The picture shows three students studying at the National Residential School in Rome receiving the "People's Daily Overseas Edition" with their stories.
Liu Jing (third from left in the front row) is with the students.
Ji Zijie is learning Chinese.
Gleb is reading the "People's Daily Overseas Edition" where his own articles are published.
Teachers and students at the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta are reading the "People's Daily Overseas Edition".
Sun Yi shows the "People's Daily Overseas Edition" where his article was published.
Shen Wenxie took a group photo with "People's Daily Overseas Edition", which published his own article.
They come from all over the world, with different ages, cultural backgrounds and nationalities, but they are all connected with Chinese. Some are Chinese learners and some are front-line teachers of international Chinese teaching. In 2023, their stories were published in the "Learn Chinese" edition. Today, let us once again follow their narration into the wonderful world of Chinese.
Learn Chinese and Feel China's Development
In Italy, the National Residential School of Rome is quite famous. The school opened a five-year Chinese International Science High School in 2009 and has the largest Confucius Classroom in Italy. It has become a common practice for students to learn Chinese and Chinese culture.
Alexander is a sophomore in high school at the Rome National Residential School. He has lived in China for eight years. One of the reasons he chose to study at the Rome National Residential School is to further improve his Chinese ability.
Alexander summarized many methods for learning Chinese, and also encountered challenges - writing Chinese characters and the tones of Chinese Pinyin. "No matter how many challenges there are, you will gain a lot from learning Chinese. It can exercise your thinking and increase your employment opportunities." Alexander said.
Anthony and Alexander, who are in their fifth year of high school, feel the same way. Anthony's journey of learning Chinese began 4 years ago. In his opinion, the experience of learning Chinese is not only unforgettable, but also crucial to his life. It not only enriches his inner life, but also allows him to understand and respect the world civilization. Diversity. "In the process of learning Chinese, I have the opportunity to experience China from many aspects. More importantly, I have the opportunity to deepen my understanding of this country with a long history and splendid culture and to have a deeper understanding of Chinese culture." Anthony explain.
Chang Hong, 16 years old, transferred to the National Residential School in Rome and is now in the fourth grade of high school. He chose to transfer because he was interested in Chinese. After learning that the Chinese language program of the National Residential School in Rome was very good, he decided to take the school's entrance exam in September 2021. Although it took a short time from when he decided to transfer to taking the exam, and he encountered many difficulties in the learning process, Chang Hong finally passed the exam. This was also regarded by him as an important change in his academic career. "This summer, I went to China to participate in the 'Chinese Bridge' summer camp. What impressed me most was that China has both ancient traditions and an innovative atmosphere, which also made me work harder to learn Chinese and Chinese culture," Chang Hong said.
Qi Boran, who attended the same "Chinese Bridge" summer camp as Chang Hong, has been learning Chinese for two years, and this year he finally realized his dream of visiting China. "Before going, I heard that China is very beautiful, but what I saw was beyond my imagination. I didn't expect that the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace in Beijing were so beautiful, the roast duck was so delicious, and the Chinese people were so friendly... The experience of participating in the summer camp is something I will cherish forever. A precious treasure in my heart." Qi Boran said.
(Compiled by our reporter Zhao Xiaoxia)
Helping students realize their dreams
Liu Jing
"Teacher, we will always remember you!" "Teacher, I hope we can meet in China soon!" After saying goodbye, we reluctantly said goodbye. , I embarked on a journey back to China from Cameroon.
The airport is still the same as when I first arrived, but the people around me have changed a lot. Looking back on the past four and a half years, there were times when I was confused and hesitant. It was the students who loved me and missed me who accompanied me.
"Teacher Liu, I am very happy to see you in China!" Romeo said excitedly with tears in his eyes. He is the student I took with me after get off work online after the COVID-19 epidemic. “I want to express my gratitude to you because thanks to your help, I have realized my dream of studying in China.You see, now I am in China and can speak Chinese. If others say that I speak Chinese fluently and standardly, it is because of your help. Thank you very much. Moreover, I will work harder to further improve my Chinese level..." A few minutes after I was separated from Romeo, I received his WeChat voice message. At that moment, waves of warmth flowed through my heart, and I suddenly felt that more than 4 years had passed. My Chinese teaching time is very valuable and worth remembering for a lifetime.
"I will start this letter with thanks. I want to thank you. You are the best teacher, you are my sister, you accompany me in every competition, and you patiently Support me...I have a lot to say, but no amount of words can express all my gratitude, I will never forget you, we will meet again in China soon, until then I will miss you very much , Teacher, you are waiting for me in China!" The day before I left Cameroon, Ella told me her gratitude and reluctance in her farewell letter to me. She was already working and took advantage of her two-hour lunch break. Riding a motorcycle to the Confucius Institute to say goodbye to me. She is Romeo’s classmate, the first in every class exam, and the champion of the 2022 “The Voice of Cameroon” Chinese Song Contest. She is a music-loving girl who pursues her music dream. girl. She hugged me reluctantly and said goodbye, but we both believed that we would meet again.
"I'm waiting for you in China!" is my promise to the students, and it is also the reason for the students to study hard and pursue their dreams. Motivation. In Cameroon, most students studying Chinese have the same dream as Romeo and Ella, that is, to study in China and realize their dreams in China.
As a teacher, being liked by students and receiving such gifts, It not only gave me the greatest affirmation in my work, but also gave me great spiritual satisfaction. And I gradually became clear about my goals, to be a teacher who helps students realize their dreams, and to live up to the recognition and expectations of the students.
(The author was a Chinese teacher at the Confucius Institute at the University of Yaoundé II in Cameroon)
I am proud to be able to write in Chinese
Ji Zijie
I was born in the Netherlands, but my parents are both from China. My parents always use Chinese to communicate with me at home. . They told me that our roots are in China. No matter where we are, we must be able to speak Chinese and write Chinese characters. Only by learning Chinese well can we understand Chinese culture in the future.
When I reached school age, my parents would send me to I studied Chinese at the Danhua Cultural Education Center in Rotterdam. From the beginning of recognizing characters by looking at pictures to being able to read texts without the help of Chinese pinyin, my Chinese level has been systematically improved. As I deepened my study of Chinese, the teacher began to provide guidance. I write in Chinese, from practicing writing a short paragraph to writing a short story. Every time I write, I try to express my thoughts more accurately. In the process, I gradually realize the unique charm of Chinese and feel The beauty of Chinese characters. Chinese word combinations and sentence changes can construct different scenes and express different emotions. I was immersed in it and became more and more fond of writing in Chinese. Later, my teachers encouraged me to participate in the World Chinese Student Composition Competition. I participate every year and am honored to have won many awards.
Now I can speak Chinese fluently and write some short stories in Chinese from time to time, which makes me extremely happy. Because as a Chinese living overseas, I can express my thoughts in Chinese and write in Chinese. This is so proud.
As I learn more and more Chinese characters and deepen my understanding of Chinese culture, I deeply feel that Chinese culture is profound, profound and has a long history. I will continue to explore and learn Chinese and use it to write and record more stories.
(The author is a student of Danhua Cultural Education Center in the Netherlands)
Fascinating Chinese
Gleb
On December 1, one of my essays was published in the "Learning Chinese" section of "People's Daily Overseas Edition". I am very happy! This is recognition for my learning Chinese.
Because I wanted to understand Chinese and Chinese culture, I started learning Chinese when I was 14 years old, while I was still studying in my hometown in Russia.
One of the reasons that attracts me to keep learning Chinese is the uniqueness of Chinese characters. Each Chinese character has a different meaning, which is really fascinating. For example, the word "smart" is composed of "ear", "mouth", "heart", "sun", "moon", etc. From these components, we can determine the meaning of the word. The wonderful thing about Chinese characters is that not only the shapes are interesting, but there are also many stories behind them.
Another reason why I learned Chinese is that my parents traveled to China and vividly described to me China's delicious food, traditional culture, and the prosperity of its cities when they came home. These stories made me want to see China with my own eyes. Learning Chinese well is the first step to realize this wish.
Speaking of factors for learning Chinese, the love for Chinese food cannot be missing. I like to eat fried noodles, wontons, dumplings, noodles, etc. I hope that one day I can go to China to taste the delicacies in the pictures and see those charming cities and attractions.
In the process of learning Chinese, the charm of Chinese culture and history inspired my interest in learning. The majestic Great Wall made me yearn for it even more. I secretly made up my mind to visit it in the future. I have too many reasons to go to China. All I can do now is learn Chinese well.
(The author is a student of Malvern Middle School in the UK)
I have been associated with this newspaper for 23 years
Wu Yunhong
Gleb is my student. I am particularly happy for him that his Chinese composition can be published. Unknowingly, I have been associated with "People's Daily Overseas Edition" for 23 years.
In 2000, I first came into contact with the People’s Daily Overseas Edition because the article of the first British student I taught was published in this newspaper. I still remember the excitement and excitement I felt at that time. To this end, the school also built a special bulletin board to display the achievements of students in learning Chinese. From then on, every time a classmate’s Chinese composition was published in the newspaper, classmates and teachers would jump with joy and be happy that their first-time Chinese learning was recognized. Their learning achievements also inspired subsequent classmates to enter the Chinese world.
Some students also went to London to participate in a Chinese speech competition based on their Chinese compositions published in newspapers. For example, the "Learning Chinese" section of "People's Daily Overseas Edition" once published an essay "Beef Ramen" by a German student. Based on this essay, the author introduced "Beef Ramen" and Chinese food culture to the audience and judges. I achieved very good results in a Chinese speech contest that year and was given the opportunity to study in Beijing for a week.
