(Bandar Seri Begawan, 20th) With a promise in his heart, time quietly passes like spring rain for two years; holding onto a lifelong bond, he builds a bridge for the soul toward civilization, allowing the seeds of the Chinese language to continuously take root and sprout in a foreign land.
Chinese government-dispatched teacher Ma Di was jointly selected by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and the Sichuan Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, and sent to teach at Chung Hwa Middle School in Brunei for a two-year assignment. Time flies, and looking back at these days, though brief, the memories of mutual learning in teaching have become a profound imprint in his life. This experience will become a treasured spiritual asset, continually nourishing his soul and enriching his life journey.
On December 31, 2023, bearing the mission of promoting the Chinese language and spreading Chinese culture, Ma Di set foot on the land of Brunei, known as the "Abode of Peace", and began his two-year teaching journey at Chung Hwa Middle School. From adapting to the culture at first arrival to cultivating innovation in teaching, he has made the classroom his stronghold and activities his link, striving to write a touching chapter of cultural inheritance and educational innovation on "the Pearl of Borneo."
During his two-year assignment, Ma Di always remembered his mission, strictly adhered to the code of conduct and professional ethics of government-dispatched teachers, actively carried out Chinese teaching, worked faithfully and effectively promoted the teaching and dissemination of the Chinese language and culture. His main experiences and achievements include: participating twice in the "China Day" events organized by the Chinese Embassy in Brunei, attending the receptions celebrating the 75th and 76th anniversaries of the founding of the People's Republic of China; guiding students to participate in the 2024 "Zenghua Pavilion" Overseas Chinese Youth Chinese Recitation Competition, the 25th World Chinese Students' Essay Competition, the 6th Brunei National Primary School Onsite Chinese Creative Writing Competition; the 2025 Brunei National Calligraphy Competition and the 8th Global Chinese Recitation Competition, among others, and was awarded the "Outstanding Instructor Award".
In addition, Ma Di participated in the 2025 Basic and Advanced Camps for New Era Chinese Teachers on Artificial Intelligence organized by the China Chinese Education Foundation, obtained the graduation and "Outstanding Student" certificates; through systematic learning, he deeply integrated educational tools such as Microsoft Teams, OneNote, and Forms into teaching practice, effectively improving students' digital literacy and learning confidence, earning the title of "2025-2026 Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE)."
First Encounter with Brunei: A Teaching Journey Across Seas – Cultural Adaptation and Emotional Connection
As the first rays of sunlight touched the palm trees at Chung Hwa Middle School, the clear voices of students greeting, “Good morning, Teacher Ma!” already echoed in the classroom. Over two years, this familiar and warm greeting has become an inseparable part of Ma Di's life. Recalling his initial days in Brunei, he still remembers the feeling of strangeness and confusion. As time quietly passed, this special teaching journey neared its end, yet the memories flash by like scenes from a movie.
When Ma Di first arrived in Brunei, the local climate, environment, cultural background, and language barriers were all new challenges he had to face. Chinese teaching in Brunei places greater emphasis on listening and speaking abilities, which is different from teaching in China, and he also observed wide disparities in students’ Chinese proficiency. This prompted him to deepen his reflections and strengthen his instructional strategies, offering targeted guidance for students with different language backgrounds and learning paces, and focusing on their individual intelligence and development.
What touched Ma Di most was his colleagues at Chung Hwa, who often left him local pastries, fruits, and even Sichuan hotpot soup base on his desk—they knew he was from Sichuan and were concerned he may miss flavors from home. The school’s administrative leadership showed meticulous care for the lives of support teachers, and the Chinese Embassy in Brunei provided all-round support, inviting him to various festival activities and easing his homesickness.
What moved Ma Di the most was when a fourth-grade girl, Wen Xiaoen, showed him a picture of a giant panda and asked if he recognized it, and could name Jiuzhaigou, Mount Emei, Dujiangyan, and other Sichuan sightseeing spots. It turned out, she and her mother had deliberately looked up these facts. Ma Di deeply felt the curiosity and thirst for knowledge for Chinese culture among overseas Chinese children.
Mutual Growth in Teaching: From Traditional Methods to AI-Empowered Educational Innovation
During his assignment, Ma Di continuously explored innovative teaching methods, differentiated instruction based on classroom needs, and prepared lessons together with his fellow Chinese teachers in advance, clarifying difficult vocabulary and adding fun elements such as textbooks, pictures, videos, and other useful resources. The teachers designed illustrated PPTs tailored to Bruneian students’ situations, improving course development and winning students' favor.
