THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC – THE CASE OF THE CONFUCIUS INSTITUTES IN BULGARIA

Abstract

Under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dissemination of Chinese culture and language has met unprecedented difficulties and challenges. By expounding the new difficulties and problems faced by the Confucius Insti tutes in Bulgaria during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the lack of teachers, students’ dropping out, teaching resources shortage, and frustrated interest in learning, this paper analyzes the effective strategies which contribute to ensuring regular classroom teaching and promoting cultural exchange during the pan demic. The practical and effective adjustment includes utilizing existing resourc es, improving TCFL teachers’ information literacy, strengthening localization construction of teachers and teaching materials, and enriching Chinese culture dissemination through the Internet, which not only leveled up Chinese language teaching outside of China, but also successfully popularized Chinese culture across national borders. Those practices actively promoted the cultural exchange between Bulgaria and China, and expanded the impact of Chinese culture in Bulgaria, giving a valuable reference in Chinese language teaching and culture dissemination in the post-pandemic era to other Central and Eastern European countries, and the countries along the Belt and Road as well.