Confucius Institute plans Chinese app
Updated: 2015-05-11 05:58
By NIU YUE in New York(China Daily USA)
|
|||||||||
The Confucius Institute (CI) at Pace University is bringing Chinese-language learning into the mobile space.
"We are planning to launch a Chinese-language-learning cellphone application — Phoenix Chinese — on May 26," said Zhu Min, Chinese-language director of the CI at Pace. "This app will be a lively combination of Chinese knowledge and learning skills."
"It will facilitate Mandarin learners who use electronic equipment to learn Chinese easier and to have more fun while learning," Zhu said.
The CI at Pace, the first university-based CI in New York City, celebrated its sixth anniversary on May 9. Founded in 2009 through a partnership with Nanjing Normal University and China's Phoenix Publishing and Media Group, it has grown from 50 students to more than 500 today.
The goals are to promote Chinese language and culture, and facilitate cross-cultural understanding between the people of the United States and China.
Zhu said "the CI has professional teaching faculty, who can help students learn Chinese from zero-basis to the HSK (Chinese proficiency test) 6-level".
"The CI has always provided various cultural activities, including the annual Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival celebration, Chinese culture lectures and cultural courses in cooperation with the university, as well as international education week and student festivals in cooperation with communities," Zhu added.
In 2014, at the ninth Confucius Institute Conference, the Pace CI was recognized as one of 25 outstanding CIs among the 500 around the world.
John Thompson, guqin performer, who teaches the traditional Chinese stringed musical instrument at Pace CI, played ancient Chinese musical title Autumn in Palace.
Yang Juan, CI teacher, gave a brief Mandarin lesson to the attendees about how to learn Chinese characters, which are ideographs originated from pictures, in an easy and funny way.
At the ceremony, an academic panel themed Adversity, Resilience and Success — Chinese American Perspectives, was held. Two scholars in the fields of mental health and special education, Irene Chung from Hunter College and Chiang Hsumin from Columbia University, shared their insights on how Chinese-American children and adolescents growing up in bicultural households deal with special issues relating to mental health and disabilities.
The panelists also discussed some specific challenges facing Chinese-American parents, especially those who have recently immigrated, in terms of raising bicultural and bilingual children; overcoming cultural stigmas associated with mental health and disabilities; coping with parental distress; adjusting to different cultural expectations to parenting; and seeking resources and support to raise well-adjusted children.
To promote the study of Chinese language and culture abroad, the Chinese government's Office of Chinese Language Promotion started creating and funding Confucius Institutes in partnerships with institutions abroad since 2004.
In the US, there are 64 Confucius Institutes in 37 states, the first of which was established at the University of Maryland in 2005.They are primarily engaged in supporting language study, but sometimes train Chinese-language teachers.
Hong Xiao in New York contributed to this story.
- Ten photos you don't wanna miss - May 11
- Man successfully flies homemade plane
- Beautiful images capture amazing Tibet
- Russian daredevils scale Ping An building
- Super fit mother works out with her three children
- Fireworks explode across Russia to celebrate Victory Day
- Mother's Day marked across China
- Prince Harry receives Maori greetings in New Zealand
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Spring Festival trends reflect a changing China |
Patent applications lead the world |
BC lures Chinese tourists |
Today's Top News
China urges Pentagon to 'rationally' view military strength
Japan should issue apology to Asian states, ex-PM says
Saudi king to skip US-Gulf summit
US university teaches culture of selfies
Chinese president arrives in Belarus for state visit
China moves up to 17th in global tourism survey
Indiana governor going to China
for jobs
Wang Qishan highlights Party discipline in anti-corruption effort
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |