International Online Liaoning Channel News (Huang Fei): Ferdinand, a Burundian boy who studied in the Chinese International Education major at Bohai University in Liaoning Province, returned to Burundi after graduation and taught at the Confucius Institute at the University of Burundi, realizing his dream of Chinese teacher.
In the process of studying, Ferdinand had a clear goal and wanted to become an expert in Teaching Chinese, so he entered the Confucius Institute at the University of Burundi to learn Chinese and won a scholarship, which was run by Bohai University in cooperation with the local Burundi University, and then Ferdinand traveled thousands of miles to Liaoning, China to study. At the Confucius Institute at the University of Burundi, there are five local Chinese teachers like Ferdinand, all of whom have studied and grown up at Bohai University.
Ferdinand (first from left) teaching in a Chinese classroom Courtesy of Bohai University
Recently, Zhao Zhenhua, Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Office of Bohai University and Dean of the School of International Education, introduced the development of the two Confucius Institutes opened overseas by Bohai University and the growth story of the "Ferdinand" to the International Online Liaoning Channel.
Teaching according to local conditions The two Confucius Institutes have their own characteristics
Zhao Zhenhua introduced that Bohai University has opened two Confucius Institutes overseas, namely the Confucius Institute of the University of Burundi opened in Burundi and the Confucius Institute of the University of Bangui in Central Africa opened in the Central African Republic, these two Confucius Institutes are committed to promoting Chinese education, allowing more international friends to understand Chinese culture, promoting people-to-people ties between China and foreign countries, and promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and foreign countries.
Zhao Hui, President of Bohai University (fourth from left), Zhao Zhenhua, Director of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation and Dean of the Institute of International Education (third from left), and others went to Burundi to attend the Seventh Council of Confucius Institutes and attended the inauguration ceremony of the Confucius Institute Building in Burundi Courtesy of Bohai University
Du Zhongxing, foreign dean of the Confucius Institute at Bangui University in Central Africa (right), receives the Chinese Ambassador's Medal Courtesy of Bohai University
The Confucius Institute at the University of Burundi, which has been open for a long time, currently has 12 university teaching sites and Chinese classes in 22 primary and secondary schools, and as of December 2021, the number of registered students has exceeded 10,000. The newly opened Confucius Institute at Bangui University also began trial operations on June 1, 2021, and it absorbed 134 students that year.
Teachers of the Confucius Institute at the University of Burundi perform local dances with students Courtesy of Bohai University
Students of the Confucius Institute at the University of Burundi perform Taijiquan at the unveiling ceremony Courtesy of Bohai University
Chinese Kung Fu, Chinese Song and Dance, Chinese Paper Cutting, Chinese Lion Dance, Chinese Dragon Dance, Chinese Song, Chinese Hand-Crochet, Chinese Food... These unique courses allow overseas students to understand the unique charm of Chinese culture.
The focus of the two Confucius Institutes in different countries also varies. Relying on the characteristics and advantages of the scientific research cooperation and innovation mechanism, the Confucius Institute of the University of Burundi focuses on cooperation in the fields of "Chinese + agriculture/food", and is committed to integrating Chinese majors into the Burundian national education system.
Ma Zhengrong (right), Chinese dean of the Confucius Institute at Bangui University in Central Africa, teaches students hand-crochet courtesy of Bohai University
The Confucius Institute of Bangui University in Central Africa focuses on the Confucius Institute as a platform to actively explore the "international Chinese education + vocational skills" education system suitable for local characteristics, and promote the mutual integration and exchange of Chinese and African cultures.
In addition, the Confucius Institute at Bangui University also held the China-Africa Independence Day event on the occasion of traditional Chinese and local festivals and major events. In addition, teachers and students of the Confucius Institute at Bangui University were also invited to participate in the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on "Belt and Road" cooperation and the awarding ceremony of the "China-China-China Community of Shared Future Chinese Ambassador Medal" held at the Presidential Palace of the Central African Republic, and presented wonderful performances. These activities have greatly enhanced the local people's sense of identification with the Confucius Institute at Bangui University.
Create concentric circles of cultural exchange Local Chinese teachers "blossom" overseas
The addition of local Chinese teachers is also a highlight of the overseas Confucius Institutes of Bohai University. Under the general trend of localization of international Chinese education, the school pays special attention to the long-term training of local Chinese teachers, so as to promote the influence of Confucius Institutes in the local area.
At present, of the 21 public Chinese teachers, volunteers and local teachers from the Confucius Institute at the University of Burundi and the Confucius Institute at Bangui University, 16 have graduated from Bohai University majoring in Chinese international education, including 6 local Chinese teachers who are currently teaching at the Confucius Institute at the University of Burundi.
Ban Chao, a local Chinese teacher at the Confucius Institute at the University of Burundi, teaches in a Chinese classroom Courtesy of Bohai University
Ban Chao, a native Chinese teacher in Burundi, has a similar growth experience to Ferdinand, who not only wants to become a Chinese teacher, but also wants to become a messenger of cultural exchanges, build a bridge of friendship between Africa and China, and let more Burundians learn Chinese, understand China, know China, and love China.
In addition to these two Confucius Institutes, graduates of Bohai University's International Chinese Language Education have served and taught at many overseas schools, including the Confucius Institute in Rwanda, the Confucius Institute in Sri Lanka, the Confucius Institute in Serbia, the Seodaegu Middle School in South Korea, and the Surabaya High School in South Korea.
They came to China from all over the world, studied and grew up in Liaoning, and went to all corners of the world as public teachers or volunteers, introducing their own views of China to more overseas people, contributing their own strength to promoting the far-reaching development of Sino-foreign friendship, and depicting the "concentric circles" of cultural exchanges in the world.