Feature: Senegalese teachers of Chinese language in one week training seminar

The Dakar Confucius Institute organized a one week training seminar for Senegalese teachers of Chinese language in the country's universities and schools between March 28 to April 2, 2016.

The director of Confucius Institute at the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Prof. Mamadou Fall, said the training targeted local teachers who teach basic Chinese language.

"The training was very important because the Institute does not only have an important role to play at the campus level, but also at the national and sub-regional levels. To achieve its mandate, it requires very qualified personnel," Fall said.

The institute already has some Chinese teachers and volunteers, but that is limited, he said, adding that "we need more personnel, especially teachers," Fall said, noting that this was the reason for the organization of the seminar.

During the seminar, the Senegalese teachers were taken through teaching methodology, basically how to organize classes and students and how to make them remain interested in the language.

The institute director said 14 teachers who have a better understanding of the language were chosen to participate in the seminar based on merit.

Participants at the seminar said the training had been beneficial for their professional career.

"The training had increased our capacities to teach the Chinese language, because for one to teach a foreign language, he needs to understand teaching techniques such as communicative, writing and listening approaches," said Ndeye Penda Sarr, a teacher of Chinese language at a high school in Dakar.

He said such seminars will help to "consolidate and maintain relations between Senegal and China.

"We are a product of Sino-Senegal cooperation. We are proud to declare it. Today, we should be the ambassadors of China in Senegal, and vice-versa, thanks to this beautiful Chinese language, to this culture which has enabled us to have a new experience that is different to others that we have known," Sarr said.

"Learning of Chinese language in Africa, and particularly in Senegal remains a major challenge. We must prove that it is possible to speak Chinese and write it in our country. The training helped us to easily assist our brothers and sisters in the learning of Chinese language," added Mouhamed Athie.

According to Ksenia Aryasona, a Russian national teaching Chinese language in a private institute in Dakar, "everybody should learn Chinese language today."

"The creation of a Confucius Institute within a university in Dakar is a very commendable initiative since it will promote exchange of cultures. This will enable Senegalese nationals to discover a lot of things about the Chinese culture," added Ksenia.

The Confucius Institute plans to hold a similar session in July or August. The institute aims to become a premier Chinese language teaching institute at the national and sub-regional level. Endit