Gradually, the staff of the school library became aware of the "People's Daily Overseas Edition" and placed the newspaper in a conspicuous position on the display shelf. As a Chinese teacher, I am very proud. What makes me even more proud is that more and more students are becoming interested in Chinese.
(The author is a Chinese teacher at Malvern Middle School in the UK)
Every Chinese class is a window for communication
Sun Yi
On December 24, 2021, the Shanghai Pudong Airport was brightly lit late at night, and many people were waiting to return to Europe to celebrate. At Christmas, I am preparing to go to Malta to start my Chinese teaching career. If life is a journey, then my time teaching Chinese in Malta must be one of the most meaningful journeys in my life. When
took office, Ji Nengwen, the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta, said to me: “Actions speak louder than words, and long-term results will be achieved.” This sentence later became my belief and basic principle in my work.
I am mainly responsible for the Chinese core courses and public elective credit courses for Chinese liberal arts majors, including comprehensive courses, oral courses and certificate courses. Although students from first to third grade are more enthusiastic about learning Chinese, because some are pursuing two or three degrees at the same time, and some have to work-study, they have less effective learning time. In order to ensure the teaching effect, I will prepare lessons carefully and design carefully before each class, and try my best to allow students to complete their learning tasks in class. After class, I will go to the person in charge of the foreign course to review the classroom situation: whether this language point has been explained thoroughly, and whether the teaching rhythm and method are easily accepted by the students...
After more than a year of hard work, I am responsible for all aspects of teaching. The course is progressing smoothly and has been welcomed by students and praised by foreign parties.What makes me gratified is that after the first-year undergraduate course, 3/4 of the students chose Chinese as their undergraduate major. Moreover, students continue to come to audit Chinese classes. Although they do not need credits, their enthusiasm for learning is no less than that of students who choose courses. Another phenomenon that moved me is that some parents of students also fell in love with Chinese under the influence of their children and came to the university to sign up for certificate courses. As a teacher, I am sincerely happy to see that the students' level is constantly improving and Chinese is becoming more and more popular here.
"There are methods for teaching, but there is no fixed method. The most important thing is to get the method." Chinese teaching may vary from time to time, place, and person to person, but the original intention of international Chinese education has never changed. Teaching Chinese requires not only teaching the language, but also introducing the culture. Combining professional characteristics, traditional culture and other themes, I planned and organized cultural activities such as the Winter Olympics, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Confucius Institute Open Day, etc.
During the Beijing Winter Olympics, Maltese athlete Janice Spiteri became famous on the Internet for eating bean buns. "Miss Bean Buns" was on the hot search list on social media, triggering heated discussions among teachers and students at the University of Malta. When I was planning special cultural activities for the Winter Olympics, I invited experts in traditional Chinese medicine to explain the medicinal value and health benefits of red beans, and famous Chinese chefs to give on-site instructions on how to make red bean paste buns.
For me, every Chinese class is a window to introduce Chinese culture, and it is also a bridge that promotes people-to-people connections, connecting China on one end and Malta on the other. In the past two years, I have met many local people who love Chinese and Chinese culture. From one person to a family to a group of people, the Chinese "circle of friends" continues to expand and has become a local trend.
(The author is an associate professor at Anhui Chuzhou Vocational and Technical College and a Chinese teacher at the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta)
Singing our story with China
Shen Wenxie
In 2010, I came to China with my family and encountered many difficulties because I could not speak Chinese. For example, on the first day I arrived at Shenzhen University, because I didn’t speak Chinese and didn’t apply for a campus card in time, I couldn’t eat on campus.
At Shenzhen University, I studied from an undergraduate degree to a Ph.D. In addition to improving my Chinese language skills and improving my studies, I am particularly proud of the fact that I founded the International Chorus at Shenzhen University. When the choir was founded, there were less than 10 people, but the members were very enthusiastic. With everyone's efforts, the choir has completed more than 60 performances and various competitions from 2016 to 2023, leaving our singing voice and footprints on the campus of Shenzhen University, Guangzhou, Beijing and other places.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, I hoped to bring courage to people through music, so I tried a new method-"cloud chorus". Although we encountered time differences and other problems, we overcame the difficulties and recorded "Your Answer", "Friends", "Fill the World with Love", etc. During the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, we will launch the original work "Wish of Ice and Snow". "Letter from Spring" was released in Beijing in April this year. On the 10th anniversary of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative, we released "The Road to Dreams".
Music knows no borders. In recent years, the choir has been joined by new friends who love music. Music was a bridge and we became good friends. Every Sunday night, everyone sings together and exchanges culture. Studying and living in China, we have witnessed the development of this country. Through the choir, we sang our own stories with China, and we hope to continue to promote cultural exchanges through music in the future.
(The author is a Korean student at Shenzhen University)