For traditional festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival and Spring Festival, Ma Di designed class materials blending cultural exploration, etiquette, and technological interaction, such as "Dragon Boat Festival Customs—Types of Zongzi", "Brunei Chinese New Year Etiquette", "Interesting Phono-semantic Characters" AI-teaching scene dialogues, and classic poetry lessons like “Parting Lin Zifang at Dawn at Jingci Temple”. This allowed knowledge of the Chinese language to gently flow into students’ hearts.
At various Chinese competitions, Ma Di carefully coached students to achieve excellent results:
Liang Ziyuan: 2024 "Zenghua Pavilion" Overseas Chinese Youth Chinese Recitation Competition, Children's Category, Bronze Award;
Wen Xiaoen, Huang Shengrui: 25th World Chinese Students' Essay Competition, Third Place;
Li Yanda (non-Chinese student): 6th Brunei National Primary School Onsite Chinese Creative Writing Competition, Senior Non-Chinese Champion;
Anindya Novea Zahwa: 2025 National Calligraphy Competition, Non-Chinese Category, Gold Award;
Wen Xiaoen: 8th Global Chinese Recitation Competition, Youth Category, Gold Award.
Seeing the confident smiles of the winning students, Ma Di felt extremely happy; this not only affirmed his students’ efforts but was the greatest reward for his teaching. He remarked, “Especially seeing non-Chinese students progress from being completely unfamiliar with Chinese characters to being able to write beautiful essays and do neat calligraphy—this growth touches me deeply. The meaning of my assignment is not only to teach, but to plant the seeds of cultural understanding.”
Meanwhile, Ma Di was fortunate to participate in the 2025 Basic and Advanced Camps for New Era Chinese Teachers on Artificial Intelligence organized by the China Chinese Education Foundation. He diligently studied topics such as “Smart Curriculum Development under the Background of Artificial Intelligence in Chinese Education” and “Application and Testing of Generative AI Tools in Chinese Education Scenarios”, becoming proficient in AI lesson generation and differentiated instructional design, and received the graduation and “Outstanding Student” certificates.
After the training, Ma Di introduced AI elements into his classroom, such as in the “Interesting Phono-semantic Characters” AI dialogue scenarios, leading students to discover the rules of character formation through games. Artificial intelligence enriched his teaching methods, enhancing classroom interactivity and inquiry.
Integrated Innovation: Lifelong Learning and Advancement – Becoming a Microsoft Innovative Educator
The Chung Hwa Middle School where Ma Di taught has for many years been rated a "Microsoft Showcase School", always leading in technological innovation and application. In recent years, with support from Microsoft (Brunei), the school has actively promoted innovation and encouraged teachers and students to deeply integrate Microsoft technology into daily teaching.
Ma Di learned and skillfully applied Microsoft Teams, OneNote, Forms and other educational tools, incorporating them into everyday teaching and classroom management, creating an efficient and engaging learning environment to help students master Chinese, cultivate skills, and build confidence.
Through his exploration in integrating information technology and education, Ma Di was named a "2025-2026 Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE)", an honor which acknowledges his personal effort and reflects the international vision and innovative spirit required of contemporary Chinese teachers.
Personal Experience of Fusion: Cultural Exchanges Bridge Hearts and Nurture Patriotism
While in Brunei, Ma Di participated twice in "China Day" events organized by the Chinese Embassy in Brunei, attracting thousands of representatives from all walks of life. He saw guests appreciating Chinese culture, martial arts demonstrations, calligraphy, paper cutting, and solving lantern riddles, feeling deeply proud. These activities allowed Bruneians to experience Chinese culture up close and built bridges of friendship between China and Brunei.
Ma Di was also twice invited to attend the Chinese Embassy's National Day receptions in Brunei, celebrating the 75th and 76th anniversaries of the founding of the People's Republic of China. In these solemn and festive occasions, as a participant in the overseas dissemination of Chinese culture, he keenly felt the country's prosperity and international influence.
Farewell Hopes: Two Years of Hard Work, Culture Always Connects
After two years, Ma Di left behind his initial nervousness and brought precious memories back to China. Looking back on this journey across mountains and seas, although there were sorrows and sweat, the harvest was far richer than imagined, filling his heart with warmth and growth impossible to express in words.
He once again extends his gratitude to the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, the Sichuan Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, and the Chinese Embassy in Brunei for the teaching opportunity; to Chung Hwa Middle School's board of directors and Principal Hii Yue Lan for their thoughtful care and excellent teaching environment; to his colleagues for their supportive and harmonious cooperation; and to his innocent and lovely students, whose eyes and smiles allowed Ma Di to truly experience the happiness and sense of accomplishment as a teacher.
Ma Di expressed that this experience allowed him to more deeply understand the power and value of education, and will become an eternally treasured memory, inspiring him to continue his journey in Chinese education.
