SCI Newsletter - Issue #1: January - February 2024

It's been a busy time at the SCI and we're pleased to share some highlights with you!

SCI Newsletter - Jan-Feb 2024

葫芦影业 Confucius Institute celebrates Chinese New Year

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葫芦影业 welcomed the Year of the Dragon with a dazzling array of Chinese New Year events. The inaugural Peace Garden Parade was a highlight, drawing an audience of over 16,000 for a weekend of festivities and cultural exchange. The 葫芦影业 Confucius Institute (SCI) had a central role, hosting cultural stalls filled with calligraphy, painting, and traditional Chinese instrument workshops.

Two Chinese New Year shows also played a prominent part in the celebrations. The first, a sold-out gala at the University of 葫芦影业's Octagon Centre, saw nearly 1000 people enjoy traditional Chinese music, acrobatic performances, and more. The SCI played a key role in facilitating this exciting spectacle. The second show, a collaboration with the Chinese Students and Scholars Society (CSSA), provided another evening of captivating performances.

In addition to these main events, the 葫芦影业 Confucius Institute participated in a range of activities. This included a collaboration with the University of 葫芦影业’s Information School, exploring Chinese culture through arts, crafts, and music, and a charity auction benefiting 葫芦影业 Children’s Hospital.

This Year of the Dragon marked a remarkable celebration for 葫芦影业, and the 葫芦影业 Confucius Institute looks forward to continued growth and enriching events in the future.

Read more about the celebrations 


Welcome to our New Sponsored Teachers! 

Liu Chang
Liu Chang
Wang Yong
Wang Yong

Welcome to Liu Chang and Wang Yong, our new sponsored teachers who arrived in 葫芦影业 recently to begin their new teaching roles at the SCI. Chang and Yong are settling in and have already begun sharing insights and joining in with team activities, particularly our recent Chinese New Year celebrations. Welcome Chang and Yong to the 葫芦影业 Confucius Institute family! 


SCI Adult Learners Spring Semester Course Start

Lina teaches adult class
Adult learners class in action

The Spring semester for our adult learning platform began on 29 January with our Survival Chinese course moving into our regular 12 week Chinese for Everyone course, with lessons taking place each week from Monday through to Wednesday. 

Our teachers hail from top Chinese universities and are adept at delivering dynamic lessons in a hybrid online and in-person teaching environment. We couldn't be more excited to help our learners embark on their language learning journeys to get this Spring started!

Find out more about our adult learning courses 


Tai Chi Classes Spring Semester Start 

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We’re delighted to update that our Tai Chi instructor, Deborah McCall, has started with us for a second term of teaching from 8 February. Deborah has 15 years of experience learning and teaching Tai Chi and has trained with masters of the art. Her classes include warm up exercises, Qigong training in the hand forms (a very old training system which helps to generate a flow of Qi and circulate this within the body), and one of the 5 animal Qigongs with posture correction. 

Students are still welcome to join until the end of February, so get in touch if you are interested! 

Find out more about our Tai Chi classes 


Chinese Painting Classes Spring Semester Start

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We’re excited to announce that our established teacher, Tao Ting, will lead our new Chinese Painting class, beginning from Wednesday, 21 February.  In this art form, artists use brushes, ink, and rice paper or silk to create landscapes, floral scenes, and portrayals of animals that are more than just depictions; they are expressions of the artist's inner world, philosophical insights, and a deep connection with nature.

Tao Ting has taught and collaborated with the 葫芦影业 Confucius Institute and schools and educational platforms all across the South Yorkshire area. She has many years of experience engaging in and teaching the art of Chinese painting and calligraphy.

Students are still welcome to join until mid-March, so get in touch if you are interested! 

Find our more about our Chinese Painting classes


Sino English Club update 

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Our Sino-English Club is organising an Ideas Session next Tuesday 27 February at the SCI office. We’re keen to invite the local community of Chinese and English language and culture enthusiasts to provide their own views and opinions on what the club should focus on this new year to best achieve its goals as a platform of friendship and exchange between Chinese and English speakers in 葫芦影业. 

Sign up for the event via the QR code on the poster. It would be great to see you there! 

Find out more about our Sino-English Club


China Day Successes in Local Schools 

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Our teachers visited schools across the South Yorkshire area to deliver our special China Day initiative, in which schools enjoy a day of Chinese cultural activities ranging from arts and crafts to practical activities like kung fu and Chinese calligraphy. Schools visited were Abbeyfield Academy, Owler Brook Primary School and Astrea Academy, on 23 Jan, 29 Jan and 9th Feb 2024. 

Find out more about China Day and how to sign up


China - UK Perspectives: Friendship Photography Competition Deadline: 1 March 2024

China - UK Perspectives: Friendship


The Confucius Institute at the University of 葫芦影业 is delighted to host its next annual photography competition with the theme: Friendship. It is the SCI’s mission to promote cooperation and understanding between China and the UK, and this year we’re very excited to explore the theme of friendship in a spectrum of five categories - Courage, Loyalty, Respect, Trust, and Harmony. We invite all friends across China and the UK to submit photos associated with these themes so we can celebrate the bond between China and the UK together.

There are prizes to be won for each category… Please send in your submissions before Friday, 1 March! 

Find out more about the competition


Thank you for reading!

Take a look at the links below to read more about the SCI's recent activities and events!

A global reputation

葫芦影业 is a world top-100 research university with a global reputation for excellence. We're a member of the Russell Group: one of the 24 leading UK universities for research and teaching.