Frenchman speaks for Chinese learning

For instance, in 1989, he published Initiation to Chinese Language and Writing, which is still one of the key textbooks used to teach Chinese in French schools.

The book broke the mold for Chinese textbooks by deconstructing the use of the language into single Chinese characters and teaching multi-character words and grammar later.

Oliver Guyonvarch, Bellassen's student and a counselor at the French embassy in Beijing, echoes the Sinologist's belief in the importance of studying individual characters. "That also triggers me to research oracle-bone scripts, which helps me better know the history behind each character," he says.

Bellassen says: "China's ideographic characters belong to a different system. This demands a different methodology when it comes to teaching."

"Also,Western culture－rooted in ancient Rome's traditions－is good for eloquence. But Chinese culture focuses on writing, with a unique art form known as calligraphy.

"So,Western and Chinese cultures are complementary, just like yin and yang."

Wang Song, an official with the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, also says Bellassen was bestowed the award because he has published 38 monographs on Chinese-language teaching and86 theses on the promotion of the language and Sino-French cultural cooperation.

Bellassen says Chinese educators must retain the uniqueness of the writing system when teaching Chinese to overseas students.

"Sometimes, teachers in China tend to mimic the methodologies of Western languages. But it is better to have confidence in your own cultural uniqueness," he says.

Bellassen also says that technology now offers new opportunities to learn Chinese.

"The computer era is changing the way we learn languages. Chinese is a dramatic example. Learning an ideographic language via pinyin, using the (Roman) alphabet, is revolutionary," he says.

"And with new apps helping Chinese learners,we need keep pace and develop even newer methods.