"Charming foreign teacher" Lai Lin, teacher of Chongqing Polytechnic of Engineering: The light torch spreads Chinese culture to the world

Editor's note: In recent years, the pace of the internationalization of education in Chongqing has been accelerating, and the efforts of foreign teachers and Chinese expatriate teachers to "introduce" and "go out" have been gradually increased, and the international elements and Chinese elements have been continuously integrated into the teaching, which has effectively promoted the high-level opening up of Chongqing education and international cultural exchanges and cooperation. In order to further demonstrate the advanced deeds and perceptions of work and life of "foreign teachers" in Chongqing and Chinese teachers sent abroad, and tell the story of Chongqing education to the world, the international online Chongqing Channel successively launched the special plan of "Charming Foreign Teachers" in Chongqing 2025, showing the style of international teachers.

He has been to Serbia twice as a Chinese overseas teacher, won the Confucius Institute Outstanding Volunteer Certificate issued by the Confucius Institute Headquarters, and was rated as "Excellent teacher" by the Confucius Institute of the University of Novi Sad... Lai Lin, a teacher from Chongqing Polytechnic of Engineering, has been working in Sierra Leone for nearly 5 years as a volunteer Chinese teacher and a public teacher. With her own light, she has spread the seeds of cultural confidence and shown the charm of Chinese culture to the world.

Rylyn interviewee provided photo

At the Confucius Institute of the University of Novi Sad in Serbia, Lai Lin mainly teaches basic Chinese HSK1 - HSK3, as well as Chinese painting and calligraphy courses. Based on years of teaching experience, she summed up the teaching mode of "combining wisdom and interest in three-dimensional classroom". "In teaching, I mainly focus on students and design special games and interactive sessions to make boring language lessons three-dimensional and interesting," said Railin. At the same time, she pays attention to teaching and learning, is good at finding students' bright spots in teaching, and gives more encouragement and affirmation to students.

Lai Lin (first from left) gives a Chinese painting course in Serbia

In Railin's heart, every child is a star full of energy, only to observe and discover with heart, to communicate and exchange with love, and to accumulate and water with time, can teachers and students work together to build a shining galaxy.

Since her first visit to Serbia in 2015, Rylin has taught students who have passed the Chinese Proficiency test with high scores. Under her influence, some local students insist on learning Chinese from primary school, choose Chinese major in college, and aspire to work in Chinese translation; Some Chinese painting class students fell in love with Chinese Gongbi painting, and successfully held a personal exhibition in China in 2018.

Lai Lin (center) teaches a Chinese language course in Serbia

In addition to the classroom, the Confucius Institute at the University of Novi Sad in Serbia regularly holds a variety of cultural experience activities and various cultural lectures to enhance local people's understanding of Chinese culture. During the Spring Festival in 2025, Lai Lin and her colleagues planned and organized paper-cutting experience activities, and also went to other teaching points of the Confucius Institute to tell the story of "Chinese New Year" to local students, teach the children to write the Chinese character "fu", sing Chinese songs, and share the Chinese "New Year flavor".

As an authentic Chongqing girl, Lai Lin loves Novi Sad from the bottom of her heart. In her eyes, the local people are helpful, patient and friendly to the Chinese. Over the years, Lai Lin has always been proud of the identity of overseas volunteer teachers, and has done her best to contribute to the friendly exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations. She hopes that she can continue to serve as a cultural envoy in the future, build a bridge for China-Serbia friendship, and convey a more three-dimensional and diversified image of China to the world. (Wenye Lin)