Teaching Creative writing in a foreign language in China

Abstract

Creative Writing courses have been running in the English Department of Sun Yat-sen University for more than eight years. Compared with sim ilar courses offered by the few universities in China, the teaching of creative writing at all levels and beyond the traditional classroom at Sun Yat sen University makes it the most vigorous , among Chinese institutions of higher learnin g, in promoting cre ative writing in English as a foreign language in the areas of of teaching, research, outreach and international collaboration . This paper presents how the multi faceted pedagogical framework of creative writing is incorporated into the goal of creative li teracy and education, then moves on to outline the extracurricular activities including book club events, the National Creative Writing Compet it ion in English, and in particular the Sun Yat sen University Writers’ Residency . The Residency bring s in a teach ing and educational element to the non traditional classroom, and serves the purpose of improving students’ English proficiency, creative literacy, interpersonal interaction, critical thinking and personal reflection, as well as providing literary and cult ural experience for the writers in residency.