Hello, Edinburgh! I’m Back! 哈喽,爱丁堡!我回来了!hā lou, ài dīng bǎo! wǒ huí lái le!

by Chuanming Zhu

After eight-months preparation, I have returned to Edinburgh as a qualified Mandarin Teacher. I was previously, for two years, a Volunteer Chinese Teacher at the Scottish Confucius Institute for Business and Communication. After joining the SCIBC, my main responsibilities were teaching the HSK Standard Course, Business Chinese, and Chinese Calligraphy. With two years of overseas teaching experience, I have gained an in-depth understanding of the obstacle’s that students may face while learning Chinese.

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the UK, the SCIBC have begun to offer online courses rather than face to face meetings, which brings new challenges to teaching. Thanks to the support of the CI team and Heriot-Watt University, I have managed to adapt to the changes. With further training in the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), before returning to Edinburgh, I am now able to help students much more professionally. I am pleased to see the improvements and progress that my students make after my teaching them.  

I really enjoy my job and am delighted that I have been able to continue my career in teaching Chinese in the SCIBC at Heriot Watt University. Languages will help us to open the door of a new world – I believe we can make it better together.

A Safe and Pleasant Journey to Scotland – Chuanming reflects on the complexity of travelling back to the UK during Covid19 restrictions.

For all passengers and crew to arrive safely at their destination, all passengers were asked to provide a negative COVID-19 test report less than 72 hours before departure; the Passenger Location Form (PLF) was included in the quarantine details. The officer checked the documents carefully before you boarded and transferred at the airport, ensuring you don’t have to spend more time waiting than before Covid.  

After landing and going through immigration at Edinburgh Airport, the staff led you to the hotel where I spent my 10-day managed quarantine. During quarantine, I received two COVID-19 test packages on days two and eight. Check-in day at the hotel is day zero. The tests were delivered and collected by the hotel staff. Once I got two negative test reports, I was free to leave the hotel and start work, this is on day 11.

During this time, I have appreciated the hard work, dedication and patience of all those working at the airport. So that we can all travel safely, I was reassured in following the quarantine management processes.

Have a pleasant journey! 一路顺风! yí lù shùn fēng!