Ninety-five Chinese middle school teachers have been recruited to act as ‘Chinese-language assistants’ to teach Chinese in British secondary schools for one year. Note that the idea of teaching assistants is well entrenched in the British educational system.
The ‘Chinese Language Assistance’ program, jointly launched by China and Britain in 2001, has drawn an increasing number of participants each year.
Chinese Ambassador to Britain Fu Ying said at a reception for the Chinese teachers that the program aims to promote understanding and communication between the peoples of the two countries through language exchanges.
Ambassador Fu said the Chinese teachers, while teaching Chinese philosophies, history and culture, could also learn advanced teaching skills from their British counterparts during the one-year term.
The shortage of qualified Chinese-language teachers is major factor hindering Chinese language learning in Britain.
Source: China View