Newcastle University Confucius Institute marks the end of Summer Term

The Confucius Institute at Newcastle University hosted a festive and heartfelt event on July 16 to mark the end of the 2025 summer term. The evening also served as a special farewell to three teachers——Xiaolu Tan, Jiaying Lyu and Xingyi Jiang, who will soon be leaving.

Organized and hosted by Xiaolu Tan, the celebration brought together over 50 attendees for an evening of performances, gratitude, and cultural exchange. Andrea Wilcynski, the Dean of the SML and Andrew Law, the Confucius Institute's foreign co-director opened the event with remarks that acknowledged the contributions of the departing teachers and highlighted the Institute’s achievements to Chinese language education.

A diverse programme of student performances showcased what learners at all levels have achieved during the term. Highlights included a classical dance "Shang Chun Shan" by the HSK1A group, "Facing the Sea, with Spring Blossoms", a poetry recitation by HSK1B students and their teacher Liujing Zhu, group singing "Don’t Worry, the Moon Will Shine When the Sun Sets" by HSK2A, an interactive sing-and-dance performance "If You’re Happy and You Know It" by HSK2B that had the audience clapping along, and a humorous group song from HSK3A titled "Sorry, My Chinese Is Not Good."

Teachers also joined the celebration with performances of their own. Lanjin Li performed a solo of "Against the Light" and later joined friends in singing "One Like Summer, One Like Autumn." They also led the audience through a fun and nostalgic Chinese-style school physical exercise that sparked laughter and participation from all.

Adding to the festive spirit, the event featured five rounds of prize raffles, ensuring that each attendee left with a small gift. The evening concluded with a moving group performance of "Goodbye" by the Confucius Institute teaching team, closing the event on a note of appreciation and warmth.

The celebration not only marked the end of a successful academic term but also reflected the strong sense of community built through language learning and cultural exchange. It was a fitting send-off for the departing teachers and a memorable moment for all involved.