Confucius Institute at UWA in Perth, Western Australia | Language school

Confucius Institute at UWA

Locality: Perth, Western Australia

Phone: +61 8 6488 6888

Address: Cnr of Princess Road and Goldsworthy Road 6010 Perth, WA, Australia

Website: http://www.confuciusinstitute.uwa.edu.au

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23.01.2022 Professor Barry Marshall, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, made this video to show his support for everyone affected by COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). His words of encouragement are particularly addressed to those living in the beautiful city of Wuhan, which he has visited several times. Professor Marshall has close links to China and is a long-time student of Chinese with us here at the Confucius Institute. In our role as a bridge for communication between... Australia and China, we are honoured to help people from all walks of life create video messages of support for all those affected by the virus. As Professor Marshall says: "China - Hang in there! Wuhan - Hang in there!" (Please turn captions on - the video is in both English and Chinese)

23.01.2022 #humansofconfuciusinstitute Ms Jianxuan Zhang is the final member of our dedicated team of new teachers that we would like you to meet this year. Zhang Laoshi is originally from Zhejiang Province, but her first teaching job was in Guangzhou. There she taught 60 students from Africa. Through them she learned language can help people to achieve friendship, understanding, and love across gender, race and belief. This experience helped strengthen my faith to become a language te...acher, she says. After completing her Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL), Zhang Laoshi worked in the UK for a year. This opened her eyes to the various challenges working abroad can bring. Although this is her first visit to WA, it is Zhang Laoshi’s second time in Australia. After visiting the Great Barrier Reef two years ago with her family, she was so taken with the marvellous scenery that she made up her mind to come back. Life is a journey filled with with surprise and you’ll never know what’s waiting for you if you don’t set out," she says. "I’m ready for it!".

22.01.2022 China - Hang in there! Our team at the Confucius Institute is working with schools around WA to create video messages of support for everyone affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. This video is from the Australian Christian College - Southlands in Albany. Many thanks to our volunteer Charli Xiong for her help in making it. ... "May a little bit of starlight light up the night." As the children say:

22.01.2022 https://twitter.com/CIatUWA/status/1321096758219427844?s=19

21.01.2022 Today's proverb from Confucius urges the need for careful consideration before taking any action. It is often used when advising people about to make important decisions. sn s ér hòu xíng... : The Analects of Confucius (c. 500 BC). : Think carefully before you act. (sn s): think carefully, think three times (ér hòu): after that, then ( xíng): act The nearest English equivalent would be 'Look before you leap'. :

21.01.2022 FREE ONLINE CHINESE LESSONS FOR KIDS! - NOW FULLY BOOKED. (60 SESSIONS BOOKED OUT WITHIN 1 HOUR SO WE ADDED ANOTHER 60 AND THESE BOOKED OUT WITHIN 10 MINUTES!) Give your child an international experience these school holidays - without leaving your home!... The Confucius Institute at UWA is offering free online Chinese lessons for WA children aged 4 - 18 years during the April term break. It is our small way of helping parents manage the challenges of COVID-19 restrictions - by providing something new and interesting to do. Each 30 minute session will be offered as a tailored one-on-one lesson with an experienced tutor. Beginners, advanced students and background speakers are all welcome. There will be singing and pictures for the younger ones, while secondary students might like to use the sessions for conversation practise. Our tutors are Chinese native speakers currently volunteering in WA as part of a program to assist language teachers in local schools. They are all university graduates enrolled in Master's programs and most have an undergraduate degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages. You can read about them here: www.confuciusinstitute.uwa.edu.au/about-us/staff Lessons will run from 13 April to 24 April. We might extend into Term 2 if there is demand. Children will need access to a web browser with a stable internet connection. We have limited sessions available each day, and a maximum of two sessions per week per person. So book now at the link below and let the adventure begin! TryBooking: www.trybooking.com/BJIJU

20.01.2022 Once again we are honoured to help another eminent Australian - who is also a good friend to China - send a message of support to all those affected by COVID-19. Thank you UWA Professor Kadambot Siddique, Director of the UWA Institute of Agriculture, for your message and for your ongoing important work in both Australia and China.

19.01.2022 Our tertiary partner, Zhejiang University, has sent a beautiful message of support to The University of Western Australia as we enter this critical period in the fight against COVID-19. ZJU also collaborates with the UWA Law School, the The UWA Oceans Institute and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. We jointly thank them for their words of support and encouragement. We stand together. Jia you!

