When 2008 smiling faces blossomed over the air of the bird’s nest, the Education Office of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand become a sea of joy. More than 30 volunteer Chinese language teachers in Thailand gathered in front of TV and stared at the screen. They swung the homemade banners and colored flags in their hands, watching the live broadcast of the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympic Games, cheering for the Olympics and shouting encouragement for their motherland.

Under the demand of the Ministry of Education of Thailand, Hanban dispatched 870 volunteer Chinese language teachers to Thailand, which greatly inspired the locals to learn Chinese. At present, the number of various schools offering Chinese courses has increased from 242 in 2003 to 1105 and the number of Chinese learners also increased from 50 thousand to 400 thousand. All the volunteer Chinese language teachers set their hearts on their motherland and sat in front of the TV to watch the Olympic programs after a hard workday. To their minds, watching Olympic programs, enjoying the happiness of victory and prosperity with the people in China is a great enjoyment and encouragement.

Volunteers expressed that the Beijing Olympic games has attracted high attention from people at home and abroad. They took this golden opportunity to integrate Olympic elements into Chinese teaching, such as Olympic mascot paper-cutting, singing Olympic songs, watching Olympic broadcasts to understand Chinese conditions and Chinese culture, etc. In addition, a series of Olympic-themed keynote speeches, calligraphy, songs and other Chinese competitions and activities held by the Education Office of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, the Thai Ministry of Education and other educational institutions pushed Chinese education to a climax in Thailand. Wang Zhilian, one representative of the volunteers said that the grant opening ceremony, proceeding in a joyful and harmonious atmosphere, fully demonstrated the five-thousand years of history and culture meeting with modern technology. He expressed that he was greatly encouraged. Although we work abroad, our hearts go along with their Chinese compatriots. We must carry forward volunteers' sacrificing spirit, overcome various difficulties and be strict with teaching, doing our part to promote our country, increase Thai people’s understanding of China and make active and more contributions to the prosperity of our motherland.