PLANNING FOR 2024

With a new SCEN Administrative and Communications Officer in place (Yun Shen – admin@scen.info) we are firming up on our plans for 2024.

These include

·       MANDARIN SPEAKING EVENT AND PRESENTATION. Following the successful Mandarin Speaking competition held as part of the SCEN Youth Summit at the John McIntyre Centre in Edinburgh last June, we are planning for a similar competitive event to be held in early June 2024, probably at the Ramshorn, University of Strathclyde (8 minutes on foot from Queen’s Street Station). The event will be appropriate for school pupils of all ages and at its heart will be a celebration of spoken language in Chinese. Date and further details will to be confirmed soon -watch this space!

·       SCHOOL SPECIFIC SCEN EVENTS. Following several successful SCEN showcase events in schools since the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are in discussion with a number of schools about holding a similar event celebrating the learning of Mandarin – involving neighbouring schools – and also looking to the future opportunities for young people who develop some knowledge of Chinese language and culture. If your school is interested in hosting such an event, please contact us at admin@scen.info for further information.

·       SCEN LECTURE 2024. We aim to organise a SCEN lecture in 2024 – with a format similar to those in recent years, for example, last December at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. We are in touch with a possible high calibre speaker at the moment and hope to confirm details early in the New Year. We hope to use the premises of the RSE, as for previous events. As well as a fascinating lecture, we intend that the evening will also be a social event – with opportunities for SCEN Network members and friends to meet and network in person.

·       SCEN Teaching Club. Dates now scheduled for Friday 19 January and Friday 31 May. Both meetings will be held online at 3.30 p.m. For further details please contact admin@scen.info

·       SCEN Advisory Council. Dates now scheduled for 12 January, 10 May. Both meetings will be held online at 2 p.m.

RESEARCH PROJECT ON THE LEARNING AND TEACHING OF MANDARIN IN SCHOOLS ACROSS SCOTLAND

The final report of this major research project, headed by Professor Antonella Sorace of Bilingualism Matters, supported by SCEN and by the Confucious Institute for Scotland’s Schools (CISS) is scheduled to be published next month. Three Edinburgh based researchers – Dr Zhang Hao, Dr Maggie Mroczkowski and Yajun Liu have been analysing the data and are now finalising the report. Discussions are underway on the launch of the Report - and subsequent engagement - for example through a conference type event. We shall keep you updated.

YOUTH VOICE WITHIN SCEN

Youth Voice within SCEN, now led by SCEN Trustee Juliet Presly, is developing plans for increasing student participation across schools. A starting point will be a school preparation of a video showcasing the school’s approach to learning Chinese – and encouraging other schools and young people to do likewise. We hope to be promoting the first school video on Mandarin learning early in the New Year…

THE PANDAS LIVE ON!

Yang Guang and Tian Tian may now have left for China – but a considerable legacy lives on. Royal Zoological Society of Scotland Project Coordinator for Languages – and member of SCEN Advisory Council - Sandie Robb, reports on 10 years of the Beyond the Panda programme - engaging with over 55,000 pupils across Scotland – a programme involving both science and Mandarin language. This highly successful and positively evaluated programme continues to thrive and Sandie can be contacted at srobb@rzss.org.uk for future school visits and engagement.

MANDARIN IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

SCEN network members will be aware of the threat to Modern Language courses in the University of Aberdeen. Current proposals mean a reduction in available courses for students intending to study Modern Languages (through language learning, translation and interpretation) such as French, German, Spanish – and Mandarin. Such cuts run contrary to the intentions of Scotland’s 1 + 2 languages policy which seeks the growth of language learning throughout all stages of education.  Mandarin language is particularly affected as the course under threat is the sole programme in the University of Aberdeen that offers senior honours level studies in Chinese. Cutting back on university language provision – including Mandarin – cannot be other than a seriously retrograde step which will impact throughout the educational community in Scotland. To sign the petition resisting the proposed cuts, please visit the link below.

CHINESE NEW YEAR 2024 AT THE USHER HALL

As in previous Chinese New Years, we shall be bringing in the Year of the Dragon in Edinburgh on Saturday 10 February at 7.30pm at the Usher Hall. Combining the best of Chinese and Scottish culture there will be spirited Highland dancing, showstopping Peking Opera and the elegant Edinburgh symphony orchestra. Tickets are available from Usher Hall ticket office.

Please have a good rest this festive season and we look forward to being in touch early in 2024!

圣诞快乐！

Best wishes to you all,
Simon Macaulay
Chair
SCEN