19.01.2022 Bunbury's Victoria Street was dressed up with Chinese lanterns and banners on the weekend - and we had a lot of fun helping everyone paint the town red! The celebrations were part of the Bunbury Chinese New Year Festival. The event was first organised by the Yip family in 2017 - 50 years after they opened the Oriental Terrace, Bunbury's first Chinese restaurant, in 1967. Our team at the Confucius Institute is delighted to support what is now an annual event. This year our mar...tial arts expert Jingye Yan showed the crowd his acrobatic talents in a lively demonstration of the Changquan style of Kung Fu. Award-winning musician Xueyan Chen later showed how an ancient Chinese instrument, the guzheng, could be used to play modern melodies. Ms Chen has recently partnered with us to teach the guzheng - we encourage aspiring players to get in touch. We also had volunteers teaching Chinese characters, calligraphy and paper-cutting to many enthusiastic young students, some of them repeat customers from last year. Madam Zhihua Dong, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Perth, opened the event together together with Bunbury MLA Don Punch. Among the many organisations taking part were the WA Oriental Culture and Arts Association, the Chung Wah Women's Group, and the Balcatta Kung Fu and Tai Chi Academy.

19.01.2022 Congratulations to all the talented students from across Australia who took part in the Chinese Bridge competition we hosted on the weekend. Your enthusiasm showed how learning a language helps cross boundaries - even ones made necessary by COVID-19 travel restrictions! On 8 August, 12 high school students from the ACT, NT, SA and WA took to Zoom to show off their Chinese speaking skills. If that wasn't challenging enough, they also completed a written general knowledge test ...in Chinese and submitted videos demonstrating their talents at Chinese singing, dancing, cooking, tea art and calligraphy. The students were competing in the regional final of this year's Chinese Bridge (Hanyu Qiao) Chinese Proficiency Competition for Secondary Students, which took place online for the first time. The competition was won by Chi Tran, 18, from Darwin High School, who said watching Chinese TV shows was the key to her success. Khush Shah, 15, from Perth Modern School placed second and Molly Astley from Seymour College in Adelaide won third place. These three will go forward to the next round of the competition, along with Lachie Byron from Canberra Grammar School, SuuKwi Kwang from Mount Lawley Senior High School - Official and Nicholas Perrotta from Christian Brothers College, Adelaide. "The greatest power of language is that it allows us to unite with each other to meet the challenges of facing unpredictable difficulties, so that we can combine our efforts to build a better future world," CI Associate Director Fu Zheng said. The Australian final of the competition will be hosted by the Confucius Institute at Charles Darwin University this weekend, with the global finals scheduled for later this year. Our very best wishes to all who take part!

18.01.2022 We hope you all enjoyed Mother's Day yesterday. Today we bring you one of the most famous Chinese poems of all time as a tribute to mothers everywhere - (Yóuz Yín) - sometimes translated as ' or . In this moving verse, the Tang Dynasty poet Meng Jiao (751814) expresses his deep love and affection for his mother using simple and natural language. Almost every Chinese person knows this poem by heart. In this video our colleague Yola...nda teaches her young daughter Emily the famous words passed down through generations for more than a thousand years. If you are learning Chinese, you can practise along - the verse and a translation are below. cí m shu zhng xiàn From the threads a mother’s hand weaves, yóu z shn shàng y a gown for parting son is made. lín xíng mì mì féng Sown stitch by stitch before he leaves, yì kng chí chí gu For fear his return be delayed. shuí yán cùn co xn , Such kindness as young grass receives bào dé sn chn hi From the warm sun can’t be repaid. (Translated by Xu Yuanchong

18.01.2022 A few days ago, on 4 April, the Qingming Festival () saw Chinese people across the world commemorate their ancestors by observing traditions dating back 2500 years. The day is marked by families paying a solemn visit to the graves of their forefathers to sweep their tombs, burn joss sticks and make offerings of food, flowers and paper money to show their sincere affection and respect for those who have passed away. It is a time of both sadness and happiness - the day comm...emorates the dead but also celebrates life. Spring ploughing and sowing occurs at this time and spring outings such as kite-flying are popular. The day is also known as the Pure Brightness Festival, Tomb Sweeping Day, the Taqing (Spring Outing) Festival, Ancestors' Day or Chinese Memorial Day. Because of COVID-19 restrictions this year, many Chinese had no option but to pay 'virtual' respects to their ancestors - see some of the innovative ways they did so here: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-52157455

