Teaching in Africa is a special experience. I want to share with you this wonderful and ultimately memorable journey.The Confucius Institute I teach at is the Confucius Institute at Rhodes University (CIRU for short) in South Africa. Located in Grahamstown, CIRU was officially inaugurated on October 23, 2008. It is worth mentioning that CIRU is one of the "global model Confucius institutes", and its curriculum has entered the education system of rhodes university, which is the future development direction of many Confucius institutes.
CIRU is located in the school of languages at rhodes university, Chinese Studies, and is part of the school of languages. Like French, German, Afrikaans and other courses in the language school, CIRU's Chinese course is a professional credit course in the language school. Students at rhodes university will learn Chinese as their major course. At the same time, CIRU's work is highly consistent with the rhodes model, which is a challenge for volunteer teachers.
In addition to The Chinese courses offered by The university, CIRU has teaching sites in and around Grahamstown, such as The Diocesan School for Girls and The Chinese elective courses offered by St Andrew's College. Victoria Girls' High School and Good Shepherd Primary School; And the police Chinese training course at Nelson Mandela Bay (formerly known as Port Elizabeth).
When I came to CIRU, my main job was to take charge of Chinese Studies 2 and Chinese Studies Honors in my sophomore year. There were 12 classes per week, each class lasted 45 minutes. In addition, I have a Chinese interest club class at Good Shepeherd (Good shepherd primary school) from 8:00 to 8:30 every Tuesday morning. Although the daily workload is not a lot, but at the beginning, it is really a big challenge, ranging from classroom management to classroom explanation, how to control the pace, how to speak vividly, how to design interactive links and so on. All these teaching details need to be figured out and learned step by step. However, compared with other Confucius institutes, CIRU's work is relatively easy. In the case of not much class time, volunteer teachers have enough time to adapt to the new work and explore efficient classroom mode, which is a very ideal state for the growth of volunteer teachers.
In addition to daily classroom teaching, we also organize various cultural activities. For example, traditional Chinese festivals like the Mid-Autumn festival, such as experiencing the use of chopsticks, learning calligraphy and other cultural activities. There are a lot of details involved in organizing an event, and for new volunteers, it's both a learning experience and a great opportunity to practice.
It's hard to imagine Africa without going to Township. Indeed, from the Cathedral to rhodes university's clock tower, a stroll down the town's main Street, High Street, feels like a Nordic town. European architecture facing the street, romantic and delicate dessert houses, like Mad Hat restaurant from Alice in wonderland, a private hospital that looks like a small garden, and a quiet and mysterious library for the blind. The street view gives Grahamstown "the artistic feel of a scroll that runs through the streets of old England."
In addition to the prosperity of High Street, its parallel New Street also has its amorous feelings. Rat & Parrot, built on the street, is the oldest bar in the town. It has two floors, yellow tables, chairs and lights. It has a sense of age! Cafe Devine, with its French atmosphere, is the most tasteful restaurant in the town. Order a cup of Rooibos Tea, sit in the courtyard and enjoy the sunshine.
Turn left to go to the pub, have a small town is the most delicious sandwiches Relish, every eat how sandwich can also do so delicious. Used to think oneself is the typical Chinese stomach, eat not to spoil western food, but since met Steers home fries, Relish sandwiches and the home of croissants, 38, will open the floodgates.
n their spare time, volunteer teachers also live up to the good times, either walking around the campus, or visiting Monument overlooking the town, or jogging at St Andrew's College. Volunteers who enjoy life can always find something interesting to do.
CIRU's Chinese cultural center is located on 36 Somerset Street, which is where the volunteers live. We call it number 36. On March 36, you will become a member of CIRU and start your life in South Africa.
Here, each volunteer has his/her own bedroom, and hanban and the Confucius institute have equipped each volunteer with the necessary daily necessities, so that we can live in peace and work happily. Of course, as the cultural center of the Confucius institute, no. 36 also has other facilities in place. A meeting room, general senior leaders visit, we are in this meeting room tea reception; A large living room where many of the Confucius institute's cultural activities are held. Teaching abroad, to master the necessary cooking skills is essential, no. 36 kitchen has all kinds of kitchen utensils, as long as you are interested, you can study a variety of Chinese and western, the dean often said "from the CIRU volunteers can be directly married." During the teaching period, the volunteers' cooking skills improved predictably.
It's jacaranda season in town, and wherever there are jacaranda trees, you can pick up your phone and take a snap of the scenery. The whole town was jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda - jacaranda Every morning open the window, see such purple shade profusion, sunlight warmth, stretch a lazy waist, even get up all more a few minutes of power.
The ideal job comes with a good life, and that's what every volunteer is looking forward to. However, behind these beautiful things, I also have the bitterness of staying up late preparing for classes, the panic when I first entered the local environment, the trouble of not understanding English, the boredom of having nowhere to get rid of in daily life and the loneliness of sometimes living alone in no. 36. However, as a volunteer Chinese teacher, these are the psychological construction needs to be done before the appointment, but also after the appointment needs to overcome and improve. I have the honor to come to the Confucius institute of rhodes university, where the work is relatively easy, giving me enough time to study and teach. The people here are kind and easy-going, which makes me feel the warmth of a big family.Finally, "do not forget the original intention, square always". I hope that those of you who love Chinese language teaching will eventually become a "flower of hanyu" and bloom in a corner of the world.Zang liliVolunteer Chinese teacher of Confucius institute, rhodes university, South AfricaJiangsu university, 2010, bachelor of Chinese as a foreign languageMaster of linguistics and applied linguistics, 2014, jinan university.
