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The 9th Conference on Chinese Teaching in Scotland

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2nd Advanced Summer School in International Chinese Language Teaching

AI and the Future of International Chinese Language Teaching

16-19 June 2026, Edinburgh

Join us at the University of Edinburgh this June for the 2nd Advanced Summer School in International Chinese Language Teaching (16-19 June 2026).

Building on the success of the 8th Conference on Chinese Teaching in Scotland (CTS 2025), the upcoming 9th CTS Conference (2026) will host this year’s Advanced Summer School under the theme: AI and the Future of International Chinese Language Teaching.

Jointly supported by the Confucius Institute for Scotland and the Institute for Language Education at the University of Edinburgh, together with the School of International Cultural Exchange at Fudan University, this programme brings together leading scholars and experts from across the globe. Participants will engage with pedagogical innovation in generative AI and Chinese language education.

Across four intensive days, the Summer School offers a dynamic combination of expert lectures, small-group seminars, and individual mentoring. Designed to be both collaborative and intellectually stimulating, the programme supports participants in advancing their research capacity and teaching practice in an increasingly AI-driven educational landscape.

Key Themes:

  • AI-driven pedagogical innovations in course and materials design
  • AI in language teaching and learning
  • AI and cross-cultural communication in Chinese language learning
  • Challenges and ethical considerations of generative AI in language education

Programme Details:

  • Dates: 16-19 June 2026 (4 days, 3 nights)
  • Capacity: 24 participants.
  • Participants will receive:
    • A Certificate of Completion from the Advanced Summer School.
    • A Certificate of Participation from the Confucius Institute for Scotland.
  • One outstanding participant will be invited to present at the 10th CTS Conference, scheduled for the following year, with complimentary registration. Accommodation during the conference will be provided, and the travel expenses will be covered up to a specified amount (subject to the policies of the Confucius Institute for Scotland).
  • High-quality research papers will be considered for inclusion in an open-access collection titled Generative AI and the Future of International Chinese Language Teaching

Speakers bio (Please click on the speaker’s name below for their bio.)

Dr Lily Chen

Professor Shijuan Liu

Dr. Lijing Shi

Dr Ashley Simpson

Eligibility:

We welcome applications from:

  • Experienced Chinese language teachers
  • Postgraduate students (in education, linguistics, modern language studies, or related fields),
  • Educators seeking professional development in international Chinese Language Teaching.

Candidates should demonstrate:

  • near-native proficiency in Chinese,
  • fluent proficiency in English.

Application and Registration:

  • To apply, please submit an online application form including a proposal (approx. 250 words in English and 500 characters in Chinese), details of your academic/professional background and research interests.
  • Application deadline: 20 April 2026
  • Notification of results: 17:00 (UK Time), 30 April 2026

Fees and Support:                                                                              

  • A non-refundable registration fee of £150 is required upon acceptance
  • A limited number of £50 bursaries are available for part-time teachers, students, or applicants with financial need (subject to CI conditions)
  • The Confucius Institute for Scotland will
    • Provide conference lunch and refreshments at no charge
    • Assist with accommodation at discounted rates, which is £50 per night, including a single room and breakfast

Contact

If you have any enquiries, please contact The Confucius Institute at the external conference secretary LI Yiran  cisevents@ed.ac.uk

We welcome applications from motivated educators and researchers who wish to engage with research in AI and Chinese language education.

                               

 

 

 

Chinese Brush Painting Workshop – Birds & Flowers

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Key Information

Date & Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, Saturday, 9 May 2026
Student Level: This workshop is suitable for both beginners and advanced students.

Location:
This class will be delivered in person at Abden House, 1 Marchhall Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 5HP.

Why Should I Take This Course?

Chinese brush painting is both a mental and physical exercise, requiring careful control of the brush while harmonising the mind and body. In this workshop, you will learn essential brush techniques to create expressive bird paintings. Traditional bird subjects such as orioles, magpies and cranes symbolise joy, good fortune and longevity in Chinese culture.