17.01.2022 It's Friday again, and today we bring you one of the most famous sayings of Confucius himself: J su bù yùwù sh yú rén.... : The Analects of Confucius (c. 500 BC) : Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself. (yù)desire, want shimpose, do (to others) The principle of treating others as you would want to be treated is known as the Golden Rule. It is found in many religions and cultures - the Biblical version is Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. : www.flickr.com/photos/ekilby/15462035441

17.01.2022 Lights, Camera, Action! The 2020 Confucius Institute Short Film Competition is open for entries. We invite school students to showcase their talents in both Chinese language and filmmaking by submitting a 2-3 minute film on the theme: 'Chinese Story'. Winners will receive prizes worth up to $500 and entries will be shown on our YouTube channel. ... The competition is open to WA students who are genuine speakers of Chinese as a second language. There are separate categories for primary and secondary school students. Entries close 19 October - the school holidays provides a great opportunity to get creative! Full details: https://www.confuciusinstitute.uwa.edu.au//2020-UWACI-Film

17.01.2022 OFFICE CLOSURE Our office at the UWA Claremont campus will be closed while the COVID-19 measures announced by the State and Federal Governments are in place. We are available on phone and email at the details below and look forward to connecting in person again soon.... Stay safe everyone! Phone: 6488 6888 Email: [email protected]

16.01.2022 Our friends at the UWA Public Policy Institute have a very interesting webinar coming up on Thursday 26 November, featuring some excellent speakers. Find out more and register at the link below! https://www.uwa.edu.au//p/ppi-events/2020-biden-presidency

16.01.2022 Welcome back to face-to-face teaching at our Claremont campus! We are delighted to announce that next semester we will resume teaching adult language lessons on campus. Classes will follow all government and university health guidelines, including the 1.5m distance rule and the use of hand sanitiser. Online classes will be available upon request. Semester 2, Term 1 starts the week beginning 20 July, 2020.... Follow the link to register: www.trybooking.com/BKBEU

15.01.2022 Welcome to our new series on Chinese proverbs and idioms! The Chinese language is full of catchy phrases and words of wisdom which can be hard for a non-native speaker to understand. We have picked out some of the more popular sayings and hope to shed some light on what they mean and how they originated, noting if similar idioms exist in English. Enjoy!... shu néng zài zhu, yì néng fù zhu : Water can carry the boat and also overturn the boat. (water)Means 'civilians' (boat)Means 'emperor' This proverb shows that people can support a regime or overturn it. It demonstrates the great power of the people. : Double-edged sword In the same way, a double-edged sword reminds us that what brings us power can also bring us harm. These days both expressions are used to point out how our tools can either help or harm us, depending on how we use them. : ..

12.01.2022 Congratulations again to Khush Shah, who last night took out third place in the world in the 2020 Chinese Bridge language competition! He out-competed 148 other students from more than 100 countries. We were very proud to help this outstanding student on his road to success!

12.01.2022 SEMESTER 2 2020 CHINESE COURSES OPEN - BOOK NOW! Join us to start your Chinese language journey, or to continue along the path to fluency in this fascinating language. Semester 2 Term 1 starts Monday 20 July 2020 and runs for 9 weeks. Term 2 will start from 12 October and run for a further 9 weeks.... Evening classes are 6:30pm to 8:30pm and morning lessons are 10:00am to 12:00 noon. All classes are held at the UWA Claremont Campus, 50 Goldsworthy Road (corner Princess Road). Classes can be made available online on request. Our class levels are Beginners, Elementary, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced and a new class: Advanced Extension. For a free placement test over the phone please contact us at [email protected] or phone (08) 6488 6888. More information and booking: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=633536&

12.01.2022 Today's idiom is a great example of how people can think the same across different languages and cultures. Here are the characters and pronunciation: ... y shí èr nio Our teacher Kate Xu - known to many of you at Dalyellup College and Child Side Playgroup & School - does a lovely job of explaining the rest!

12.01.2022 Congratulations to the very talented Khush Shah from Perth Modern School for winning Champion of Oceania last night in the Chinese Bridge Competition! Khush now moves forward to the Grand Final, where he will test his Chinese language skills against the champions of the other four global regions. In a normal year, Khush would be competing in China; however, the 2020 competition is online and Kush's family have been hosting us at night so we can assist him. For competitors in Europe and Africa the event started around midday, while for those in Los Angeles it would have been 3am! Thanks to Khush's teachers at Perth Modern and his wonderful family for all their support. We wish Khush all the best for the Grand Final.

