On May 29, 2026, the annual Language and Culture Festival was held at Atatürk High School (Ankara Atatürk Lisesi), a partner school of the Confucius Institute at Middle East Technical University. The festival brought together six languages and cultures – Turkish, Russian, Chinese, German, French, and Spanish – through a combination of stage performances and national cultural booths. The event aimed to enhance students' understanding of different languages and cultures and to improve their cross-cultural communication skills.

The cultural performances kicked off in a warm and festive atmosphere. Students learning different languages presented performances featuring the unique characteristics of each country. A variety of wonderful programs took the stage one after another, earning rounds of applause from the audience. The performances by students learning Chinese became the highlight of the event. Two dances of different styles were presented. The first was a Chinese classical dance, with graceful and subtle movements, fluid and elegant postures, fully displaying classical charm and etiquette. The second dance incorporated elements of Chinese martial arts, featuring powerful and vigorous movements, with swift turns and leaps that showed a heroic spirit. Following the dances, two students also presented a Kunqu opera performance. Although their singing was still immature, and the pronunciation and nuances were not perfect, every gesture and every look was extremely earnest, revealing their respect and love for this ancient art.

After the performances, the cultural booths of different countries opened simultaneously, drawing teachers and students to stop and explore. At the Chinese booth, a student performed a tea ceremony, allowing visitors to experience the elegance and etiquette of Chinese tea culture up close. The booth also featured Chinese dishes prepared by the students themselves, which were very delicious. Many teachers and students praised the food and asked the cooking methods. Each country's booth had its own unique characteristics, and through these small booths, the students demonstrated their understanding of different cultures.

This Language and Culture Festival not only provided a stage for students to showcase their language learning achievements, more importantly, allowed them to experience the value of cultural diversity through personal participation. The seeds of cross-cultural understanding and friendship left by the festival will surely continue to grow in the hearts of the students.

Atatürk High School is one of the most influential and well-known public secondary schools in Ankara, Turkey. As early as 2008, it established a cooperative relationship with Middle East Technical University, sending Confucius Institute Chinese teachers to work alongside local Turkish Chinese language teachers. Through its collaboration, the school has achieved remarkable results in Chinese language education, with students steadily improving their proficiency and repeatedly excelling in the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students. In 2024, their student Elif Azra Gül won first place in the Türkiye regional competition and participated in the global finals in China. In 2026, another student, Doğa Akkuş, again won first prize in the Türkiye regional finals, continuing the school's outstanding performance in the "Chinese Bridge" competition. Over the past seventeen years, the partnership between the Confucius Institute and Atatürk High School has become a model for educational and peopletopeople exchanges between China and Turkey. In the future, both sides will continue to work together to further develop Chinese language teaching and cultural promotion activities, contributing to the cultivation of more ambassadors of China and Turkey friendship.