疫情之下的孔子课堂

THE CONFUCIUS CLASSROOM UNDER THE COVID PANDEMIC

第一天来到英国佩特文法学校时,新雨刚过,窗外是淡绿色的操场。我站在讲台上,学生们纷纷举手提问:你来自中国哪里?中国的中学和英国的有什么区别?从他们的眼睛里,我看到了对一个遥远的东方国度的好奇与憧憬。这种惊异的感觉,让我想到自己初到英国时,坐在伦敦帕丁顿的车站里,看着许多灰鸽子大摇大摆地在餐桌上走来走去的情景,那时的心境也是同样的不可思议。作为孔子学院的国际中文教师志愿者,我观察、注视着这个国家,而这里的人们也以同样的方式倾听、想象着中国。中文是桥梁和纽带,它让我们走到了一起。疫情又让我和我的学生们体悟到不同寻常的孔子课堂。

The first day I arrived at the Pate's Grammar School in England,it had just stopped raining.Outside the window was a light green sports field.Standing on the podium,I saw many students eager to raise their hands,asking me:Which part of China are you from?What are the differences between Chinese secondary schools and British secondary schools?In their eyes,I sensed a strong curiosity and yearning for a faraway oriental country.It reminded me of how similarly amazed I was when I just arrived in London,stting inside the Paddington Station,and watching grey pigeons strutting around a dining table.As a Confucius Institute volunteer Chinese teacher,I observe and understand the UK,in the same way as the people here would like to know and imagine about China.Chinese is the bridge that has brought us together,while the COVID pandemic has sent me and my students on an unusual learning journey.