11.01.2022 In the past few weeks our volunteer team have been busy supporting our language students with extra tuition. The free weekly online sessions were introduced to help students manage some of the challenges of learning entirely online during the current COVID-19 restrictions. Seven volunteers are currently tutoring up to 30 students in small groups at the beginner and intermediate levels. One student told us that the extra help has made all the difference in being able to keep up with her lessons. Other students who have become friends through class have arranged to be tutored together. We have all had to innovate in these challenging times, but where there is a will to learn we will always find a way!

10.01.2022 Can't travel but looking for an Asian experience? Follow this journalist's lead and immerse yourself in Perth's Chinatown. https://www.scmp.com//chinatown-perth-western-australia-no

08.01.2022 Today's Chinese proverb is once again brought to you by our teacher Kate Xu in Bunbury. Here are the characters and pronunciation: ... Shu zh dài tù (shu): to guard (zh): tree trunk (dài): to wait (tù): rabbit We don't know of a direct English equivalent for this saying - the nearest might be "No gain without pain". Let us know in the comments if you can think of something closer.

07.01.2022 #humansofconfuciusinstitute As we continue our series introducing our new teachers for 2020, please let us introduce Ms Ya Wu. This is Wu Laoshi’s first time in Australia. When she arrived in January her first thought was: "Where is everybody?" After studying and working in two of China's biggest cities - Beijing and Hangzhou - she initially found Perth small by comparison. ... However, when Wu Laoshi watched the Australia Day fireworks from the CBD she realised Perth really was a big city with a lot of people. Perth is a beautiful place and I enjoy walking along the Swan River, she says. At university Wu Laoshi majored in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages - a subject she enjoys because it gives her the chance to experience other cultures. She has previously worked as a volunteer teacher at Confucius Institutes in the USA and in Japan (where the photo below was taken). Those different environments and cultures were fresh and interesting, now I want to take this opportunity to experience the fantastic culture of Australia, she says. Over the next two years I wish to travel to different places in Australia, like Rottnest Island, the Northern Territory, Uluru, the Gold Coast and more. Wu Laoshi’s motto is: To experience, to explore, to live, to love. She believes prejudice can only be reduced through knowledge and understanding of cultural difference. I hope that through my Chinese language teaching people can not only master a second language, they can also deepen their understanding of both Australian and Chinese culture, she says. As with all our teachers, Wu Laoshi is currently teaching classes online. We hope that it won't be too long before we can see her in person once again!

07.01.2022 Today we commemorate Anzac Day and pay tribute to all those who served, and all those currently serving. We remember them, honour them, and thank them for their sacrifice. Today we also bring to you the story of Mr Yao Chao Liang, a 95-year-old Chinese citizen who unexpectedly found himself in the Australian army as a teenager during World War II. The Confucius Institute at UWA was recently contacted by Mr Yao's family and heard the fascinating tale of how he and about 2000 o...ther Chinese seafarers served Australia between 1942 and 1944. It is a little-known chapter of Australia's military history and one which deserves to be more widely acknowledged. We are glad to have worked with The Fremantle Herald and UWA's media team to bring this story of Chinese-Australian cooperation into the light. The full article is published in The Fremantle Herald today and can be found at this link (page 8): http://www.fremantleherald.com/fremantle.pdf

07.01.2022 West Leederville Primary School students pulled out all the stops recently to show their support for everyone affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. They used calligraphy and some very cute paintings to illustrate their message: Stay safe and sound ( píngn), and hang in there ( jiyóu)! Our team at the Confucius Institute is working with schools around WA to create these short videos - many thanks to our volunteer Ruby (Yunru) Liu for her help with this one.... Check out West Leederville Primary School ( Official Page) to see what else the kids are up to!

07.01.2022 We continue our Friday series on Chinese proverbs with some well-known advice attributed to the philosopher Laozi, the father of Taoism. Qin l zh xíngsh yú zú xià... : A journey of a thousand Chinese miles (l) starts beneath one's feet. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. (qin l) : a thousand miles (xíng: journey (sh yú: to begin with, start (zú xià: beneath one's feet. Just like the Western version, this proverb means that even the longest journey has a starting point - if you take your first step and keep it up, you will succeed. :

06.01.2022 Yesterday our team headed to Rockingham to share traditional Chinese games, crafts and music with the students at South Coast Baptist College. It was a fun day for everyone! https://twitter.com/CIatUWA/status/1329794744956854278?s=05