On the eve of his return, Ma Di wrote: “One day the teaching assignment will end, but the mission of cultural exchange is endless. I am willing to keep moving forward on the path of Chinese education with cross-cultural experience, and let the beauty and friendship of China and Brunei flourish in a broader world!”
On December 31, 2023, bearing the mission of promoting the Chinese language and spreading Chinese culture, Ma Di set foot on the land of Brunei, known as the "Abode of Peace", and began his two-year teaching journey at Chung Hwa Middle School. From adapting to the culture at first arrival to cultivating innovation in teaching, he has made the classroom his stronghold and activities his link, striving to write a touching chapter of cultural inheritance and educational innovation on "the Pearl of Borneo."
During his two-year assignment, Ma Di always remembered his mission, strictly adhered to the code of conduct and professional ethics of government-dispatched teachers, actively carried out Chinese teaching, worked faithfully and effectively promoted the teaching and dissemination of the Chinese language and culture. His main experiences and achievements include: participating twice in the "China Day" events organized by the Chinese Embassy in Brunei, attending the receptions celebrating the 75th and 76th anniversaries of the founding of the People's Republic of China; guiding students to participate in the 2024 "Zenghua Pavilion" Overseas Chinese Youth Chinese Recitation Competition, the 25th World Chinese Students' Essay Competition, the 6th Brunei National Primary School Onsite Chinese Creative Writing Competition; the 2025 Brunei National Calligraphy Competition and the 8th Global Chinese Recitation Competition, among others, and was awarded the "Outstanding Instructor Award".
In addition, Ma Di participated in the 2025 Basic and Advanced Camps for New Era Chinese Teachers on Artificial Intelligence organized by the China Chinese Education Foundation, obtained the graduation and "Outstanding Student" certificates; through systematic learning, he deeply integrated educational tools such as Microsoft Teams, OneNote, and Forms into teaching practice, effectively improving students' digital literacy and learning confidence, earning the title of "2025-2026 Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE)."
First Encounter with Brunei: A Teaching Journey Across Seas – Cultural Adaptation and Emotional Connection
As the first rays of sunlight touched the palm trees at Chung Hwa Middle School, the clear voices of students greeting, “Good morning, Teacher Ma!” already echoed in the classroom. Over two years, this familiar and warm greeting has become an inseparable part of Ma Di's life. Recalling his initial days in Brunei, he still remembers the feeling of strangeness and confusion. As time quietly passed, this special teaching journey neared its end, yet the memories flash by like scenes from a movie.
When Ma Di first arrived in Brunei, the local climate, environment, cultural background, and language barriers were all new challenges he had to face. Chinese teaching in Brunei places greater emphasis on listening and speaking abilities, which is different from teaching in China, and he also observed wide disparities in students’ Chinese proficiency. This prompted him to deepen his reflections and strengthen his instructional strategies, offering targeted guidance for students with different language backgrounds and learning paces, and focusing on their individual intelligence and development.
What touched Ma Di most was his colleagues at Chung Hwa, who often left him local pastries, fruits, and even Sichuan hotpot soup base on his desk—they knew he was from Sichuan and were concerned he may miss flavors from home. The school’s administrative leadership showed meticulous care for the lives of support teachers, and the Chinese Embassy in Brunei provided all-round support, inviting him to various festival activities and easing his homesickness.
What moved Ma Di the most was when a fourth-grade girl, Wen Xiaoen, showed him a picture of a giant panda and asked if he recognized it, and could name Jiuzhaigou, Mount Emei, Dujiangyan, and other Sichuan sightseeing spots. It turned out, she and her mother had deliberately looked up these facts. Ma Di deeply felt the curiosity and thirst for knowledge for Chinese culture among overseas Chinese children.
Mutual Growth in Teaching: From Traditional Methods to AI-Empowered Educational Innovation
During his assignment, Ma Di continuously explored innovative teaching methods, differentiated instruction based on classroom needs, and prepared lessons together with his fellow Chinese teachers in advance, clarifying difficult vocabulary and adding fun elements such as textbooks, pictures, videos, and other useful resources. The teachers designed illustrated PPTs tailored to Bruneian students’ situations, improving course development and winning students' favor.
For traditional festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival and Spring Festival, Ma Di designed class materials blending cultural exploration, etiquette, and technological interaction, such as "Dragon Boat Festival Customs—Types of Zongzi", "Brunei Chinese New Year Etiquette", "Interesting Phono-semantic Characters" AI-teaching scene dialogues, and classic poetry lessons like “Parting Lin Zifang at Dawn at Jingci Temple”. This allowed knowledge of the Chinese language to gently flow into students’ hearts.
