Mandarin training workshop for teachers from 52 poor counties concludes online

On August 6, a Mandarin proficiency training workshop for over 5,200 teachers from 52 officially designated poor counties was concluded on the cloud, following nearly four months’ online training dispensed by over 1,400 teachers and volunteers from 50 universities nationwide.

As part of the effort to combat poverty through education, the workshop was organized by the MOE, and supported by the National Academy of Education Administration, Institute of Applied Linguistics, China Education Television, East China Normal University and iFLYTEK.

Innovative methods and an “Internet +” approach were applied to enhance the effectiveness of the training. New media platforms were used to achieve real-time interaction on the cloud. A trainer-to-trainee ratio of 1:5, purpose-designed courses, personalized coaching by renowned linguists, and county-specific teaching programs ensured optimal training outcomes. The results were encouraging: 42 percent of the learners improved their mandarin proficiency by one notch or more, and some 3,000 learners achieved Grade B, Level 2 in the National Mandarin Test, a mandatory requirement for teaching in primary and secondary schools.

As a follow-up to the workshop, a National Standard Spoken and Written Chinese Language Training Platform will be launched to provide support for future online training and workshops of this kind.