As we approach the festive season and the end of the calendar year we have the opportunity to reflect on a very challenging twelve months for schools, the curriculum, and the particular pressures on Modern Languages, including Mandarin.

At the same time, we can take pride in a number of positives, and look forward to our work in 2023, with more opportunities for us to meet up face-to-face after long periods of isolation and only online contact.

SCEN LECTURE: “FROM GOLDEN ERA TO TARNISHED RELATIONSHIPS”
(1 DECEMBER 2022)

Last Thursday at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Martin McDermott talked to us about representing the Scottish Government for five years at the British Embassy in Beijing.

Martin told us about the many tensions and challenges in the current relationship with China (following the “golden era” in the previous decade), but also pointed to many signs of hope for the future, most notably in the engagement of young people both in China and in Scotland. After his lecture, Martin engaged with the audience who posed many questions about Martin’s experiences, and also hopes for the future.

The following reception provided the first opportunity in over three years for members of the SCEN Network together with friends and colleagues to engage socially and catch up on recent experiences.

Details of the event, including a summary of Martin’s lecture, will be posted on the SCEN website soon.

The gallery is now available to view here.

SCEN YOUTH SUMMIT: FRIDAY, 9 JUNE 2023

HOLD THE DATE: FRIDAY, 9 JUNE 2023
JOHN MACINTYRE CENTRE, UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

The first full SCEN Youth Summit for nearly four years will take place in Edinburgh on 9 June. This will be the first opportunity for schools across Scotland to showcase progress in learning Chinese and about China. In challenging times, and without the opportunity currently to visit China, we know of the great progress many schools, both primary and secondary, are making in learning Chinese. We look forward to the involvement at the event of our many supporters from providers of language learning, government, and former students of Mandarin. As well as the showcase part of the event, we intend to organise a Chinese speaking competition with finalists performing for those of us present. Details are still being worked out, and we shall be in touch in early 2023.

YOUTH VOICE – OTHER EVENTS

After a series of successful school based SCEN events in the course of 2021/22, promoting the learning and teaching of Chinese, we hope to support the organisation of further such events in 2023, with the involvement of the agencies responsible for the learning of Mandarin in Scotland. In the early part of 2023, we are focusing on schools in the north of Scotland and hope to be able to announce a school-based event to take place early in 2023. If you or your school wishes to be involved in such an event, please contact admin@scen.info.

RESEARCH PROJECT ON THE TEACHING OF MANDARIN ACROSS SCOTLAND

SCEN, along with CISS, is working with Professor Antonella Sorace of Bilingualism Matters (and a member of SCEN Advisory Council) towards a major research project on the learning of Mandarin across Scotland. The project will identify where and how Mandarin is being taught, and the added value to learners of embarking on the learning of Mandarin. We intend to commence work on this project in February 2023. Already discussions are underway with two designated qualified researchers who will be working with individual schools. These are currently being selected.

Our aim is that this project outcome will be the springboard to further development of Mandarin learning and teaching, especially in those schools and areas where Mandarin is not currently being taught.

SCEN CHINESE TEACHING CLUB

The latest meeting of the Club took place on 11 December, chaired by Lynnette Doherty, Aberdeen. It was well attended with both school and university teachers present online. There was good discussion on the sharing of curricular materials, as well as the kind of pressures schools and other providers are under in challenging times. The Club is an increasingly valuable forum for teachers to exchange information and views and we would encourage teachers of Mandarin to join us. The next meeting will be on 24 February 2023.

For further information about the Chinese Teaching Club, and to discuss joining the Club, please contact Megan Hammell, Online Communications and Administrative officer at SCEN at admin@scen.info.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE FOR SCCOTLAND’S SCHOOL (CISS) – 10 YEARS ON

CISS celebrated its tenth anniversary at a knowledge exchange event at CISS HQ in the Ramshorn Theatre, University of Strathclyde n 25 November. The event was well attended by teachers and senior staff in the schools supported by CISS across Scotland, the first major face-to-face get-together of this kind since before the pandemic. In the evening there was a social event primarily for the Tianjin Scholars associated with CISS who had undertaken part of their Mandarin learning in Tianjin, China, many continuing to work with Chinese language and China. Welcoming the scholars, Martin McDermott until recently representing Scottish Government in Beijing, spoke of the importance of the role of the Scholars in promoting positive relations between the people of China and Scotland.

SCEN congratulates CISS on its tenth anniversary, and looks forward to future collaborations.

SEASONS GREETINGS FROM SCEN!

Please have a restful and peaceful break at Christmas and the New Year, and return with renewed energy to embark on new learning and teaching opportunities in 2023.

Simon Macaulay
Chair
SCEN