations by experienced practitioners. Sessions explored drama-based and situational teaching, differentiated instruction for diverse learners, and the integration of cultural content into vocabulary teaching, providing practical ideas directly applicable to classroom practice.

On 31 January, four representatives of the delegation also attended the Fourth Annual Conference of Chinese Language Teachers in the UK and the awards ceremony for the 5th Chinese Teaching Championship for English-Speaking Countries in Europe. Keynote addresses were delivered by Professor Joël Bellassen （白乐桑），the contemporary French sinologist, and Professor Heather Inwood (殷海洁) of the University of Cambridge, offering reflections on learner motivation, literary imagination and the distinctive expressive qualities of the Chinese language.

At the invitation of the conference organisers, Associate Professor Rensong Li from Xiamen University, the Tai Chi specialist from Confucius Institute at Newcastle University, delivered a short Tai Chi demonstration, showcasing the elegance and cultural depth of traditional Chinese physical arts and adding a strong cultural highlight to the event.

The London visit strengthened the professional capacity and international outlook of the Confucius Institute teaching team at Newcastle University, while highlighting the Institute’s commitment to high-quality Chinese language teaching, teacher development and cultural exchange. The Confucius Institute will continue to engage actively in international training and professional competitions, supporting the ongoing development of Chinese language education in the UK and across Europe.