December 16, 2024, Dublin — The Taiwan Centre for Mandarin Learning in Ireland (TCMLI) hosted its second end-of-term presentation and celebration for 2024, marking a vibrant conclusion to another successful term. The event welcomed students, teachers, board members, and distinguished guests, including Senator Gerry Horkan and First Secretary Evelyn Tzeng from the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland.
The director of TCMLI kicked off the event with heartfelt gratitude for the support of her board members. She then delivered a lively and engaging mini-lecture on learning over 20 useful Mandarin phrases that rhyme with the numbers 0 to 9. She encouraged all students to make full use of free resources such as MyCT, Quizlet, and TOCFL mock tests over the holiday period.
Senator Gerry Horkan opened his remarks with a cheerful “Hello, my name is Gerry” in Mandarin. He congratulated everyone on completing another term of Mandarin Chinese and extended his commendations to Evan and her team, including board members Dr. Elizabeth Lin, Yuchia Lee, Tina Jan, and teachers Syueping and Tess, for their hard work in making the centre a success. He noted that TCMLI is a wonderful testament to the dedication and resilience of the Taiwanese community. He also acknowledged the crucial support of the Ministry of Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), whose three-year funding program made the centre possible.
First Secretary Evelyn Tzeng echoed these sentiments, encouraging students to maintain their enthusiasm for Mandarin and to explore Taiwan’s rich cultural and linguistic heritage firsthand.
Each student delivered an excellent presentation, showcasing their language skills in creative and engaging ways. Some introduced their beautiful hometowns, highlighted unique aspects of the Sichuan dialect, shared holiday experiences, told stories, used interactive tools like Mentimeter, or discussed books. Two standout moments included Anna Rice, a student who won the prestigious Camille Award (European Film Composer Award), delighting attendees with her beautiful composition of Taiwan's National Anthem, and another student who flipped the classroom with an impressive lesson on mnemonics for Mandarin—a fantastic learning tip!
The event also featured reflections from students, showcasing the personal and collective impact of TCMLI's programs.
Vannessa, a first-semester Chinese student, expressed her enthusiasm: “I just completed my first semester of Chinese classes, and it was such a great experience! I loved the flexible class structure, supportive teachers, and interactive learning methods. The opportunity to practice speaking in a friendly environment made a huge difference in my learning. The teachers were always helpful and encouraging, which kept me motivated. I joined to try it out, and now I’m excited to continue next semester. Thank you for making language learning so enjoyable!”
Another student Damian shared his appreciation for the class structure: “I really enjoyed the classes. I like how there are two classes. The first class is great because it's formal learning. The textbook is not too difficult and gives students an opportunity to practice some basics. Towards the end of class, we learn difficult words, which makes it challenging for everyone. The second hour on Monday is great because it’s something different every week. It’s fantastic to have special guests like Anthony Liu, and the Balderdash class was excellent. It’s also great that the teachers speak Chinese 99% of the time. Overall, I’m very happy with how the classes are organised.”
John praised the quality of instruction but shared his struggles: “Outstanding teaching. But I really struggled with Mandarin and also with the technology.”
The event concluded with reflections on the semester's achievements and a bittersweet acknowledgment of the challenges ahead. TCMLI’s student numbers have grown enough to support three separate classes, reflecting its increasing popularity. However, without the vital funding from the OCAC, this will mark the final term for TCMLI under its current structure.
Despite these challenges, students and staff celebrated the connections built, the achievements made, and the passion for Mandarin and Taiwanese culture cultivated over the years. TCMLI has left an indelible mark, fostering understanding and friendships that will undoubtedly endure. While this chapter may be concluding, the spirit of learning and cultural exchange it inspired will continue to bridge Ireland and Taiwan for years to come.