What Does It Cover?

This one-day workshop introduces the traditional techniques of Chinese brush painting, focusing on the use of soft brushes and ink to depict birds. The tutor will guide you step by step, offering the option to paint different bird subjects including orioles, magpies and cranes.

About the Teacher

The workshop will be led by Chi Zhang, a highly experienced instructor who was featured in the BBC documentary Loop – The Art of Chinese Brush Painting. Chi was shortlisted for Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2015, and his calligraphy was projected onto Edinburgh Castle during the 2015 Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

For more information and to explore Chi’s artwork, visit: www.chizhangartist.com

Cost: £40 (all materials included)

Booking & Further Information

To ensure an optimal learning experience, the class size is limited. Please register by using the Form HERE.

For additional information, or to arrange one-to-one tutorials or small group workshops, please email: info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk

Chinese Brush Painting – Scottish Landscape (Outdoor Painting)

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Key Information

Date: Saturday, 6 June 2026

Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Student Level:

This course is suitable for both beginners and advanced students. It also works well as a follow-up for students who have previously attended Chinese landscape painting classes, although prior experience is not required.

Location: This class will take place in the garden of Abden House, 1 Marchhall Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 5HP.

Why Should I Take This Course?

Chinese brush painting is a traditional art form that beautifully captures the spirit of nature. In this course, we will focus on outdoor painting, combining the techniques of Shan Shui (mountain and water) painting with the unique character of the Scottish landscape.

Taking inspiration from the picturesque surroundings of Abden House, the home of the Confucius Institute, the workshop will combine indoor instruction with outdoor sketching and painting, weather permitting. You will learn how to capture landscape forms using Chinese brushes and ink while incorporating Scottish scenery into your work.

What Does It Cover?

Live demonstrations will be provided throughout the workshop, and the tutor will guide you in applying the techniques to your own paintings. Participants are also welcome to bring their own photo references for inspiration.

Chinese brush painting is not only a visual art form but also a calming and meditative practice that can help improve focus and reduce stress. This workshop offers a wonderful opportunity to paint in nature and experience the peaceful rhythm of brush and ink.

About the Teacher

This course will be led by Chi Zhang, an experienced instructor featured in the BBC documentary Loop – The Art of Chinese Brush Painting. Chi was shortlisted for Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2015, and his calligraphy was projected onto Edinburgh Castle during the 2015 Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

For more information and to view Chi’s artwork, visit: www.chizhangartist.com

Cost: £40 (all materials included)

Booking & Further Information

To ensure the best learning experience, class sizes are limited. Please register by using the Form HERE.

For more information, or to arrange one-to-one tutorials or small group workshops, please email: info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk

HippFest, 2026 – Song

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We are pleased to continue supporting programmes running at The Hippodrome, Scotland’s number one ‘destination’ cinema and winner of Best Cinema Experience in Scotland 2019.

Anna May Wong gives one of the most compelling screen performances of her career as a woman tormented by unrequited love.

Song (named in a nod to Anna May Wong’s birth-name, Wong Liu Tsong) is washed-up on the shore of Constantinople where she is rescued by artist-in-exile John. With nowhere else to turn, Song persuades her saviour to take her in, quickly making herself indispensable by joining John’s knife-throwing act. Despite Song’s tender care and loyalty, John remains devoted to an old flame: a self-centred ballerina who broke his heart years before.

Anna May Wong quit Hollywood, and its relentlessly stereotyped casting in secondary roles, to work on this film in the thriving German cinema industry. While once again cast as the exotic ‘other’, she is the undisputed star of this picture, bringing extraordinary depth and dignity to a role written expressly for her.

Screening material courtesy of Filmmuseum Düsseldorf.

Tickets can be purchased HERE

Screening material courtesy of Filmmuseum Düsseldorf.