About Us

President Welcome Address

Garry Hodgins

As President of the Irish Association of Chinese Teaching, I am delighted to welcome you to our website. This is an exciting time to be a Chinese teacher in Ireland with the Junior Cycle short course having been introduced in 2016. This year we will also reach a milestone as Chinese is examined for the first time as a Leaving Certificate subject. With all this exciting development taking place, becoming a member of our association will help teachers to join a vibrant community of practice, have access to a wide range of resources and materials and avail of our organised cultural exchanges and trips to China. Becoming a member of the IACT will also provide opportunities to access professional development events and courses. I invite you to join us in the continued development of Chinese Teaching and to share in building a better future for our students in an increasingly global world. As Confucius once said, “知者不惑，仁者不忧，勇者不惧" (Zhì zhě bùhuò, rénzhě bù yōu, yǒngzhě bù jù): Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”

The Irish Association of Chinese Teaching (IACT) endeavours to promote and advance the teaching of Chinese language and culture in Ireland. This is done primarily through the provision of a nationwide platform for exchange and collaboration among both organisations and individuals engaged in Chinese language teaching in Ireland. Involving organisations and individuals within Ireland and beyond, the IACT facilitates collaboration between relevant professional organisations and individuals in order to achieve the common goal of continuously enhancing the quality of teaching Chinese language and culture in Ireland. The IACT is governed by the Council and managed by an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee elected and appointed by the Council is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Association.

The aims of the IACT are to:

Promote the development of and research in teaching Chinese language and culture.
Strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in Chinese teaching.
Establish close links, mutual understanding and cordial cooperation amongst Chinese language teaching professionals and researchers.
Contribute to a multilingual and multicultural Ireland.

The IACT organises a variety of events each year concerning the professional development of teachers and academic exchange in line with its aims and objectives, which helps to promote international collaboration in both theoretical and applied research, teaching materials development, staff exchanges and other relevant areas. The IACT publishes information and research outcomes related to Chinese language teaching, and periodically publishes a magazine to showcase the latest news concerning Chinese language teaching in Ireland.

Our Mission of the Association is:

To promote the development and research of the teaching of Chinese language and culture
To strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in Chinese teaching between Ireland and other countries.
To establish close links, mutual understanding and cordial cooperation among Chinese language teaching professionals and researchers
To contribute to a multilingual and multicultural Ireland and a peaceful world.

The Association will organise a variety of events concerning the professional development of teachers and academic exchange in line with its aims and objectives. This is to help promote international collaboration in both theoretical and applied research, teaching materials development, staff exchanges and other relevant areas. The Association will publish when appropriate information and research outcomes related to Chinese language teaching, and eventually bring out a professional journal on teaching Chinese in Ireland.

The European Association of Chinese Teaching (EACT)

欧洲汉语教学协会

The European Association of Chinese Teaching (EACT) is an international organisation of national associations, institutions, and individuals from all around Europe that have the common aim not only to promote and improve the teaching and learning of Chinese as a foreign language but also to provide research on the subject. The EACT –– its website, online lectures series, international biennial symposiums and yearly vocational workshops for teachers –– functions as a platform whereby all its members, be they an association, an institution or individuals, can exchange, communicate, and cooperate on this common goal.

The Irish Association of Chinese Teaching (IACT) is a national association member of the EACT. The chairman of the IACT is also one of the members of the Committee of the EACT, attending its regular meetings and participating in the decision-making, discussion and implementation of various work and activities. Members of the IACT automatically become members of the EACT, fulfilling the dual responsibilities for both the EACT and the IACT. The various work and activities carried out by the EACT will receive active support from the EACT.

欧洲汉语教学协会（EACT）是一个由来自欧洲各地的国家协会、机构和个人构成的国际组织，其共同目标不仅是促进和改善汉语作为外语的教学，而且提供有关该主题的研究。欧洲汉语教学协会的网站、在线系列讲座、国际双年研讨会以及每年的教师职业发展研讨会，作为一个平台，使它的所有成员，无论是协会、机构还是个人，都可以为了这个共同的目标相互交流、沟通和合作。

爱汉会是欧汉会的国家协会成员。爱汉会主席同时也是欧汉会当届理事会的机构理事，参加欧汉会定期召开的理事会，参与欧汉会各项工作与活动的决策讨论与实施。爱汉会的会员自动成为欧汉会的会员，履行欧汉会和爱汉会双重会员的职责，享受双重会员的待遇。爱汉会所开展的各项工作与活动，会获得欧汉会的积极支持。

We work with other organisations in promoting Chinese teaching in Ireland.

PPLI

(Post-Primary Languages Initiative)