To promote international cooperation and exchange in Chinese language education, the Department of Applied Chinese at Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) warmly welcomed two visiting educators from Singapore on April 28–29 for a two-day academic and instructional exchange program.
The visit included a showcase of student capstone projects and a tour of CYCU’s Metaverse Smart Classroom, where the guests experienced innovative applications of AR/VR technology in language teaching—highlighting how emerging technologies are opening new frontiers for Chinese education.
According to the College of Humanities and Education, the visitors—Mr. Hong Xian-Cai, a teacher at Singapore’s Chongfu Primary School, and Ms. Foo Ai-Fen, a former official with Singapore’s Ministry of Education—visited CYCU to gain deeper insights into Taiwan’s Chinese language teacher training models. They engaged in bilateral discussions on instructional philosophies, curriculum design, and digital teaching practices with faculty from the Department of Applied Chinese and related units.
The first day began with a presentation from the Department of Applied Chinese, introducing the department’s strengths in teacher training, pedagogical practices, and course design. The two guests also shared insights on Singapore’s elementary education environment and its ongoing digital transformation, sparking in-depth dialogue on teaching objectives and methodologies.
The guests were also received by Dean Penelope Peng of the College of Humanities and Education for further discussions on educational philosophy and international collaboration. A luncheon roundtable hosted by Dr. Yiyau Liao focused on digital teaching, covering topics such as digital tools, interactive classroom design, and remote learning strategies.
That afternoon, they visited the Department of Special Education to learn more about CYCU’s progress in inclusive education and support systems. On the second day, they toured the Chinese Language Center, where Director Daphne Ou presented concrete approaches and achievements in international Chinese education and teacher training. The guests then returned to the Department of Applied Chinese to observe student capstone projects, gaining insights into how students apply theoretical knowledge in instructional design and innovative material development. They praised the students’ professionalism and creativity.
Dr. Liu Yu-Fen, Chair of the Department of Applied Chinese, remarked:
“Although Chinese is one of Singapore’s official languages, English remains the dominant working language, making the promotion of Chinese education particularly challenging. The fact that these two educators traveled to Taiwan to actively engage in our campus courses and teaching observations reflects their deep passion and commitment to Chinese language education. This exchange not only allowed us to witness Singapore’s efforts in promoting Chinese, but also opened new possibilities for future internship collaborations between CYCU and Singapore.”
This visit highlighted the department’s strong capabilities in Chinese teacher training and pedagogical innovation, while also establishing a meaningful link between CYCU and the Singaporean education community. Moving forward, the Department of Applied Chinese will continue to expand international partnerships in pursuit of its vision: “Rooted in Chinese, illuminating the world.”
