EACT International Symposium

      

The 5th International Symposium of the European Association of Chinese Teaching

In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the EACT

Challenges and Opportunities for Chinese Language Teaching in a Rapidly Evolving European Society: new standards, multilingual environments and emerging technologies

2-4 July 2025, “L’Orientale” University of Naples, ITALY

Call for Papers (No 2)

The European Association of Chinese Teaching (EACT) is pleased to announce that its 5th International Symposium will be held at “L’Orientale” University of Naples (Italy), between the 2nd and the 4th of July 2025, followed by a two-day academic and cultural visit programme (5th and 6th of July). EACT welcomes colleagues concerned with the learning and teaching of Chinese from all over the world to join us in-person to exchange ideas and research outcomes. The webpage for the conference will soon be available. This is the 2nd Call for Papers with updates and extra information in red, mainly concerning: deadline extension, announcement of keynote speakers and of a special plenary session in honour of prof. Lü Bisong, updated committee.

The Symposium is organized by the EACT in conjunction with “L’Orientale” University of Naples and its Confucius Institute. The theme of the Symposium is “Challenges and Opportunities for Chinese Language Teaching in a Rapidly Evolving European Society: new standards, multilingual environments and emerging technologies”.

Symposium Focus

This 5th International Symposium will focus on exploring the challenges and opportunities Chinese language education faces today, together with the future trends, based upon the past and particularly recent developments in schools and in higher education institutions in Europe and elsewhere. Special attention will be given to:

  1. The development of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language as an academic discipilne
  2. EBCL 2 (European Benchmarks for the Chinese language 2) project, which is drafting the descriptors for levels B1-C1 for European competences of Chinese language;
  3. Theories, practices and new tools for teaching Chinese taking into consideration the learners’ L1 and cultural specificities;
  4. Chinese language teaching through AI, apps, platforms, programs, websites, etc.

As 2025 is the 90th birthday of Prof. LÜ Bisong (吕必松), one of the founders of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language as an academic discipline, a special plenary session will be held at this symposium in his honour. During the symposium, the EACT will also hold its General Assembly.  All the members are welcome to attend.

DATE, VENUE AND WORKING LANGUAGES

2nd to the 4th of July 2025 at “L’Orientale” University of Naples, Italy. Presentations can be either in Chinese or English, exclusively in presence.

5th and 6th of July academic and cultural program: visit of Naples city and University, and of the beautiful surrounding areas. Details to follow soon.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

  • Joël BELLASSEN (President of EACT)
  • CHU Chengzhi 储诚志 (UC Davis, USA)
  • LI Yuming 李宇明 (Beijing Language and Culture University),
  • Bianca BASCIANO (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy)

Main Themes

  1. History of Chinese language teaching
  2. Chinese language teaching and learning policy in different national education systems
  3. Chinese language standards and benchmarks across Europe and elsewhere
  4. Research and development of Chinese language education syllabus in home countries
  5. Development, publication of Chinese language teaching materials and research in Europe and beyond
  6. Research on learners of Chinese, such as their background, motivation and implications for and impact on Chinese learning and teaching
  7. Chinese heritage language learners in Europe
  8. Chinese language teacher training and professional development in different countries
  9. Teaching, learning, assessing Chinese language competences through the use of new technological tools: apps, platforms, web resources, AI, etc.
  10. Other relevant fields concerning the learning and teaching of Chinese language

Abstract Submission and Requirements

  1. The abstract should include the following information: field, two to three keywords and the actual abstract. The abstract can be in either Chinese or English, approximately 300 words in Chinese or about 400 words in English.
  2. Each person can submit only one abstract as an independent or first author. It is possible to submit one other abstract as a co-author.
  3. Abstracts should be submitted via the following link, please fill in all the required information: https://formulaire.unige.ch/outils/limesurveyfac/lettres/EACT-Napoli.
    Please note that no other means of submissions will be accepted for this symposium.
  4. Information on registration and payment will follow after abstract acceptance confirmation.

Important Dates

NEW Deadline for abstract submission: 30th January 2025

NEW Notification date of paper acceptance (by email): by 30th March, 2025

Deadline for paper presenters to confirm participation and register online: 30th April, 2025

The Symposium has an academic/scientific committee responsible for the organization of blind peer review of all the submitted abstracts. The authors of the accepted abstract will have a 20-minute slot to present their paper, including Q&A, in the relevant panels.

Symposium Fees

  • Speakers who are not EACT members: €120 (early bird fee: €100, for those who register by March 31, 2025)
  • Speakers who are EACT members: €25
  • Attending postgraduate/PhD students: €25

The registration fee includes symposium materials and co]ee breaks. Participants are responsible for all other expenses.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

(in alphabetical order): Luminita Balan, Joël Bellassen, Claudia Berger, Xiaoshan Dantille, Andreas Guder, Sun Lam, Li Yuming, Lü Weilun, Luisa M. Paternicò, Emanuele Raini, Valeria Varriano, Zhang Xinsheng, Zhou Minkang.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (in alphabetical order):

Claudia Berger, Marta Bianco, Marco Casentini, Chen Jie, Xiaoshan Dantille, Serena Di Fusco, Carmen Lepadat, Luisa M. Paternicò, Emanuele Raini, Francesca Restucci, Sun Yuzhen, Valeria Varriano, Yao Qiong.

For more information, please contact: ouhanhui@ouhanhui.eu

Email address of EACT: ouhanhui@ouhanhui.eu