Submitted by cob on
The Charm of Chinese language and Culture---Episodes of Adult Mandarin Courses at University of the Bahamas
In recent years, the adult mandarin courses offered by the Confucius Institute at University of the Bahamas (the CI at UB) attract many Bahamians from different sectors and of different ages, who are interested in learning Chinese language and culture. The CI at UB provides mandarins courses catering to their individual needs with three-hours instructions in the evening which is convenient for the adult learners. At present, there are Mandarin I and Mandarin II courses which prepare the students for HSK 1 and HSK 2 tests.
These adult students who take the mandarin course in their spare time especially cherish this opportunity of learning Chinese language. By late April, the spring-semester adult mandarin courses have been concluded successfully. The adult students of these courses are now working hard to prepare HSK I and HSK II which will be administered by the CI at UB on May 19th and they intend to pursue their mandarin study in the fall-semester adult mandarin courses.
Ms. Rachea Petty, one of the students in the adult mandarin course is a sales girl in a sports shop. She works from 9: 00 am to 6: 00 pm for 6 days each week. Since the evening classes start from 6: 00 pm, she always arrives in the classroom in a rush, hungry and exhausted from a long day’s work. She had planned to participate in this year’s summer camp to China organized by the CI at UB. However, even though she applied for this tour to China, she had to give up in the end because of the conflict with her work. But she is determined to make it to China next year.
Ms. Charlene Collie is a single mom who works at two jobs while caring for her kid and taking mandarin courses. She has to bring her kid with her to the classroom every time. While the kid is playing games or sleeping, she is listening to the instruction or writing notes attentively. Even though she could not spare enough time after class, practicing or reviewing what she has learned, she is still persisting, only because she loves learning Chinese.
Mr. Mangus Shaw, another student is a two-year-old boy. For health reasons, he did not finish this high-school study. Now the most important task for him is learning Chinese and taking HSK tests. He plans to take and pass HSK 3 test, which will allow him to apply for Confucius Institute Scholarship to pursue his study of Chinese language and culture in a Chinese university.
There are also other students of adult mandarin courses, each with their own individualities and unique stories. But they have one thing in common: the keen enthusiasm in learning Chinese language and culture.
The charm of Chinese language is attracting more and more Bahamians to register for the mandarin courses offered by the CI at UB and they look forward to visiting China one day.