Gaining knowledge of Chinese language and culture
During a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of establishing the first Confucius Institute in Uzbekistan, the Confucius Institute in Seychelles confirmed that approximately 3,600 Seychellois have benefited from its services over the past 11 years.
According to Zhang Jianmei, Director of the Confucius Institute in Seychelles, interest in learning Chinese has steadily grown over the years. Some individuals study the language for work, others for business purposes, while some are interested in it because they plan to visit or study in China. She also noted that students from the Seychelles Tourism Academy are learning Chinese to communicate better with Chinese visitors.
Since the institute’s founding in Seychelles in 2013, Zhang highlighted that teachers who have come to the islands have made significant efforts to adapt and meet the needs of Seychellois eager to gain knowledge of both the Chinese language and culture. Over the past 11 years, around 3,600 Seychellois have joined the institute to learn Chinese.
Chinese culture has been deeply influenced by the works and teachings of Confucius, a philosopher and educator who lived more than 2,000 years ago. Zhang explained that the first Confucius Institute abroad was established 20 years ago.
To commemorate this milestone, the Confucius Institute in Seychelles celebrated the 20th anniversary of the founding of the first institute with a special event. During what they called « Confucius Day », Chinese specialists showcased a traditional Chinese health and fitness practice known as Baduanjin.