05.01.2022 We celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival yesterday in a very 2020 way - with an online Zoom cooking class demonstrating how to make traditional sticky rice dumplings. Our version of a TV cooking show featured volunteer Zhu Lin as the chef, Business Manager Catherine Driver as location manager and presenter (she lent us her kitchen) and teacher Kate Xu as the regional talent (she joined us from Bunbury). Special thanks also go to volunteers Yan Junqing, Zhao Xiaowei and Han Jiay...u for their very interesting presentation on the history and culture of this 2000-year-old event. The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival ( Dunw Jié) falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the traditional Chinese calendar. People celebrate by racing dragon boats, eating sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves ( zòngzi) and taking part in many other traditions. We greatly enjoyed live-streaming this event, but here's hoping that next year we can get together in person to celebrate! Further information on the festival traditions can be found here: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential//dragon-boat.htm

04.01.2022 Our adult language classes are now being delivered live online. All our students have received an email from their teacher with a link to join their online class at the normal time. We are using the Zoom video-conferencing platform and have found it works well for language lessons. All our students are invited to contact us with your feedback - we are all learning how to connect and carry on as best we can in these challenging times. And if you have always wanted to learn Chinese but never had the chance, please also feel free to get in touch. We are looking at ways to help people turn time spent at home into a learning opportunity they might never have anticipated!

04.01.2022 #humansofconfuciusinstitute Please welcome Chunhui (Athena) Wang, another new member of our wonderful teaching team, who has just begun working here in Perth. Wang Laoshi joins the Confucius Institute after an extensive teaching career spanning 21 years. My students have brought out the best in me, she says.... Originally from Liaoning Province in Northeast China, Wang Laoshi has also lived and worked in London (two years) and the USA (three years). We feel very lucky to host her now in WA in her third teaching job abroad. Touring most of China with her parents as a child ignited Wang Laoshi's passion for travel. As I grew up, I wanted to leave my footprints all over the world, she says. Travelling is part of my life, I’m not the sort of person who can stay in one place. "A new country, a new experience...I look forward to enjoying my new life here! Wang Laoshi is now starting to put down some footprints in Australia and is looking forward to exploring further during her holidays so she can see some of our natural wonders with her own eyes, including the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Wave Rock. Other attractions on her list include driving along the Great Ocean Road, walking through the Blue Mountains National Park, seeing the rainforests of Queensland (if they are still there after the recent bushfires) and sitting in the Sydney Opera House to hear the beautiful acoustics. Australia, my dream land, I’m coming! she says.

03.01.2022 #humansofconfuciusinstitute As we continue our series introducing our new staff, we would like you to meet Jiahui (Kate) Xu, who has just begun teaching in Bunbury. Please welcome her to Australia. The world is a book, and those who don’t travel only read one page, says Kate, quoting a favourite line from Saint Augustine.... Kate says she opened the first chapter of her world book when she visited America at the age of 23. She has since travelled to Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand. She was attracted and amazed by their cultures - so different, yet so beautiful. Learning languages transformed my life says Kate. As well as her first language, Chinese, she can speak English and Japanese. I decided to be a Chinese as a Second Language teacher so that I can help others benefit from learning another language, she says. Kate has worked for the biggest children’s museum in America and also for an international school in China. I have found it so rewarding to be able to help young minds explore China and Chinese culture, she says. Now she has opened the Australian chapter of her book, landing in Perth the day after her 27th birthday. She can’t wait to see more of Australia, to learn about its unique natural environment, and to immerse herself in the culture and the people. My next stop is Bunbury! I can’t wait to read the rest of this chapter! she says.

03.01.2022 Expand your horizons without leaving your home - online Chinese language classes for adults resume next week! Online classes are easy and fun - watch the short video below to see how it works with some of our students in action. Classes will move back to UWA Claremont Campus once COVID-19 distancing measures have relaxed sufficiently.... Semester 1 Term 2 classes commence week beginning Monday 27 April. Enrolments for morning and evening classes are now open for students at all levels apart from complete beginner - please email [email protected] to book a telephone placement test if you are unsure of your level. Students with no previous experience are encouraged to join the next Beginner class starting in Semester 2 (mid-July). More info: https://www.confuciusinstitute.uwa.edu.au/l/chinese-classes TryBooking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=557107&

03.01.2022 Here is another Friday proverb from Confucius, with a little pronunciation practice thrown in! rén wú yun lbì yu jìn yu... : The Analects of Confucius (c. 500 BC) : Those who do not plan for the future will find trouble on their doorstop further; far : consideration; plan : close; near : trouble, worry Another way to translate this is: "If you don't think about the future, you'll regret it in no time at all."

