PRESS STATEMENT : The National University of Samoa and Confucius Institute celebrated the 19 students who completed their courses in Chinese for Beginners (Part A & Part C) and were awarded certificates on Thursday evening.
“We are excited to be restarting these foreign language courses for the community. We hope that they enhance employability skills, assist when doing business with Chinese speakers, and more importantly, develop a better understanding between our two cultures” said the Vice Chancellor, Aiono Professor Alec Ekeroma.
The Vice Chancellor also reflected that “the use of a new model for their delivery of Chinese languages anchored by local tutors with remote online oversight by the Confucius Institute provides opportunities for expanding the NUS capabilities for delivery of other foreign languages with oversight by appropriate overseas centres of excellence linked through high speed internet connectivity.”
“Language is the bridge to promote culture exchange and deepen the understanding and friendship between the two peoples,” HE Chao Xiaoliang the Ambassador for the People’s Republic of China commented.
The guest speaker on behalf of the students was 12 year old Ioane William Punivalu.
He came first in his class for Chinese for Beginners Part C. William together with his sister Astrid 14 years old have completed 24 weeks of studying Chinese. Starting with Part A and now completing Part C.
“I am a kid who loves Chinese movies and actors. I like Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee and Jet Li, and I really want to do kung-fu like them”
“We are very grateful to the Confucius Institute and the National University of Samoa for the Chinese Classes.” William Punivalu also explained other difficulties of studying in class
“There are 3 sets of siblings in our class: me and my sister Astrid, Mathew and his sister Agnes, and Yan Rong and her brother Chendi. Can you imagine being in the same room as your sisters for almost 2 hours?”
For Chinese for Beginners Part A, the class was topped by another William – William John Hunt. Scoring a perfect score of 100% in the exam.
“We had a wide age range in the Part A class this time around, with the youngest student Orando Chee Kwong Zhu 11 years old and the ever most youthful Elita Garin Aloaina in her early 70s.” said, Hether Lisi Vaai (Chinese Language Lecturer).
“In recent years, there has been a shift in trading patterns between China, other Asian countries and the Pacific. The National University of Samoa in collaboration with the Confucius Institute, have seized the opportunity to help build basic language communication skills and cultural understanding.
“This introduction can start a lifetime interest in learning about China and other Asian countries and languages, ” said Local Director of the Confucius Institute at the National University of Samoa, Peseta Dr Desmond Lee Hang
Over the years, the National University of Samoa has always strived to be the trusted and knowledgeable leader in providing the community with a range of courses to help develop personal skills and engage in collaboration learning and teaching with the community.
“I would like to commend the great work of the Confucius Institute at the National University of Samoa and wish the students present today, more remarkable accomplishments in the future.” HE Chao Xiaoliang, the Ambassador for the People’s Republic of China, commented.
Both courses ran for 8 weeks, with 2 classes (1.5 hours) per week.
“The community courses were taught by Matama’a Brandon Chou Lee and Hether Lisi Vaai – Samoans who are competent in Chinese language after having passed HSK (Chinese language proficiency test) 4 and 5 and studied for their degrees in China” said Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the National University of Samoa, Dr Guojie Tony Liang
Matama’a Brandon Chou Lee acknowledged the guidance and support of the NUS Vice Chancellor Aiono Professor Alec Ekeroma, Deputy Vice Chancellor Peseta Dr Desmond Lee Hang, Dean of the Faculty of Arts Sauia Dr. Louise Matai’a-Milo and Head of the English and Foreign Languages department Lafaitele Fualuga Taupi as well as Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the National University of Samoa Dr Guojie Tony Liang.
“Lastly, Thank you students for your active participation and patience in trying to learn a foreign language” he said.