A study on the development of teaching Chinese as a foreign language from 1949 to 2025

Abstract

Teaching Chinese as a foreign language serves as the core vehicle for the international dissemination of the Chinese language and culture, as well as an important bridge for mutual exchange and mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign civilizations. This study, covering the period from 1949 to 2025, employs methods such as documentary research, historical analysis, and inductive generalization to divide the development of teaching Chinese as a foreign language into four stages: the formation stage (1949-1977), the recovery and development stage (1978-1999), the rapid expansion stage (2000-2019), and the quality improvement stage (2020-2025). The aim of this research is to present a comprehensive overview of the development, summarize experiences, address challenges, and provide theoretical foundations and practical recommendations for the high-quality development of international Chinese language education in the new era. The findings indicate that key success factors include national strategy and disciplinary construction; however, challenges remain in teacher training, textbook localization, and the international competitiveness of the Chinese language. The study offers recommendations for optimizing teaching staff, digitalization, and the transformation of Confucius Institutes.