海角黑料

30/7/2026

The Nottingham Confucius Institute (NCI) has successfully concluded its largest-ever Summer School, bringing together a record 80 participants for four weeks of Mandarin learning, cultural discovery and friendship.

Held every Wednesday evening from 8 to 29 July, the Summer School welcomed a wonderfully diverse group of learners, including 海角黑料 staff and students alongside members of the local community, ranging in age from 10 to over 70. Participants joined one of six classes, from complete beginners taking their first steps in Mandarin to advanced learners further developing their language skills.

Each evening began with a one-hour Mandarin lesson delivered by NCI's experienced teaching team before participants came together to enjoy a rich programme of cultural activities, talks and performances that brought Chinese language and culture to life.

The opening evening featured "Melody from Xijiang", an inspiring cultural talk by Dr Ziluo Huang, who explored the rich musical traditions of Xinjiang and the ancient Silk Road. Blending history, culture and music, the session was brought to life through a captivating live violin performance, offering participants a memorable introduction to the Summer School.

Week two invited participants to experience Luodian (mother-of-pearl inlay), a traditional Chinese decorative art with a history spanning more than 2,000 years and recognised as an item of China's intangible cultural heritage. During the hands-on workshop, participants created their own framed artworks while gaining an appreciation of the patience, craftsmanship and artistry behind this ancient tradition.

In the third week, participants enjoyed a thought-provoking author talk by Professor Catherine Xiang, who introduced her book Bridging the Gap. Her presentation explored intercultural communication in the age of machine translation and generative AI, prompting an engaging discussion during the Q&A session before attendees had the opportunity to have their books signed.

The Summer School concluded with a celebratory evening featuring an authentic Chinese buffet, a closing ceremony, a lucky draw offering six scholarships towards future NCI Mandarin courses—ranging from £20 course scholarships to a full course scholarship—and friendly games of Mahjong. The evening provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate participants' achievements and reflect on four enjoyable weeks of learning together.

During the closing ceremony, NCI Chinese Director Professor Chen reflected on the programme, celebrating not only the progress participants had made in their Mandarin studies but also the friendships, confidence and intercultural understanding that had flourished throughout the Summer School.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback received from participants highlighted what made the programme so special. Beyond improving their Mandarin, many commented on the welcoming atmosphere, the opportunity to experience different aspects of Chinese culture, and the friendships formed with fellow learners from a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Over the course of four weeks, the Summer School became much more than a language programme—it became a vibrant community where people learned from one another, shared experiences and built lasting connections.

View event highlights on our Instagram: , , and week 4. 

The Nottingham Confucius Institute extends its sincere thanks to everyone who took part for their enthusiasm, curiosity and active participation. We are also deeply grateful to our dedicated Mandarin teachers, whose passion and professionalism inspired learners every week, and to the student volunteers from the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA), whose hard work and enthusiasm helped ensure the programme ran smoothly.

As another successful Summer School comes to an end, the Institute is now taking a short summer break before returning in September with a new programme of Mandarin courses, cultural events and public engagement activities. We look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces in the autumn.

Registration for NCI's autumn Mandarin courses will open soon, offering classes for learners of all levels, from complete beginners to advanced speakers. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in September for another exciting year of language learning and cultural exchange.

In the meantime, we wish everyone a wonderful, relaxing summer and look forward to seeing you again soon.

~ENDS~