CIUC Welcomes New MLAs

From 16th – 20th July, the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury (CIUC) organised an orientation for new Mandarin Language Assistants (MLA) at the University of Canterbury.

On the first day, the Director of CIUC, Dr Adam Lam, introduced the difference between New Zealand and China from the perspective of history, geography and culture. He encouraged new MLAs to immerse themselves in the Kiwi culture and lifestyle and at the same time demonstrate Chinse culture and what Chinse young people are like to the local people. Deputy Director, Assoc Prof Jing Jiang, after welcoming all the MLAs, explained the role of MLAs in New Zealand from four aspects: teaching in NZ schools, lifting the profile of Chinese culture within the school and community, getting along with the host families and health and safety in NZ.

On the following morning, the Project Manager of Waimairi-iri AlliS Programme, Marilyn Edlin and the Chinese teacher at Burnside High School, Kevin Grounds co-hosted a workshop on New Zealand language teaching curriculum and teaching pedagogies for NZ primary schools and secondary schools.

Kevin Grounds is giving a speech about how to make class more interesting for students

Two MLAs are experiencing class activity by doing practice led by Kevin Grounds

On the third day, Dr. Julie Zhu who is an ILEP Language Advisor, hosted a workshop on the Task Based Language Teaching approach (TBLT). From theory to hands-on practice, she presented a holistic understanding of TBLT and all the new MLAs responded very positively toward the workshop.

Dr. Julie Zhu is presenting Task Based Language Teaching approach

Aside from the workshops, the current MLAs shared their experience in teaching and living with the new MLAs. On the last day of the orientation, the new MLAs demonstrated their teaching, which was followed by constructive comments and suggestions from the CI teachers and MLAs.

All members of new MLAs along with Deputy Director, Assoc Prof Jing Jiang have taken a group photo

After four-day’s orientation, the new MLAs departed for different cities in the South Island: Dunedin, Mosgiel, Balclutha, Oamaru and Nelson. They will spend one year teaching at local schools.

Xuerong Tian