ihatoo Dean Zhu Min Delivers Keynote Speech at the Cambridge China Education Forum

The Forum Concluded Successfully

As Chinese language becomes increasingly popular worldwide, international Chinese education is also gaining momentum. During this forum, four educational scholars and experts jointly discussed the innovation, development, and challenges of education and international Chinese education.

·Zhu Min·

Crossing Language Boundaries - A Global Perspective on Innovating International Chinese EducationiHatoo Dean Zhu Min delivered a keynote speech titled “Crossing Language Boundaries: A Global Perspective on Innovating International Chinese Education” at the forum, sharing personal insights and showcasing iHatoo’s innovative practices in integrating cutting-edge technology into international Chinese education.

Zhu Min delved into the current state and challenges of international Chinese education from four dimensions: the status of international Chinese education in the context of globalization, iHatoo’s innovative practices and challenges, the role of metaverse technology in the innovation and development of international Chinese education, and innovative models for international Chinese education.

He pointed out that with the continuous growth of China’s economy and comprehensive national strength, international Chinese education has become an essential part of the education systems in nearly 200 countries and regions worldwide. Eighty-six countries have incorporated Chinese into their national education curricula, sparking a global wave of “learning Chinese.”In this global context, iHatoo, as a national high-tech enterprise dedicated to international Chinese education, bears significant responsibility and mission. He emphasized, “iHatoo is constantly exploring ways to integrate frontier technologies such as the metaverse and AI large models into international Chinese education. We have achieved significant innovative results in various areas, including teaching scenarios, teaching and research activities, and teaching evaluation.”

In 2023, iHatoo’s metaverse teaching platform received high recognition at the Global Metaverse Conference and was included in the “Top 100 Innovative Demonstration Cases of the Metaverse” jointly recommended by academicians. This recognition not only affirms iHatoo’s application of metaverse technology but also celebrates its innovative spirit. Hatu has also pioneered the development of AI large models for international Chinese education. In the future, the international Chinese education evaluation system will become more intelligent, online teaching scenarios will be further optimized, and the development of Chinese courses will enter a new era of personalization.

iHatoo’s metaverse teaching platform has transcended geographical boundaries, providing rich and convenient learning resources for Chinese learners worldwide. The integration of metaverse and artificial intelligence technologies has brought an unprecedented immersive, interactive, and personalized learning experience to global Chinese learners, marking the beginning of a new era of technology-driven international Chinese education.

·Dr.James Underwood·

Practitioner Research in English Language Assessment: Current Debates and Future PossibilitiesPractitioner research is a significant strand of inquiry within education, holding a prominent place in fields that intersect academic and professional domains, such as healthcare and social care. Dr. James Underwood’s presentation first examines the evolving and contentious definitions of practitioner research across the broad spectrum of education. He situates these definitions within the methodological framework developed at the University of Cambridge over the past 40 years, highlighting the university’s substantial contributions to this research type post 1992.

Dr. James Underwood focuses on the current state of English language assessment and the further potential of practitioner research, emphasizing the benefits and insights derived from this approach. Practitioner research is often associated with student voice research, and its potential in specific types of English language assessment is also explored.The entire presentation is linked to real-world examples and the vision and experiences of teaching and research staff from the Cambridge University Master’s program in English Language Assessment. The report concludes by underscoring the crucial role of practitioner research in bridging theory and practice, fostering a deeper understanding of educational assessment practices, and driving continuous improvement.

·Wang Yan·

International Chinese Education and the Spread of Chinese Culture in Cambridge

The Cambridge Chinese School was established in September 2016, offering classes from beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels to GCSE classes. In addition to Chinese language classes, the school also offers art, dance, and Tai Chi classes. The teachers at the school are local Cambridge residents, most of whom hold master’s or doctoral degrees, ensuring a highly qualified teaching staff.

Since its inception, the school has not only focused on teaching Chinese but has also organized various multicultural activities, such as Chinese dragon boat races, panda painting activities, calligraphy workshops, and the “Chinese Bridge”competition in collaboration with domestic universities. These events have been warmly received and recognized by the Cambridge mayor, county officials, local residents, and the Chinese community, fostering cultural exchange and diversity.

In September 2021, the China International Evaluation on Language Capability (CEC) was introduced in the UK. CEC is the first language translation proficiency test organized by China and open to young learners worldwide. The certification from this exam can be used to demonstrate foreign language proficiency for admissions, employment, studying abroad, and career advancement. Wang Yan is the head of the CEC examination body in the UK.

·Xu Zheng Guo·

Digital International Chinese Education Enhances the Spread of Traditional Chinese Culture

The five-thousand-year-old Chinese civilization is not only brilliant and magnificent but has also had a profound impact on the world in fields such as science, art, and philosophy. It is also the only uninterrupted civilization in the world. Xu Zhengguo, the founder of the Chinese Panda brand, moved to Melbourne in 2006 and has been dedicated to the education and promotion of traditional Chinese culture.

In his speech, Xu Zhengguo elaborated on various aspects of Chinese traditional culture, including the evolution of the Chinese language, calligraphy, the four great inventions of ancient China, ancient Chinese classics, ancient Chinese art, ancient Chinese architecture, traditional Chinese festivals, and Chinese martial arts. He emphasized that the widespread dissemination of the Chinese language globally has greatly enhanced the influence of Chinese culture worldwide, promoting cultural exchange and integration between China and other countries.  

Xu Zhengguo expressed that China and the UK can further strengthen their cooperation in Chinese education and cultural exchange through international collaboration and academic exchanges. Together, they can explore how to better spread and inherit Chinese culture in the era of globalization.

Roundtable Discussion

Combining Online and Offline Approaches to Promote Chinese Language and Culture

During the roundtable discussion, participants engaged in a lively debate on how to combine online and offline education to promote and preserve the Chinese language and culture.

Zhu Min shared the advantages of iHatoo online education, noting that online education can overcome geographical limitations and provide a convenient and efficient learning platform for Chinese learners worldwide. Zhu Min emphasized that through big data analysis and personalized teaching plans, iHatoo Chinese can offer tailored learning experiences for students from diverse backgrounds, enhancing learning outcomes.

The collaboration between iHatooand the Cambridge Chinese School is conducive to integrating online and offline approaches, thereby improving the dissemination of the Chinese language and culture. iHatoo and the Cambridge Chinese School can achieve course resource sharing, jointly host activities and projects, regularly organize teacher training and exchange programs, and use metaverse technology to create immersive learning environments, enhancing the fun and interactivity of learning.

Gifts to Guests

At the end of the forum, iHatoo Dean Zhu Min and General Manager Wang Xiaoyan presented the guests with gifts rich in Chinese cultural heritage, such as Chinese calligraphy, Qingtian stone carvings, silk, and West Lake Dragon Well tea. Through these carefully selected gifts, they hope to deepen the overseas guests’understanding and appreciation of the charm of traditional Chinese culture.

The 6th Cambridge China Education Forum 2024

and the Forum on Innovation and Challenges in International Chinese Education Concluded Successfully