At various Chinese competitions, Ma Di carefully coached students to achieve excellent results:
Liang Ziyuan: 2024 "Zenghua Pavilion" Overseas Chinese Youth Chinese Recitation Competition, Children's Category, Bronze Award;
Wen Xiaoen, Huang Shengrui: 25th World Chinese Students' Essay Competition, Third Place;
Li Yanda (non-Chinese student): 6th Brunei National Primary School Onsite Chinese Creative Writing Competition, Senior Non-Chinese Champion;
Anindya Novea Zahwa: 2025 National Calligraphy Competition, Non-Chinese Category, Gold Award;
Wen Xiaoen: 8th Global Chinese Recitation Competition, Youth Category, Gold Award.
Seeing the confident smiles of the winning students, Ma Di felt extremely happy; this not only affirmed his students’ efforts but was the greatest reward for his teaching. He remarked, “Especially seeing non-Chinese students progress from being completely unfamiliar with Chinese characters to being able to write beautiful essays and do neat calligraphy—this growth touches me deeply. The meaning of my assignment is not only to teach, but to plant the seeds of cultural understanding.”
Meanwhile, Ma Di was fortunate to participate in the 2025 Basic and Advanced Camps for New Era Chinese Teachers on Artificial Intelligence organized by the China Chinese Education Foundation. He diligently studied topics such as “Smart Curriculum Development under the Background of Artificial Intelligence in Chinese Education” and “Application and Testing of Generative AI Tools in Chinese Education Scenarios”, becoming proficient in AI lesson generation and differentiated instructional design, and received the graduation and “Outstanding Student” certificates.
After the training, Ma Di introduced AI elements into his classroom, such as in the “Interesting Phono-semantic Characters” AI dialogue scenarios, leading students to discover the rules of character formation through games. Artificial intelligence enriched his teaching methods, enhancing classroom interactivity and inquiry.
Integrated Innovation: Lifelong Learning and Advancement – Becoming a Microsoft Innovative Educator
The Chung Hwa Middle School where Ma Di taught has for many years been rated a "Microsoft Showcase School", always leading in technological innovation and application. In recent years, with support from Microsoft (Brunei), the school has actively promoted innovation and encouraged teachers and students to deeply integrate Microsoft technology into daily teaching.
Ma Di learned and skillfully applied Microsoft Teams, OneNote, Forms and other educational tools, incorporating them into everyday teaching and classroom management, creating an efficient and engaging learning environment to help students master Chinese, cultivate skills, and build confidence.
Through his exploration in integrating information technology and education, Ma Di was named a "2025-2026 Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE)", an honor which acknowledges his personal effort and reflects the international vision and innovative spirit required of contemporary Chinese teachers.
Personal Experience of Fusion: Cultural Exchanges Bridge Hearts and Nurture Patriotism
While in Brunei, Ma Di participated twice in "China Day" events organized by the Chinese Embassy in Brunei, attracting thousands of representatives from all walks of life. He saw guests appreciating Chinese culture, martial arts demonstrations, calligraphy, paper cutting, and solving lantern riddles, feeling deeply proud. These activities allowed Bruneians to experience Chinese culture up close and built bridges of friendship between China and Brunei.
Ma Di was also twice invited to attend the Chinese Embassy's National Day receptions in Brunei, celebrating the 75th and 76th anniversaries of the founding of the People's Republic of China. In these solemn and festive occasions, as a participant in the overseas dissemination of Chinese culture, he keenly felt the country's prosperity and international influence.
Farewell Hopes: Two Years of Hard Work, Culture Always Connects
After two years, Ma Di left behind his initial nervousness and brought precious memories back to China. Looking back on this journey across mountains and seas, although there were sorrows and sweat, the harvest was far richer than imagined, filling his heart with warmth and growth impossible to express in words.
He once again extends his gratitude to the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, the Sichuan Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, and the Chinese Embassy in Brunei for the teaching opportunity; to Chung Hwa Middle School's board of directors and Principal Hii Yue Lan for their thoughtful care and excellent teaching environment; to his colleagues for their supportive and harmonious cooperation; and to his innocent and lovely students, whose eyes and smiles allowed Ma Di to truly experience the happiness and sense of accomplishment as a teacher.
Ma Di expressed that this experience allowed him to more deeply understand the power and value of education, and will become an eternally treasured memory, inspiring him to continue his journey in Chinese education.
On the eve of his return, Ma Di wrote: “One day the teaching assignment will end, but the mission of cultural exchange is endless. I am willing to keep moving forward on the path of Chinese education with cross-cultural experience, and let the beauty and friendship of China and Brunei flourish in a broader world!”