Lanzhou, 4 Mar (Xinhua) -- In March 4 , the warm sun came in the afternoon in March , and the whole classroom suddenly became warm and bright. The spirited teacher Wu Li was discussing Chinese philosophy with the students from the perspective of a "foreigner", and the atmosphere was warm.
Wu Li (right) and colleague Lin Linna exchange ideas on curriculum design. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Wenjing
Wu Li, 64, is a teacher in the German department of Lanzhou University's College of Foreign Chinese. On weekdays, he not only undertakes busy language teaching work, but also takes the initiative to lead students to understand life in the "dialogue" of Sino-German culture. Years of hard work have made him the most enthusiastic cultural messenger in the eyes of teachers and students.
The "bridge" of Sino-German cultural exchanges originates from the "Chinese Dream" that Wuli has sprouted more than 40 years ago.
The Chinese insights in the works of the traveler Marco Polo inspired Wuli's yearning for the Orient. When he was in college, Wu Li did not hesitate to choose the Chinese lingua franca as his major, hoping to understand China through language learning.
The "Chinese Dream" that Wuli has been obsessed with was finally realized in 2013. He was introduced by a friend to Gansu Province in western China and embarked on a dream-chasing journey in Lanzhou, the capital of the Yellow River.
Wu Li searched for books in the library reading room of the College of Foreign Chinese of Lanzhou University. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Wenjing
In the classroom, WuLi is a charming "old man" who combines erudition, humor and affinity. He often designs fun teaching activities, such as practicing speaking through group debates and understanding European culture through role play. The in-depth and simple teaching methods bring Chinese students closer to German and European culture.
"Mr. Wuli taught me not only a language, but more importantly, opened a window for me to take the initiative to learn about foreign cultures. He is also fluent in Chinese, French and Russian. From him, I also saw the joy of lifelong learning. Xu Jianhao, a 2018 student in the German Department of the College of Foreign Chinese of Lanzhou University, said.
In life, Wu Li is a "young man" who learns endlessly. In the 9 years since he came to China, he has created his own method of reading children's books to practice tone and nagging, and his Mandarin level has improved by leaps and bounds. Of course, all efforts cannot avoid Wuli's dream: "spread culture and communicate with the world".
Passionate about philosophy, he wanted to introduce Chinese philosophy to Germany and europe in detail, and Wuli spent nearly 20 years translating a French book on the history of Chinese thought into German. Next month, the more than 600-page book will be published.
In order to clarify the professional vocabulary of Chinese philosophy in the book, Wu Li found students in the College of Literature to "make up" the ancient Chinese written language, Wen Yanwen. In his view, gnawing down this hard bone can open the "door of communication" between China and Germany that is older and deeper.
Wu Li said: "Chinese philosophy is broad and profound, but not many people in Germany understand Chinese philosophy. I hope to be able to become a 'bridge' between the two cultures, and introduce more wonderful and little-known 'Chinese stories' to Europe while 'preaching and teaching to solve puzzles'." ”
Lin Linna, head of the German Department at Lanzhou University's School of Foreign Chinese, said that Wuli is not only a conscientious teacher, but also a cultural researcher with ideals and struggles for it, and Wuli influenced her definition of "foreign language teacher" in her heart.
The spring breeze dances and everything grows. At present, Wuli is enjoying the joy of teaching in China, the fun of life and the satisfaction of translators. He plans to translate more books on Chinese culture, "hoping that in the near future, Europeans will know not only about giant pandas and taijiquan, but also philosophers such as Zhu Xi and Wang Yangming and their philosophical ideas."