2008 Press Releases
European Award for the Institute of Chinese Studies at UCC
29.09.2008
The prestigious European Award for Languages has been awarded to the Irish Institute of Chinese Studies (IICS) at UCC. The Institute was selected as a winner for 2008 for its excellence, dedication and innovation in Chinese language teaching and learning in Irish Higher Education.
29.09.2008
The prestigious European Award for Languages has been awarded to the Irish Institute of Chinese Studies (IICS) at UCC. The Institute was selected as a winner for 2008 for its excellence, dedication and innovation in Chinese language teaching and learning in Irish Higher Education.
The European Award for Languages is a Europe-wide initiative supported by the European Commission. It grants awards each year to the most innovative language teaching and learning projects in each of the Member States of the European Union.
Dr Huan Xiong, Language Coordinator, Irish Institute of Chinese Studies, UCC, Professor David Cox, Head, College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences, UCC, Professor Fan Hong, Director, Irish Institute of Chinese Studies, UCC and Mr Yang Zengxiang, Co-director of UCC Confucius Institute received the award, European Award for Languages - the Language Label 2008, from Simon Coveney TD. Dick Roche TD, Minister for European Affairs, Emer Costell, Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, and Paul McCaffrey from the Department of Education and Science were also present at the Ceremony which took place in Dublin on European Language Day (September 26th 2008).
Chinese language teaching and learning began at UCC in September 2006 after the establishment of the IICS. It is taught in the following four degree programmes: BA in Chinese Studies; BComm with Chinese Studies; Higher Diploma and Master of Arts (MA) in Contemporary Chinese Culture and Business.
Chinese language teaching and learning at UCC has combined traditional classroom teaching methods with dynamic and effective out-of-class active learning methods, such as the Pairing Study Programme, Chinese Corner Activity, self-designed conversations, Chinese word puzzles, games, language contests and drama performances to assist students in mastering the language skills and to inspire their interest in Chinese language and culture.
As one student commented: "The Chinese language is one that looks completely unapproachable, but with the right attitude and the support of our teachers, it is actually more of a 'really big hill' than a mountain! The pride I felt when I first realized I could read a page of Chinese script and write paragraphs in Chinese is indescribable. The progress is clearly visible and the effort well worth making."
Pictured at the award ceremony were L-R: Dr Huan Xiong, Language Coordinator, Irish Institute of Chinese Studies, UCC, Mr Yang Zengxiang, Co-director of UCC Confucius Institute, Professor Fan Hong, Director, Irish Institute of Chinese Studies, UCC and Professor David Cox, Head, College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences, UCC.
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Dr Huan Xiong, Language Coordinator, Irish Institute of Chinese Studies, UCC, Professor David Cox, Head, College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences, UCC, Professor Fan Hong, Director, Irish Institute of Chinese Studies, UCC and Mr Yang Zengxiang, Co-director of UCC Confucius Institute received the award, European Award for Languages - the Language Label 2008, from Simon Coveney TD. Dick Roche TD, Minister for European Affairs, Emer Costell, Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, and Paul McCaffrey from the Department of Education and Science were also present at the Ceremony which took place in Dublin on European Language Day (September 26th 2008).
Chinese language teaching and learning began at UCC in September 2006 after the establishment of the IICS. It is taught in the following four degree programmes: BA in Chinese Studies; BComm with Chinese Studies; Higher Diploma and Master of Arts (MA) in Contemporary Chinese Culture and Business.
Chinese language teaching and learning at UCC has combined traditional classroom teaching methods with dynamic and effective out-of-class active learning methods, such as the Pairing Study Programme, Chinese Corner Activity, self-designed conversations, Chinese word puzzles, games, language contests and drama performances to assist students in mastering the language skills and to inspire their interest in Chinese language and culture.
As one student commented: "The Chinese language is one that looks completely unapproachable, but with the right attitude and the support of our teachers, it is actually more of a 'really big hill' than a mountain! The pride I felt when I first realized I could read a page of Chinese script and write paragraphs in Chinese is indescribable. The progress is clearly visible and the effort well worth making."
Pictured at the award ceremony were L-R: Dr Huan Xiong, Language Coordinator, Irish Institute of Chinese Studies, UCC, Mr Yang Zengxiang, Co-director of UCC Confucius Institute, Professor Fan Hong, Director, Irish Institute of Chinese Studies, UCC and Professor David Cox, Head, College of Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences, UCC.
854MMcS