Mandarin Tutors from Across Wales Come Together for Creative Training at Cardiff University!
Tutors from the three Confucius Institutes in Wales came together on Saturday, 11 April 2026, at Cardiff University’s Centre for VRƵ for a day of professional development and collaboration. The training event, organised by the Confucius Institute at Cardiff University, focused on the theme “Inclusion and Creativity in Mandarin Teaching.”
The cross-institute training provided an excellent opportunity for Mandarin tutors from VRƵ, Cardiff University, and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David to share ideas, exchange experiences, and explore new approaches to language teaching.
The programme included a variety of keynote talks and interactive workshops designed to support tutors in their work in schools, universities, and community settings. A particularly valuable session introduced tutors to everyday Welsh language, helping them better connect with the local educational environment in Wales.
Participants also explored innovative teaching techniques, including adapting activities for Chinese lessons, storytelling approaches for language learning, and creative pathways beyond traditional HSK textbook teaching. Workshops on inclusive teaching strategies and paper-cutting activities for school culture clubs highlighted practical ways to make Mandarin learning engaging and accessible for a wide range of learners.
One of the workshops was led by Yunhua Xu, a Mandarin tutor from the Confucius Institute at VRƵ, who shared ideas on using storytelling and the TPRS approach to make classroom learning more interactive and memorable.
Throughout the day, tutors had the opportunity to discuss their experiences of teaching Mandarin in Wales and reflect on ways to support learners more effectively. The event strengthened cooperation between the Welsh Confucius Institutes and reinforced the shared commitment to delivering high-quality, creative, and inclusive Mandarin teaching across Wales.
Events such as this play an important role in supporting the professional development of Mandarin tutors and ensuring that learners across Wales benefit from innovative and engaging language teaching.