Teachers from De Montfort University (DMU) Leicester’s Confucius Institute (CI) have won two top awards at this year’s Chinese Teaching Championships for English-Speaking Countries in Europe.
Xinjia Huang and Sihan Wu won the Merit Award (Primary and Secondary School Students Group) and the Creative Teaching Award (Adult Students category) respectively, while Zhisheng Zhao topped off a strong night for the university’s CI by securing a runner-up prize for the Adult Students category.
From left to right: Wei Liu, Sihan Wu, Professor Yi Zhang, Xinjia Huang and Zhisheng Zhao at the championships in London
Now in its fifth year, the competition brings together the best Chinese language teachers from across the UK and Ireland at an event in London to showcase the best examples of teaching practice in universities, secondary and primary schools.
The trio of volunteer teachers have been centring their lessons on cultural themes, such as Chinese porcelain art or video projects to blend language learning into more practical activities, as well as using AI-assisted learning tools to help personalise their lessons for their students.
For Xinjia, who started working at Castle Mead Academy in Leicester’s city centre in September 2025, winning teaching in the UK has allowed her to see her home country through the eyes of children.
Xinjia said: “I find UK students’ enthusiasm for learning Chinese incredibly high. They are curious, engaged, and always willing to try, which makes every lesson very rewarding. I feel a real sense of achievement after each class.
“Through students’ questions and perspectives, I often see China in a new way and that exchange is both inspiring and enriching.
“Winning the award is a real recognition of the time and care I put into making lessons engaging and supportive for my students. It motivates me to keep developing creative, student-centred teaching approaches and to continue building meaningful cultural connections through language learning.”
DMU is one of 30 Confucius Institutes in the UK and sends volunteer teachers to work in 19 schools across Leicestershire to help develop children’s language skills and cultural understanding of the country.
Sihan Wu is working at both Wreake Valley Academy and Fairfield Prep School and said that the award was a testament to the CI’s hard work and commitment to global engagement.
She said: “This competition allowed us to refine methods that we now bring directly back to our classrooms at DMU and the local schools in Leicester, enhancing the learning experience for all our students.”
“When sharing Chinese culture with British students, the most enjoyable part for me is seeing their genuine interest in learning about our festivals and cultural traditions.
“For example, after I introduced the Mid-Autumn Festival, many students remembered the details clearly and even took the initiative to look up related information on their own. It brings me great joy to see them learning proactively”
Zhisheng, who came runner-up in the Adult Students category for his work, added: “Our goal was to make language learning dynamic and culturally immersive. Using AI, we provided instant feedback, while cultural projects like porcelain design made the language come alive. Having students co-create materials was key—it turned them from learners into active participants.”
The award wins come after DMU’s CI recently won an international award for its digital approach to teaching schoolchildren Mandarin across Leicestershire.
Together with Justine Jackson of Sacred Heart Voluntary Academy, the Co-Director of DMU’s CI, Professor Yi Zhang, has developed an online platform of lesson plans and videos designed to teach young people the foundations of Mandarin.
Speaking on the latest awards, Professor Zhang said: “The awards won by our volunteer Mandarin teachers mark not only a proud milestone for the Confucius Institute, but also a meaningful moment for DMU and the city of Leicester.
“Their achievements help bring greater visibility to the vibrant academic and cultural community we share, allowing more people to discover the spirit of collaboration and Mandarin learning that thrives here.”
Posted on Monday 16 March 2026