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News > Confucius Classroom Opens Doorway to China
Confucius Classroom Opens Doorway to China
Scholarship recipients Brandon Bethel; Christian Deleveaux; Alexis Simmons; Kristen Duncombe and Kevin Davis leave for a one year course of study at the Nanjing University of Information, Science and Technology [NUIST] later this month. The group recently met with officials of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China and The College of The Bahamas. Fascinated with foreign languages, Brandon Bethel is a third year Biology with Chemistry major at The College of The Bahamas who has chosen to delay the completion of his bachelor degree programme for one year in order to study in China. He and five other scholars of the Confucius Classroom at The College of The Bahamas recently received scholarships from the Confucius Institute Scholarship programme. "I've always loved languages; that's just me. When I come across a language that I do not know I study its history and everything about it. I know Russian and French and I want to learn Chinese, Arabic and Hindu," says Brandon, who also hopes to use his experiences in China to add another dimension to his creative writing. Later this month, Brandon and his peers – Christian Deleveaux; Alexis Simmons; Kristen Duncombe and Kevin Davis – will embark on an extraordinary adventure that takes their foreign language lessons to new heights of living and learning. The scholarship recipients will study at the Nanjing University of Information, Science and Technology [NUIST] for one academic year, taking courses in Integrated Chinese; Common Reading; Oral Chinese; Listening; Writing; Chinese Characters and Calligraphy; Fast Reading and Common Sense of Chinese History and Cultural Practice. Another scholarship recipient and Confucius Classroom scholar, Adelina Spicer, has already returned from a four week long course of study in Shanghai, China. As a requirement of the scholarship, the recipients must have studied at a Confucius Classroom or Institute and taken the Chinese Proficiency Test. 
Mr. Zhai Xingfu, Counsellor. Embassy of the People's Republic of China, encouraged the scholarship recipients to fully embrace their learning experience while studying in China. "The world is becoming a small village. We people from different countries and religions are beginning to know each other. Language is the very important way for communication, if not the only way," he said. "I hope the students learn the language, then love the language and later on enjoy the language so that you can learn more." Since the Confucius Classroom opened in 2009, scores of College of The Bahamas students and public and private sector professionals in the financial services and hospitality and tourism sectors have taken courses in Mandarin. However, the Classroom, has become more than a conduit to learning the language of China, it has literally become the doorway to a fascinating new world. Named after the popular Chinese philosopher, the network of Confucius Institutes and Classrooms was established in collaboration with Hanban, the branch of the Chinese Ministry of Education promoting Chinese language education overseas. Operating in cooperation with local schools, colleges and universities, the institutes and classrooms are designed to establish quality, sustainable Chinese language programmes around the world. It is estimated that 30 million people worldwide are learning to speak Chinese as the People's Republic of China continues to cultivate opportunities for expanded trade and technical cooperation with other countries. In The Bahamas, the demand for Mandarin classes has grown simultaneously with the relationship between China and The Bahamas. In recent years, China has increased its investments in The Bahamas in the areas of technical expertise, training and agricultural and tourism support. In January, Mandarin will also be included as an academic course offering at The College, giving students the opportunity to earn college credits. As part of The College's continuing education programme, Dr. Gao Hui, has been teaching Mandarin at the Confucius Classroom since 2009 and last year began to encourage her students to apply for the scholarships that are being offered to study in China. She is pleased that Mandarin will soon be offered as part of The College's academic curriculum. 
From left: Ms. Kristen Duncombe; Mr. Christian Deleveaux and Mr. Michael Lightbourne at the Confucius Classroom at The College of The Bahamas. Danielle Quant, who recently returned from studying in China for one year on scholarship called her experience a life altering one. A practicing attorney, wife and mother at the time that she made the decision to study abroad, she said it allowed her to gain fluency in the Chinese language and she confidently displayed this while conversing with officials of the Chinese Embassy. Both Danielle and another student of the Confucius Classroom, Valeashia Nixon, studied at NUIST for one year. "I think in the first two weeks we survived off yogurt and random chicken. China now for me has been a life changing experience," she reminisced. "When I got the call that five students were going to China on the same programme that I did I was so excited for more than one reason; not only because I know the experience that this is going to be for them, but it made me feel connected again with many of the friends that I made at NUIST. And you will find many friends, you will make them and you will leave and you will miss them and your school because NUIST is a very good school." College President Dr. Betsy V. Boze looks forward to the Confucius Classroom evolving into a Confucius Institute. "The work that Dr. Gao is doing here with the students is exemplary. I have been very pleased to work with her. I think the influence of China in The Bahamas is so significant and will continue to grow and the more that we can understand the language and the culture, the more the two countries can work together, hopefully for beneficial gains." The Confucius Classroom offers Mandarin I, II and II and teaches students to learn basic communication skills. As has been done in the past, special classes can be arranged for professionals in the private sector and also primary and high schools by contacting the Continuing Education and Extension Services of The College of The Bahamas.
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