The Second Chinese Teacher Training Program in Bulgaria was held at the Confucius Institute at the University of Veliko Tarnovo from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 2019. About 30 Chinese language teachers from Hanban, volunteer Chinese teachers and local Chinese teachers from CI at UVT and Sofia CI as well as from the municipality of Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv and Ruse participated in the Training Program, which was organized by the Chinese Teacher Training Center - Bulgaria of UVT.
Prof. Plamen Legkostup – former Rector of UVT and Confucius Institute Headquarters’ senior advisor, prof. Tsenka Ivanova – Dean of the Faculty of Modern Languages of UVT, assoc. prof. Polina Tsoncheva – Head of the Department of Classical and Oriental Languages and Cultures at UVT, assoc. prof. Iskra Mandova – Bulgarian Director of CI at UVT, prof. Dong Yuanxing – Chinese Director of CI at UVT, and assoc. prof. Yang Zhe – Deputy Dean of the School of Arts and Media of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) attended the opening ceremony of the Training Program.
Prof. Tsenka Ivanova delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. She expressed her warm welcome to the Chinese teachers and volunteers, praising them for their positive contributions in promoting cultural exchanges between China and Bulgaria, and wishing the Training Program a complete success.
The 3-day Training Program was not only colorful but also highly targeted and practical. Yana Shishkova, a lecturer at Sofia University and an excellent local Chinese teacher at 138th Middle School for Foreign Languages in Sofia, shared with the Chinese teachers and volunteers her experience with teaching the Chinese language to Bulgarian students. She introduced the Bulgarian academic system and the Chinese Syllabus and provided effective classroom management strategies. Assoc. prof. Yang Zhe gave 2 lectures to the Chinese teachers and volunteers entitled "Impact of Inscription Tablets on the Inheritance of Chinese Calligraphy" and "Ancient Chinese Book Printing Arts". Inspired by these lectures, participants were able to appreciate the beauty of Chinese calligraphy and inscription art, which provides new ideas and methods for spreading traditional Chinese culture. Assoc. prof. Polina Tsoncheva taught basic Bulgarian to the Chinese teachers and volunteers during the Training Program. Her lectures motivated the participants to learn Bulgarian in the future, which in turn will help them solve problems in their future life and work much easier. Prof. Dong Yuanxing gave a lecture entitled "Remember the mission, abide by the regulations, and try to be a qualified Chinese teacher volunteer". He reminded the Chinese teachers and volunteers not to forget their responsibilities, and make sure to fulfill their mission of teaching Chinese and spreading Chinese culture.
The training schedule divided the trainees into 3 groups according to different teaching objects. They were supposed to focus on problems and difficulties arising in their teaching activities, and the atmosphere on site was filled with heated discussion. In addition, Bulgarian traditional dance learning was also specially introduced into the Training Program, which was taught by assoc. prof. Niya Radeva of UVT.
The participants said that the content of this training is closely related to the current situation of Chinese classrooms in Bulgaria, which is conducive to the smooth development of Chinese teaching in the future. This training is of great significance. The Chinese Teacher Training Center - Bulgaria will organize such a training program every year.
Several local media reported on this Training Program.