From Simon Macaulay, Chair, SCEN

Happy Mid Autumn Festival!
中秋节快乐！

CONGRATUALATIONS

Congratulations to all the young people embarking on another school or academic year of studying Mandarin – some for the first time. Congratulations to the teachers of Mandarin – some working full time in schools for the first time. Congratulations to those who have received positive SQA results from the 2024 diet – again the results continue the pattern of year-on-year improvement – marking the fact that more and more youngsters from Scotland have some knowledge of Mandarin language and knowledge of Chinese history and culture.

SCEN YOUTH SUMMIT AND MANDARIN SPEAKING COMPETITION 2025

We are planning to organise the biennial SCEN Youth Summit and Mandarin speaking competition in 2025. The most likely date will be early June – just after the SQA exams – to encourage maximum participation. As at previous SCEN Youth Summits, this will be a showcase opportunity for schools and young people to demonstrate what they are learning about Chinese language and about China. Once again we shall combine the Summit with a Mandarin speaking competition. SCEN Trustees will consider options as to venue and date at the meeting scheduled for 26 September.  As soon as arrangements are in place we shall contact the SCEN network, so that you have plenty of time to make necessary arrangements.

SCEN LECTURE 2025

We are planning to host a SCEN lecture and social evening some time early in 2025. As well as participating in a stimulating lecture (held very successfully at the Royal Society of Edinburgh in June this year) the event provides an opportunity for people associated with SCEN, including school and university students, to meet socially and compare experiences.  Arrangements will be discussed by SCEN Trustees at the meeting on 26 September. We shall let you know about details as soon as these are finalised.

YOUTH VOICE WITHIN SCEN: CELEBRATING THE LEARNING OF MANDARIN WITHIN SCHOOLS

SCEN is anxious to promote the learning of Mandarin within schools in Scotland by showcasing exciting examples of how young people can be enthused by engaging with the language. Please find the video blow to find out how one school – High School of Dundee (led by teacher and SCEN Network member for many years – Yunchao Murdoch) have been celebrating the Year of the Dragon. Last session a specially prepared video from Boroughmuir High School was disseminated. This session the communications team at Boroughmuir will be supporting further video materials. If your school is interested in making a similar video, celebrating your work in learning and teaching Mandarin, please contact youthvoice@scen.info

ERIC LIDDELL 100

Summer of 2024 saw a whole number of activities marking the 100th anniversary of Eric Liddell’s gold winning success at the Paris Olympics of 1924. Many young people throughout Scotland were able to be part of these celebrations. And the legacy lives on – for example through the curricular materials which have been developed to support schools and young people discovering about the life of Eric Liddell...and the resonances for our own times. 

SCEN CHINESE TEACHING CLUB

The proposed face-to-face meeting of the Club planned for this month has had to be postponed as the date and travelling issues proved difficult for many. The next meeting will be held on line on Friday 6 December at 3.30 p.m.

For details contact Yun Shen at admin@scen.info

SCEN ADVISORY COUNCIL

The next meeting of the Advisory Council will be on line on 4th October 2024.

For further information on SCEN activity please do not hesitate to contact us at admin@scen.info.

Best wishes to you all,
Simon Macaulay
Chair
SCEN