A Study Of The Development Of Chinese Teaching In The Evening School Of Confucius Institute At Canterbury University In New Zealand

Because of the vigorous development of China’s economy as well as the deepening of friendship between China and New Zealand,more and more New Zealand residents are interested in Chinese learning and Chinese culture.As the only Confucius Institute in the South Island of New Zealand,Confucius Institute at Canterbury University is devoted to the Chinese teaching in primary and secondary schools in all regions.At the same time,evening school is set up to meet the needs of Chinese learning at different ages and groups.This paper mainly uses the methods of questionnaire,interview and actual investigation to investigate and study the current situation of Chinese teaching in the evening school of Confucius Institute at Canterbury University.The author conducted a questionnaire survey on49 students in evening school and interviewed administrators and teachers.Based on the investigation and author’s own experience,this paper summarizes the successful experience and shortcomings of the evening school in Confucius Institute at Canterbury University from four aspects: the curriculum,the construction of teachers,the use of teaching materials,inside and outside activities,and puts forward suggestions for the problems.The author hopes that this study can provide some ideas for the future development of teaching in evening school of Confucius Institute,not only promote the development of Confucius Institute and the whole Chinese international education,but also help spread Chinese culture.It is found that the successful experience of evening school lies in four aspects.In terms of curriculum,evening school keeps trying to keep innovation spirit while the setting of courses as well as participating groups are very diverse,with large age and background span.In terms of the construction of teachers,evening school has qualified and professional teachers who are widely recognized by learners.In the selection of teaching materials and aids,the use of teaching materials in adult Chinese courses is systematic.In addition,evening school pays attention to the development and organization of cultural activities,promotes and encourages learners to participate in various cultural activities held by Confucius Institute.The shortcomings of evening school are in four aspects.In terms of curriculum,evening school is lack of special projects,cultural profiles and one-to-one curriculum,and so on.In terms of teachers’ strength,the level of evening school teachers is different,and some teachers’ teaching experience is insufficient,etc..In the use of teaching materials,the transition between the old and new ones is not appropriate etc.In terms of activities in and out of class,the participation of learners in cultural activities held by Confucius Institute at Canterbury University is not high,etc.According to the problems above,the author puts forward the following suggestions:improve the curriculum setting,pay attention to the needs of learners,including the establishment of special skills courses;do a demand and learning situation survey before the new curriculum starts;set up a variety of cultural courses,etc.Pay attention to the training and improvement of staff and the contact between teachers,including adhering to the excellent training system and increasing the training for teachers,etc.Improve the practical use of teaching materials as well as teaching aids,including the supplement of practical Chinese related multimedia teaching materials;appropriately increase the use of teaching aids and other exercises.Enrich language training activities,innovate and promote cultural activities,including increasing the interest and diversity of language training activities;improve and innovate extracurricular cultural activities,and increase promotion efforts,etc.The innovation value of this paper lies in the following aspects.First,the research on the evening school project of Confucius Institute is meaningful to fill in the blanks for the research of specific teaching situation of evening school of Confucius Institute.Second,the significance of methodology.This study is expected to provide a reference for the development of Chinese classroom teaching in Confucius Institute in New Zealand by means of questionnaire,interview and other methods of data analysis.Third,the practical significance.This study summarizes and analyzes the current situation of Chinese teaching in evening school in Confucius Institute at Canterbury University in New Zealand,finds out the existing problems,and puts forward the corresponding solutions and enlightenment,which can be used as a reference for Chinese classroom teaching in Confucius Institute,especially in the aspects of setting up Chinese classroom in evening school,curriculum setting,selection of teachers,selection of teaching materials and aids,and organizations of activities in order to help the development and promotion of Confucius Institute in New Zealand,as well as the promotion of Chinese language and Chinese culture.As this study is only aimed at the Chinese teaching of evening school in Confucius Institute at Canterbury University in New Zealand,the results of this study are only applicable to explain the current situation of Chinese teaching in this institute,not necessarily to explain the teaching of other Confucius Institutes in New Zealand.In view of the above shortcomings,the author will further expand the research scope in the future investigation and research so that the research results can be more comprehensive.