International Chinese Language Day

On 22 April, the UK-themed event for International Chinese Language Day 2026 was held at Highgate Junior School in London. The event was organised by the Chinese Bridge Club UK and the Chinese Proficiency Test UK Committee, under the guidance of the Education Section of the Chinese Embassy in the UK. Under the theme “Chinese: Lighting Up Colourful Dreams”, the programme featured a warm-up performance, a book donation ceremony, and a range of cultural interactive workshops. Distinguished guests including Minister Zhao Fei and Ms. Zhou Wei, Minister Counsellor for Education at the Chinese Embassy in the UK, as well as Mr. Adam Pettitt, Head of Highgate School, attended the event. In his address, Minister Zhao Fei expressed his expectations for the continued development of international Chinese language education and for the further strengthening of China–UK people-to-people exchanges.

As part of the event, the Confucius Institute at De Montfort University was invited to London to participate and host the workshop “One Plate, One Dream: Discovering Chinese Characters”. Focusing on Chinese character culture, the workshop integrated knowledge explanation, interactive classroom activities, and creative art practice, guiding students to experience the beauty of Chinese characters in a lively and engaging environment.

At the beginning of the session, CI teachers introduced the long history and rich cultural significance of Chinese characters, explaining their origins, pictographic features, and the evolution from ancient scripts to modern forms. Through vivid explanations, students came to understand that Chinese characters are not only a writing system for recording language, but also a cultural medium carrying the accumulated wisdom of Chinese civilization. By highlighting how characters convey meaning through form and are inspired by real-world objects, the teachers helped students develop an intuitive understanding of the relationship between form and meaning, and gain a clearer awareness of how Chinese characters are structured.

During the interactive session, teachers used typical pictographic characters such as “日” (sun) and “月” (moon) to guide students in observing shapes and guessing meanings. Students actively participated, sharing their ideas and making connections between images and characters. This process created a lively and engaging classroom atmosphere, enhanced participation, and effectively stimulated students’ interest in learning Chinese. Through observation, comparison, and discussion, students were able to appreciate both the creativity and the internal logic of the Chinese writing system, as well as the unique charm of Chinese culture.

In the subsequent creative plate-painting session, students were encouraged to use their imagination by combining Chinese character elements with colours and patterns. Some chose to focus on simple pictographic forms, while others incorporated natural elements such as the sun, moon, and plants, or expressed their own understanding of Chinese culture through their designs. Each piece, with its vivid colours and thoughtful composition, not only demonstrated students’ artistic expression, but also reflected their growing interest in Chinese characters and Chinese culture.

By integrating knowledge, interaction, and creativity, the workshop provided students with a meaningful opportunity to explore the beauty of Chinese characters through observation, imagination, and hands-on practice. The participation of the Confucius Institute at De Montfort University in this International Chinese Language Day event showcased the university’s influence in international Chinese language education and cultural promotion.