On September 4th, Chinese teacher Xia Zihan was giving a lecture to students majoring in Chinese language at the Confucius Classroom at Sablo Gamwo University located at the southern foot of the Central Mountain Range in Sri Lanka. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Yue
Departing from Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, by car, after more than 5 hours of bumpy and undulating mountain roads, we arrived at Saburo Gamwo University located at the southern foot of the Central Mountain Range in Sri Lanka. Strolling around the campus surrounded by mountains, one can often hear the sound of Chinese reading loudly
In 2019, Huanggang Normal University in China and Saporgmuvo University jointly established the Confucius Classroom. On the eve of Teacher’s Day in China, the reporter visited the Confucius Classroom in this mountainous area and met three Chinese female teachers who were standing firm here.
On September 4th, at the University of Sabaragmuwa located at the southern foot of the Central Mountain Range in Sri Lanka, Chinese teacher Xia Zihan (right) was showcasing Chinese calligraphy works to students majoring in Chinese language in the Confucius Classroom. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Dongshu
The school is located in a remote area and there are many inconveniences in daily life. Mosquitoes, snakes, and rodents often visit the teacher dormitory, and during the rainy season, there may be seven or eight days of water, power, and internet outages. Fresh vegetables and daily necessities can only be replenished at the weekly farmer’s market, and the nearest supermarket takes nearly an hour’s drive by mountain road to reach
But Zhu Song, the director of Confucius Classroom who has been here for more than three years, is full of optimism: “We have all survived the most difficult time for Sri Lanka’s economy in 2022. The working and living conditions have improved a lot now, and I feel quite satisfied
On September 4th, Zhu Song (second from left), the director of the Confucius Classroom at Sablo Gamwo University in Sri Lanka, along with teachers Xia Zihan (third from left) and Zhang Huan (first from left), were shopping at the traditional market near the school once a week. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Dongshu
Two young teachers born in the 1990s, Zhang Huan and Xia Zihan, are equally positive and optimistic. We also worked as Chinese teachers in Nepal for a few years, and after coming to Sri Lanka, we became even more determined in our choice. We have been infecting our students with positivity, friendliness, and vitality, which can further stimulate their enthusiasm for learning Chinese and their interest in China
On September 4th, Zhang Huan (right) and Xia Zihan (left), teachers of the Confucius Classroom at Sabregumuwo University located at the southern foot of the Central Mountain Range in Sri Lanka, were preparing lessons in their office. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Dongshu
With the efforts of three Chinese teachers, the teaching content of the Confucius Classroom at Sa University has become increasingly solid and rich. They self wrote and tailored Chinese textbooks for local students. They also brought videos to teach students about the rich and diverse traditional Chinese arts such as Huangmei Opera and Kuaiban. In addition, Confucius Classroom has helped a mountainous high school near Uvo Province establish a Chinese teaching point and regularly train local Chinese teachers
The enthusiasm for learning Chinese continues to spread locally. Xia Zihan said that the Confucius Classroom at Sa Da offers Chinese courses twice a week for faculty and has attracted nearly 20 “students”. The former president of Sa University always made a special trip to attend classes, and the attendance sheet never expired. The library director, who is nearly 70 years old, often comes to us for extra classes after class, and their active participation and evaluation are our greatest motivation
On September 4th, at the University of Sabaragmuwa located at the southern foot of the Central Mountain Range in Sri Lanka, Chinese teacher Zhang Huan was teaching Chinese language students in the Confucius Classroom. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Dongshu
Lu Laili, a student in the Confucius Classroom, told the reporter, “This year we held a Chinese food festival, where we made dumplings, Bingtanghulu, etc. More than 400 local residents were attracted, and they also learned Chinese from us. I taught them to say ‘hello’, ‘thank you’, and ‘dumplings’, and felt that I was also a Chinese teacher!”
Arhat Abevekrama, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Languages of the University of Saskatchewan, said that in recent years, the enthusiasm of Saskatchewan college students to apply for Chinese majors has increased year by year. This year, there are 21 students who chose Chinese as their first major, and another 50 students who applied for Chinese as their second or third major
On September 4th, Chinese teacher Xia Zihan (left) gave a lecture to students majoring in Chinese language at the Confucius Classroom at Sablo Gamwo University located at the southern foot of the Central Mountain Range in Sri Lanka. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Yue
More than 80% of the rural population in Sri Lanka. Nowadays, Confucius classrooms are rooted here, and the ‘Chinese dream’ of mountain students is no longer far away, “said Abwekrama.
On September 4th, students majoring in Chinese language in the Confucius Classroom were attending a lecture at Sablo Gamwo University located at the southern foot of the Central Mountain Range in Sri Lanka. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Yue
On April 3rd, Zhu Song (left), the director of the Confucius Classroom at Sablo Gamwo University located at the southern foot of the Central Mountain Range in Sri Lanka, interacted with students from the school’s Chinese language training class during the “International Chinese Day” event. Xinhua News Agency (photo provided by Confucius Classroom at Sablo Gamwo University)
On September 5th, Zhu Song (left), the director of the Confucius Classroom at Saporgmuwa University in Sri Lanka, had an exchange with students majoring in Chinese language. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Dongshu