02.01.2022 We are very proud of WA students Khush Shah and Suukyi Kwang who placed first and equal second in the Australian final of the Chinese Bridge language competition last weekend. Khush (Perth Modern School) and Suukyi (Mount Lawley Senior High School - Official) were among 12 contestants from around Australia who took part in the national final of the Chinese Bridge (Hanyu Qiao) Chinese Proficiency Competition for Secondary Students. This year the competition was held online an...d hosted by the Confucius Institute at Charles Darwin University (Confucius Institute at CDU). The competitors showcased their Chinese skills through a speech, a written test and a cultural performance. Videos were submitted online before the event and viewed by judges located around Australia. The students showed off their prowess at Chinese cooking, singing, dancing, painting, martial arts and even magic! Mr Wa Zong, Minister-Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Australia, zoomed in from Canberra to congratulate the contestants and encourage them to continue learning Chinese. Khush and Suukyi will now be among six students representing Australia in the global finals later this year. WA students have excelled in this competition recently, with Perth students placing in the Top 10 in the world three years in a row. We wish this year's contestants the same luck! Best wishes also to Bianca Venner of The University of Adelaide, who won the Australian Regional Final of the Chinese Bridge competition for university students, which was hosted by us here at UWACI on 17 July. Bianca will also represent Australia later this year in the global finals for that category. To all who take part:

02.01.2022 Today we continue our series on Chinese proverbs with a saying that dates back to the Jin Dynasty (266 to 420 AD). wén j q w... : The early bird catches the worm (wén): to hear (j): chicken, rooster (q): to start, begin (w)to dance, can also mean to fence (with a sword) A young boy named Zu Di and his friend Liu Kun dreamed of serving their country, and often lay awake at night talking about their wish. Late one night, upon hearing a rooster crow, they decided to get up and practice their sword fighting. This became a daily habit for many years. The two friends later became generals of the Jin Dynasty and served their country with great distinction. The proverb literally means "To start practicing at the first crow of the rooster." It is often used to encourage people to be diligent in their studies, or may refer to people with high aspirations who don't waste any time in preparing themselves for a great future. : .

02.01.2022 This Friday's proverb is from the Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi (literally "Master Zhuang", full name Zhuang Zhou), whose collected works make up one of the founding texts of Taoism. rù xing suí sú... : Zhuangzi (c. 369 BC 286 BC) : When in Rome, do as the Romans do. (xing) a place, a village sú) customs This proverb says that as a guest, it is best to follow the customs of the place or village that you are visiting. This shows respect and fosters peace.

02.01.2022 UWA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jane den Hollander AO, has sent an important message to UWA's international staff and students, and made financial assistance grants available to international students. We are proud to be part of this inclusive institution and wholeheartedly support her wise words. "On behalf of our University of Western Australia community, I want all students and staff, particularly those who have moved here from around the world, to know that you are welcome... and will always be equal and valued members of our community. The diversity of our community is our strength. True learning and innovation happens when we are challenged to see the world differently and to meet people who are different from ourselves. That is how we come to truth and understanding. Our University has welcomed international students for many years, and we have alumni around the world. As we respond to global crises like this, our actions now will define us, and will be a measure of our ability to shape our world for the future. My message to all students: you are part of our community. Maintain your studies, maintain your work ethic, keep the dream of your future alive and know that we stand together as one community."

01.01.2022 #humansofconfuciusinstitute It's a new year, and we have many new staff to introduce! You will meet them all in time, but we would like to first extend the warmest of welcomes to our new Associate Director, Dr Zheng Fu. Fu Laoshi arrived in Perth at the beginning of January from her hometown of Hangzhou. She has never visited Australia before and tells us that she is filled with curiosity and expectation.... "When I took a walk by the Swan River, I was greatly amazed by it," she says. "I like Perth. I like UWA. I hope I can enjoy myself here." Fu Laoshi began learning English when she was 10 years old and is keen to pass on her passion for learning a language to others. "I often tell my friends that it is English which has opened a door for me and totally changed my life," she says. "I have so many friends from different countries. It is English that helps us to communicate with each other. It is also English that helps me enjoy the diversity of culture." Fu Laoshi became a college English teacher in 1991 and over the past 28 years has always encouraged her students to study hard and learn English well so they can see the world. "Many of my students are now working and studying all over the world - I am proud of them," she says. She hopes that during her time with us she will be able to help many people study Chinese. If you have any problems related to Chinese learning, please don’t hesitate to contact me," she says. "How I wish that Chinese can also enrich and change your life in the future!"