CCLC of FJU Hosts the EU officials Mandarin Training Program
2023-08-31 • Education
To deepen the understanding of EU officials regarding the distinctive features of Mandarin Chinese education and the cultural values of Taiwan, the Ministry of Education initiated the "EU Officials Mandarin Training Program in Taiwan" in 2023. Organized by the Center of Chinese Language and Culture, Fu Jen Catholic University. This program commenced on August 14th and spans a duration of ten days. The invited nine officials came from eight EU member states, including France, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Italy, and Germany. Their professional backgrounds encompass various fields such as trade, humanities, and education.
The curriculum provided by the Center of Chinese Language and Culture, Fu Jen Catholic University encompasses two major themes: Mandarin language studies and cultural exploration. Additionally, outdoor excursions have been integrated into the program to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of Taiwan from multiple perspectives. In the realm of Mandarin language studies, participants engage in in-depth discussions on topics ranging from Mandarin phonetics and Pinyin, script structures, writing systems, traditional and simplified characters, grammatical exploration, sentence structures, and language usage. Through the course, the participants can understand distinctiveness and advantages of Mandarin education in Taiwan. Regarding the cultural dimension, the participants delve into various topics, including Taiwanese society, calligraphy art, culinary culture, traditional arts, indigenous traditional music, and Chinese historical civilization. This comprehensive approach allows for a profound examination of the differences between traditional and simplified characters and a further comparative analysis of Taiwan's culture versus Chinese culture. By grasping these differences, participants can gain a broader perspective on the realm of Mandarin culture.
Concluding on August 23, the CCLC hosted a closing ceremony. In his speech, Mr. Kao-Hsien Liao, Deputy Education Counselor, Department of International and Cross-strait Education, Ministry of Education, highlighted that recent changes in the global landscape have led to an increasing number of political and parliamentary leaders from European countries visiting Taiwan, actively seeking opportunities for further collaboration. Among these opportunities, Mandarin education has emerged as a focal point of cooperation between Taiwan and various sectors. Through this cultural and educational exchange, participants not only experience Taiwan's cultural charm firsthand but also gain an in-depth understanding of the soft power of our Mandarin education. In the future, they will serve as bridges fostering friendship between European Union countries and Taiwan, facilitating a multifaceted approach to Mandarin learning for more European partners and enhancing their appreciation of our country's rich cultural characteristics.
