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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Community
Nassau, Bahamas - Education continues to be the bridge to deepening cultural awareness, understanding and friendship between The Bahamas and the People's Republic of China, with the Confucius Institute at The College of The Bahamas playing an essential role. Over the next few weeks, 14 college students – most of whom are from The College of The Bahamas – and nine Bahamian educators from the public and private school system will experience the culture of China and learn its language and customs by traveling throughout Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Wuxi. This week, they will embark on the 19-day expedition as guests of the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST) on the 2015 Chinese Cultural Programme. On Monday, June 29th, the Bahamian delegates were recognised for being selected to participate in the summer programme during a brief ceremony held at The College’s Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre. Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in The Bahamas Lin Xianjiang explained that this particular programme is customized for Bahamians. “Most Chinese people are not familiar with The Bahamas and you can tell them how beautiful your country is and [about] your tourism industry and your Junkanoo culture. We have a lot to learn from The Bahamas,” he told the contingent. He noted that the Confucius Institute at The College of The Bahamas has played an integral role in language and cultural exchanges between The Bahamas and China. “It is a bridge between our two countries and peoples. It is also a bridge of our sincere friendship,” he added. The Confucius Classroom at The College of The Bahamas was opened in 2009 in collaboration with Hanban, the branch of the Chinese Ministry of Education responsible for promoting Chinese language education overseas, and NUIST.
In October, 2012, the Confucius Institute was launched. It offers Mandarin I, II and II courses and teaches students basic communication skills. Special classes can also be arranged for professionals in the private sector and in local schools. The programme has also opened the door to valuable cultural immersion opportunities in China like the one on which this latest delegation is travelling. While in China, the educators and students will experience Chinese pastimes and cultural activities like paper-cutting, folk dancing, calligraphy and Chinese Kung Fu. They will also tour famous historical and heritage sites including the Nanjing Museum, Confucius Temple, Yuejiang Tower and Presidential Palace. Executive Vice President and Vice President of Academic Affairs at The College of The Bahamas Dr. Earla Carey-Baines expressed gratitude for the opportunities provided by HANBAN and NUIST. “You will experience many new adventures. You will be exposed to many different cultures and ways of living and seeing the world when you visit China in the next few days. We know that you will represent us well,” she said. One of the persons headed to China is Sonia Adderley, Head of the Foreign Languages Department at St. Andrew’s School. She urged her counterparts to travel with an open mind. “For those of you who are COB students who are studying Mandarin, this will bring the language alive for you. You will see and understand the significance of all that you have been doing. That is the only way to experience and to learn a language, to find yourself immersed in that culture and its people,” she said. She also encouraged the educators to learn as much as they can and share that knowledge with their students. China has committed to providing 6,000 full government scholarships, 6,000 short-term training opportunities, and 400 one-year master degree scholarships to Latin-American and Caribbean countries. This year alone, the country expects to host more than 130 Bahamians on courses, training opportunities and degree programmes.
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