Celebrate the first Chinese Language Day in Australia on 1 September 2023 (2023年9月1日庆祝澳大利亚第一个“中文日”)
Activities & Events
On April 17 2016, Mr Geoff Davis AM, the founding president of the CLTFA turned 80. The Chinese Teachers’ Association of Western Australia held a grand birthday celebration for him at Mt Lawley Senior High School, where Geoff started the Chinese program in 1980 and became the first Chinese teacher in WA. The birthday celebration was highlighted by the attendance of the Principal of Mt Lawley SHS, the President and some members of the Australia China Friendship Society WA and Chinese teachers’ representatives from more than 30 schools. The President of CLTFA Dr Li Fuxin made the special trip from Canberra to Perth to attend the celebration on behalf of the CLTFA.
3、 Mr John Crone’s Memorial Service (2017)
Mr John Crone, a Life Member of the CLTFA and the former Secretary and Treasurer of the Chinese Teachers’ Association of Victoria, passed away on April 8 2017. Mr John Crone had been the Director of North-Asia Section of Radio Australia for 20 years prior to his retirement. He began to work for the CLTFA in 2002 as the Discussion Group Moderator as well as a member on the national Council. He made a tremendous contribution to the Chinese teachers in Australia. He also made a generously donation towards the CLTFA 25th Anniversary Book. Many colleagues of the CLTFA attended his Memorial Service in Melbourne.
1. CLTFA Discussion Group (2002-2010)
During the late nineties, the teaching of Chinese in Australia flourished and the number of Chinese students had reached 100,000. However, there was no mechanism for providing teaching, training, interchanging and support for the increasing number of teachers. Therefore after consultation with all the states, the Chinese Language Teacher’ Federation of Australia (CLTFA) established the CLTFA Discussion Group in 2002 and it was generously funded by the CLTAV. The Moderator of this online forum was John Crone. It was estimated that more than 600 colleagues participated in the Discussion Group between 2002 and 2010, and this service had made a significant contribution to the teaching of Chinese in Australia.
2. 2004 CLTFA China Trip
The CLTFA organized an international trip to China in 2002. The delegation consisted of six state leaders of CLTAs and lead by Mr James Wu OAM, the then President of CLTFA. During this 10-day trip, apart from visiting some of the organizations and having discussions with its leaders, the delegation also visited Beijing Language University, Beijing Foreign Languages University, Wuhan University and Shanghai Datong High School.
3. National High School Chinese Speaking Competition (2005-2008)
In 2005, the CLTFA applied for funding from the Australia-China Council to host a nationwide high school speaking Chinese competition. We were successfully granted an annual subsidy of $20,000 from 2005 to 2008 for travel costs of all candidates and their chaperons. This competition was held on the day before the annual conference and included both native and non-native students from all states. We believe that the competition has greatly improved students' enthusiasm for learning Chinese.
4. 2014 CLTFA Shandong Trip
In April 2014, 22 members of the delegation led by Mrs Anita Chong (President, CLTFA) and Dr Li Fuxin (Vice-President, CLTFA) visited Shandong from 14 to 23 April, 2014. This is the first time that the CLTFA organised a delegation to visit the hometown of Confucius in Shandong since its establishment 20 years ago. The delegation visited Shandong University Second Middle School, Changle No.1 Middle School, Changle Foreign Language School, Laizhou Chinese Martial Arts School, Qingdao No.39 Middle School and Qingdao University.
5. 2016 CLTFA Shandong Beijing & Jilin Trip
From September 23 to October 3, 2016, the CLTFA Senior Delegation led by Dr Fuxin Li visited Shandong, Beijing and Jilin. In Shandong, we visited Shandong University Second Middle School, Changle No.1 Middle School, Changle Foreign Language School, Zhucheng Fanhua Middle School and Qingdao University. A number of historic sites of Shandong, Beijing and Jilin were also in the itinerary.
6. 2017 CLTFA Sichuan trip
23 people attended the CLTFA "2017 Overseas Red Candle Hometown Sichuan Trip”. The delegation visited Sichuan Province from December 11 to 20, 2017. Aside from visiting schools, touring the famous scenic sites, the group also visited and learned the Martial Arts culture in Sichuan Province.
7. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Teaching of Chinese in Australia (2018)
A conference to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the teaching of Chinese in Australian schools was held at Camberwell Grammar School in Melbourne on 7 September 2018. This conference was organised by the Chinese Language Teachers’ Association of Victoria (CLTAV) and the conveners were its President Mr Jixing Xu and Vice-president Mr Wei Ha. The Hon Mr Josh Frydenburg, Federal Treasurer; Mr Zeng Jianhua, Acting Chinese Consul General; Mr Jixing Xu, Dr Fuxin Li, President of the CLTFA and Mr Stephen Lee, the founding president of the CLTAV delivered speeches at the opening of the conference. More than 30 leaders or distinguished guests from Department of Education, Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, business sectors and other organizations attended the opening ceremony. Nearly 500 students from state, private and community schools in Melbourne were also present at the ceremony. Many L leaders of CLTAs together with 150 Victorian Chinese teachers also took part in the conference for the next two days.
8. 2018 CLTFA Yunnan Trip
From December 10 to 20, 2018, invited by the Chinese Language and Culture Education Foundation of China, organized by the Kunming Chinese Language College, the CLTFA teacher's trip visited Yunnan. During his stay in Yunnan, the delegation visited Yunnan Normal University, Kunming Foreign Language School, the Erhai Lake, Dali, Lijiang and many other places of interest.
9. CLTFA 25th Anniversary Yearbook
In 2014, the CLTFA Council decided to publish a complete commemorative pictorial book to mark the 20th anniversary of the Federation. It was finally edited and published in 2019 after five years of hard work and contributions from all the colleagues of state CLTAs, therefore this 260-page book published by People’s Education Press was renamed “25th Anniversary Book of Chinese Language Teachers’ Federation of Australia (Inc)”. This publication signifies not only the work and efforts of 25 years of the Federation, but also stands as a witness of the Chinese education throughout Australia over the past 60 years.
10. Proposed 2020 CLTFA Fujian Trip
The CLTFA planed a delegation of CLTFA teachers to visit Fujian Province in September 2020. Unfortunately, this trip has been postponed due to covid-19 outbreak and restrictions.
Meetings and Celebrations
1、Visiting Ms Anita Chong OAM (1948-2016)
2、Celebrating Mr Geoff Davis’ 80th birthday (2016)
During the difficult time that Former President Ms Anita Chong battled with cancer, Dr Fuxin Li visited her three times on behalf at CLTFA ciuncil and attend the memorial service after Anita Chong sadly passed away on 17th January 2016.