Confucius Institute Celebrates Graduation of Mandarin Language School Students
The Confucius Institute of Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) presented certificates to students from Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour and Collège des sœurs des Saints Cœurs Ain-Najm, who have completed Mandarin courses, during a ceremony held on June 21, 2023, at the Abou Khater Auditorium at the Humanities Campus, under the patronage of the Chinese Ambassador, H.E. Qian Minjian. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Prof. Salim Daccache S.J., USJ Rector, Dr. Nisrine Abdel Nour Lattouf, the Director of the Confucius Institute, and Mr. Zhang Yajin, the Cultural Attaché representing the Ambassador. The attendees included the students, their parents, and the dedicated teaching staff from both schools and the Institute.
After congratulating the students, who devoted their time and energy to learning this challenging language, Dr. Nisrine Abdel Nour Lattouf felt that this success testified to their commitment and willingness to open up to new cultures and perspectives.
“The Chinese language,” explains the Director of the Confucius Institute, “is not only one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, but it is also a vehicle for rich culture and traditions. By mastering Chinese, students will acquire much more than linguistic skills. In an increasingly interconnected world, your knowledge of the Chinese language is a valuable skill that will open doors for you that are beyond measure. Whether you're considering a career in international business, law, commerce, tourism, technology, diplomacy, or medicine, your ability to communicate in Chinese will be a powerful asset in your future career.”
The students then showcased their learnings in the form of songs and dialogues in Mandarin and reviewed various facets of Chinese culture through PowerPoint presentations.
In his speech, Mr. Zhang Yajin noted that “language is a means of communication. It is also a key and a window for understanding and exploring the culture and civilization it represents. I believe the Chinese language skills you have learned will help you further understand Chinese culture and Chinese history. I hope you will continue to make progress in your study of Chinese and improve your Chinese proficiency and try to become messengers of friendship between China and Lebanon.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Confucius Institute of Saint Joseph University for their efforts to promote the Chinese language and Chinese culture among young Lebanese people. They have made an admirable contribution to enhancing people-to-people exchanges between our two countries,” he concluded.
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