Hanban
Schools in the region were given the chance to bring Chinese language and culture into the classroom thanks to the arrival of Yanhua Li, a Chinese language teacher and associate professor from Beijing Language and Culture University, who spent part of 2012 with Network for Languages East Midlands, based at Nottingham Trent University.
Yanhua Li offered a wide variety of language taster sessions for pupils, CPD sessions for teachers as well as support for cultural activities and events in both primary and secondary schools across the region.
She said: "It has been a great honour to come to Nottingham Trent University as a Chinese language teacher because I believe that communication between different countries and cultures is very important. I have really enjoyed delivering both Mandarin and Chinese culture to primary and secondary school students across the East Midlands, as well as running sessions with primary and secondary school teachers, so they can pass on their knowledge to pupils."
Yanhua Li's stay has been part of the Hanban programme, a non-governmental and non-profit organisation affiliated to the Ministry of Education of China. It is committed to making Chinese language and culture teaching resources and services available to the world, to meet the demands of overseas Chinese learners and to contribute to the formation of a world of cultural diversity.
Her support has been in addition to two other Hanban teachers at Nottingham Trent University this year. Yanjie Wang and Jinchun Yuan have taught Mandarin to students, staff and members of the community, and contributed to research in the University's Languages and International Studies department.
Clodagh Cooney, Network for Languages East Midlands Manager, said: "It has been fantastic to have three Hanban teachers at the University this year. Not only have students and the community benefited, but having Yanhua Li with us means we have been able to expand our support to schools and inspire more people to learn about Chinese language and culture."
