Event Summary

On June 10, 2022, the Taiwanese Association of Hispanists hosted an online workshop titled "Spanish Language Teaching in Mainland China and Hong Kong: Current Status and Challenges." Moderated by Professor Luisa Chang (NTHU), three scholars shared insights into the rapid growth of Spanish programs in Mainland China, the standardized testing system, and the unique pedagogical challenges in Hong Kong's changing socio-political landscape. Professor Jing-Sheng Lu (SISU) provided expert commentary.

Presentation Highlights

1. Spanish Teaching and Assessment in Mainland China

Speaker: Ms. Ya-Hui Chang (Associate Professor, Xiamen University) Highlights:

• Rapid Expansion: According to the 2021 yearbook, university students majoring in Spanish in China exceeded 30,000, with Spanish now included in the high school curriculum.
• Curriculum Framework: Introduced the national Teaching Guidelines for Undergraduate Spanish Programs at Regular Higher Education Institutions (《普通高等學校本科西班牙語專業教學指南》), whose five frameworks cover general foundation courses, core professional courses, practical training, and graduation theses.
• Standardized Testing: Explained the "Band 4" (sophomore) and "Band 8" (senior) professional exams essential for Spanish majors in China.

2. Spanish Teaching in Mainland China: New Horizons and Challenges

Speaker: Ms. Nieves Tzu Yu Liu (Assistant Professor, NTU; formerly at Nankai University) Highlights:

• History and Progress: Reviewed the development of Spanish studies in China since 1952 and the role of the Instituto Cervantes.
• Cross-Strait Comparison: Compared teaching materials, faculty, and student characteristics between Mainland China and Taiwan.
• Practical Insights: Used Nankai University as a case study to show how small-class settings enhance humanistic literacy and international vision, featuring rigorous grammar and translation exercises.

3. Teaching Spanish in Hong Kong (2020-21): A Context of Changes

Speaker: Mr. Óscar García Marchena (Visiting Assistant Professor, Tunghai University) Highlights:

• Impact of Social Changes: Discussed how the National Security Law and political factors affect classroom discussions, identity issues, and student emigration.
• Educational Context: Analyzed differences in Spanish teaching across international schools, universities, and language centers in Hong Kong.
• Quality Improvement: Emphasized strategies for enhancing oral communication skills among Asian students in EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction) environments using new technologies.

Event Information

• Time: June 10, 2022 (Fri) 20:00-21:30
• Location: Online (Zoom)
• Moderator: Prof. Luisa Chang (National Tsing Hua University)
• Special Commentator: Prof. Jing-Sheng Lu (Shanghai International Studies University)