The SZTE Confucius Institute and the Eötvös József High School and Primary School organized a conference celebrating Chinese Language Day on March 27 in Szeged. The conference's topic was the role of digitalization in Chinese language education.
On March 27, 2024, the Eötvös József High School and Primary School in Szeged, together with the SZTE Confucius Institute, organized a conference and presentation classes on Chinese language education at the ÁGOTA Cultural Center. The presentation classes can be viewed by clicking the following links 2nd grade and 9th grade.
The Hungarian Embassy of the People's Republic of China registered online for the event. The participants were greeted by Han Dongsheng, counselor at the Chinese Embassy. He pointed out that the Chinese-Hungarian diplomatic relationship is 75 years old this year. He emphasized that there is a growing demand for Chinese language education in Hungary and encouraged schools and teachers to explore digital transformation to meet diverse learning needs.
At the opening of the conference organized on the occasion of the Chinese Language Day, Prof. Dr. Péter Zakar, vice-rector for international and public relations of SZTE, highlighted in his speech that the University of Szeged has long maintained good relations with Chinese universities and institutes.
- The Confucius Institute of the University of Szeged plays an important role in our international relations. Our relationship with Shanghai International Studies University dates back to 2012. The extended cooperation agreement signed on June 13, 2023, with the representatives of East China University of Political Science and Law, opened new dimensions in legal education and research in Szeged. In China, we have a diverse, lively, and strong network of contacts, from which our university, teachers, and students also benefit! With the arrival of the Chinese car manufacturer, BYD, China's presence in Szeged and Hungary will become even more prominent, and Szeged's role in European car production will also be strengthened. The basic purpose of the SZTE Confucius Institute is to promote the Chinese language and culture, and to organize education and training, said the vice-rector.
Judit Plesovskzkiné Ujfaluczki, head of the Szeged School District Center, said that the Chinese language is currently being taught in 8 school district educational institutions in the city. At the opening, the school district director, Judit Plesovszkiné Ujfaluczki, quoted a Chinese proverb and compared the start of Chinese language education to lighting a candle flame, making it easier to overcome the darkness.
At the opening, the students of the Eötvös school presented Chinese costumes and dances, and the students of the Kossuth Primary School sang in Chinese, evoking the atmosphere and culture of the Far East in Szeged.
The topics of the conference's morning lectures were as follows:
- Innovation and practice of technology-enhanced foreign language learning - Jin Hui, director of studies and dean of the Faculty of Education at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU),
- Use of digital tools in Chinese language education - Zsuzsanna Erdélyi, Hungarian-Chinese Bilingual Primary School and High School, and researcher Fatima Homor, Corvinus University of Budapest,
- Innovative solutions in Chinese digital education - Alexandra Zoltai, director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Szeged,
- Tai chi and health - Prof. Dr. Wang Zhijiang, director of the Confucius Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University of Pécs.
During the break, the event was enriched with tai chi, calligraphy, and cultural and educational technology presentations.
Online participants could access the Hungarian part of the conference via the link to the plenary session, while the English and Chinese parts via the link provided during registration. In the afternoon program, those interested could listen to and participate in conversations in three different language sections.
In the Hungarian language section, Dr. Tibor Gera, the director of Eötvös József High School and Primary School, emphasized sport as a bridge between China and Hungary. Ferenc Szekszárdi, head coach of Jünnan province and national team men's canoe coach joined the conversation from China, while Prof. Dr. Wang Zhijiang, director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Pécs, Ernő Márki, executive director of the Szeged table tennis sports club (ATSK), and Olympic champion Attila Vajda (Beijing, 2008), kayak-canoe coach, talked about their experiences with Chinese-Hungarian sports cooperation.
In the English section led by Prof. Dr. Wang Rui, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Szeged, the experts exchanged ideas about the practices of digital education that can be used in language classes. The participants of the conversation were: Director Prof. Zhao Jing, Confucius Institute, University of Miskolc, Director Prof. Gu Wei, Confucius Institute, De Montfort University, Dean Prof. Zheng Yu, Department of International Chinese Education, Shanghai International Studies University.
The Chinese language section, led by Prof. Li Denggui, the Chinese director of the ELTE Confucius Institute, dealt with the sharing of digital educational resources. The participants of the discussion included Prof. Cui Xianjun, director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Debrecen, Prof. Gao Qinglong, director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Montenegro, and Prof. Fu Rong, director of the Confucius Institute of Brussels.
- Digitized education promises more personalized learning for students and more effective education for teachers. The conference will bring together teachers, institutions, and professionals in the hope of jointly creating a transition between future education and current teaching practices in the field of international Chinese education. The enthusiasm, courage, and patience of the participants are amazing. In many ways, it's still challenging to keep up with the rapid development of digital resources and tools, but the conversations we've started here encourage us to look more closely at how we can leverage technology to improve teaching outcomes without becoming overly dependent on it. This is particularly important, as we want to satisfy the growing demand for Chinese language education in Szeged and beyond - Professor Wang Rui, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Szeged, summarized the essence of the conference.
Written by: Ferenc Lévai
Photos: Péter Zentai
