Confucius Institute in Auckland(New Zealand)

Background information The official "Confucius Institute in Auckland" plaque was granted to the University at the opening ceremony of the first World Chinese Conference in July 2005. An Establishment Committee was set up in February 2006.The Advisory Board, which will be replacing the Establishment Committee, will have its first board meeting in the middle of 2006. It is tentatively planned to have the formal launch of the Institute in August or September of 2006. The Confucius Institute in Auckland has already started a Chinese brush painting course in June. It will set up a national cooperation network to foster mutual support and to enable collaboration on teaching and promoting of Chinese language and culture within the different institutions and organizations in the country. A survey on Chinese language teacher training programs in New Zealand is expected to be completed by September. The results of this survey will be an important resource For designing the institute’s Chinese teacher professional Development courses and the NZ Ministry of Education’s Teacher training development programs. Future Development The Institute will offer these courses to the community this year: Chinese language classes for tourists, HSK preparation courses, crash course for Chinese Hanyu Pinyin and seminars on various aspects of Chinese culture. A free trial program of Chinese language has been promoted among local intermediate schools that are interested in offering Chinese in their school curriculum. Principals from selected New Zealand schools will have a one-week tour of Beijing and Shanghai, including Chinese school visits. Teaching materials will be put on display. A resource centre with books, CDs, videos, educational software, mainly donated by Hanban, plus satellite TV equipment for the transmission of Chinese TV program will be set up. In preparation for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, special Olympic program is being planned in collaboration with the New Zealand Olympic Committee. This program will promote Chinese in the mass media and in schools through an Olympic theme.