| Robert Kotze honoured for role in Confucius Institute at SU | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=8655 | | Robert Kotze honoured for role in Confucius Institute at SU | Engela Duvenage | <p>During a recent virtual event hosted from Beijing, China, Robert Kotze, senior director of Stellenbosch University (SU) International, was awarded a long-service medal in recognition of his involvement in supporting the work of the <a href="http://www0.sun.ac.za/cisu/">Confucius Institute at SU</a> (CISU) for more than a decade. CISU not only conducts extracurricular Chinese training at SU itself, but at schools and institutions in the broader Boland region as well.<br></p><p>Kotze, who serves as the local CISU director, was one of 75 directors worldwide to receive this recognition. His fellow recipients included peers from other African universities in Egypt, Madagascar, Kenya and Rwanda, among others. </p><p>The event was hosted by the Chinese International Education Foundation (CIEF), an international NGO that recently took over the coordination of programmes that promote the Chinese language and culture throughout the world. The initiative sees Chinese universities provide teaching, personnel resources and operational funding to more than a thousand Confucius institutes or classrooms worldwide. </p><p>In his keynote address, CIEF president Prof Yang Wei thanked medal recipients for the way in which they had been supporting Chinese teaching and learning at their respective institutions. Short videos were also shown to highlight the endeavours of various Confucius institutes. </p><p>CISU was established in 2007. Kotze thanked SU's Chinese partner institution, Xiamen University, for their ongoing support since inception, as well as for the honour of having served alongside five enthusiastic and committed Chinese co-directors at SU during this time. Prof Binlan Huang is the current Chinese co-director at CISU. </p><p>First established at SU's Centre for Chinese Studies, CISU moved to SU International in 2009. It provides non-credit-bearing language training at different proficiency levels to SU students as well as members of the broader Stellenbosch community, as well as opportunities to learn more about the Chinese culture. “The main mission is to accommodate people who are interested and willing to learn the Chinese language and understand the culture," Kotze explains.</p><p>CISU also coordinates a range of enrichment programmes at 14 schools in and around Stellenbosch and elsewhere in the Boland, such as Kylemore Secondary and Worcester Gymnasium. “I believe CISU's contribution is meaningful and opens up new worlds to the learners," Kotze says. “It has also allowed the University to forge relationships with these local schools."</p><p>In addition, its involvement with the Confucius Institute has enabled SU to strengthen its academic network in China. Over the years, the University has facilitated many summer and winter camps for learners and students, as well as the compulsory semester exchange to China for Chinese Language honours students as part of their graduate programme. “The Confucius Institute's work is grounded in broader academic collaborations to ensure that links between universities remain rooted in their respective scientific endeavours."</p><p>His work with the Confucius Institute has also been beneficial from a personal growth perspective, Kotze says. “It has given me many opportunities to visit China and learn more about various aspects of Chinese culture and history. Apart from training and capacity-building opportunities, the programmes always include rich cultural activities. Going to Beijing is always a special experience, and my visits to Zhangjiajie and the Terracotta Soldiers in Xi'an are also lifelong memories."</p><ul><li>For more information about the Confucius Institute at SU, visit www.sun.ac.za/cisu.<br></li></ul><p><br></p> |
| Celebrating 15 years of promoting Chinese language and culture | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9576 | | Celebrating 15 years of promoting Chinese language and culture | Daniel Bugan | <p>The Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University (CISU) recently celebrated its 15-year anniversary.<br></p><p>The Institute is a non-profit public institution that aims to promote Chinese language and culture. Following the successes of Germany, France, Spain, and the UK to promote their national languages, China decided in 2004 to do the same by establishing Confucius Institutes with offices all over the globe. The headquarters are in Beijing. <br></p><p>CISU has been located in Stellenbosch University International (SUI) since 2007 and offers non-credit-bearing courses to SU students and staff and schools in and around Stellenbosch in partnership with the Xiamen University.<br></p><p>The anniversary celebrations, which took place at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) on 8 November, drew guests from the Chinese Consulate in Cape Town, the Chinese Embassy, Confucius Institutes from across South Africa and Africa, SU students and staff, as well as teachers from participating schools.<br></p><p>Robert Kotze, Senior Director of SUI and South African Co-Director of CISU, said the 15-year anniversary is testament not only to SU's commitment to internationalisation but also to its efforts to bring internationalisation to the community.<br></p><p>“CISU contributes a lot to extra-mural programmes at the schools in the community and through that we bring international experience to the learners at the different schools. The Institute also contributes to and supports collaboration at an academic level. My focus is to make a difference in the lives of students and staff and through the Institute I can do just that."<br></p><p>He said future plans for CISU include increasing their staff complement in order to reach more schools, to host more in-person cultural events and to attract more visiting arts and cultural influence from China.<br></p><p>Prof Huang Binlan, Chinese Co-Director of CISU, said: “During the past 15 years we've had good interaction with students on the SU campus and learners from the schools in the community and they have greatly benefitted from our cultural programmes."<br></p><p>Tang Chang'an, Acting Consul General of the Chinese Consulate in Cape Town, congratulated CISU for its role in promoting Chinese teaching, cultural activities and people-to-people communication between China and South Africa.<br></p><p>“Expressing cultural exchanges is an important means to promote mutual understanding and to enhance feelings between the two countries. In this regard I believe that CISU and all the Confucius Institutes will play a big role."<br></p><p><strong>Ambassador's Award</strong><br></p><p> The celebrations also featured the inaugural Ambassador's Award for the best CISU essay. The award went to BA (international studies) student Samantha Cox. The contest required participants to write essays that strengthen the friendship between South Africa and China, increase South African youth's understanding of China's recent development and promote South Africa-China people-to-people exchanges.</p><p> Cox's essay focused on poverty alleviation, exploring China's successful efforts in this regard and comparing it to what South Africa is doing in that space. It also focused on what South Africa can learn from China's poverty alleviation efforts and how a partnership can be mutually beneficial.</p><p>“It's huge!" she said of the award. “My journey with Chinese started three years ago. What was initially an accidental choice, became such a huge part of my life and I could not have imagined the past three years without Chinese as a language and a culture. I've learnt so much from both my teachers and my studies. To see that rewarded in such a tangible way means the world to me."<br></p><p>First prize went to Lola Meyer and Elizabeth Visser, while Cassandra Barker and Gosego Dibate scooped second prize. Third prize was shared by Tomo Daiber, Cole Baker, Du Toit van der Merwe and Kgothatso Martin Mkabela.<br></p><p>The Ambassador Award will be up for grabs in 2023 once more.<br></p><p><img src="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/CONFUCIUS%20(CISU)22-2.jpg" alt="CONFUCIUS (CISU)22-2.jpg" style="margin:5px;width:865px;" /> </p><p>(<span class="ms-rteFontSize-1">Photo: Delegates attending celebration</span>)</p><p><br></p> |
| CISU hosts Xiamen delegation | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6977 | | CISU hosts Xiamen delegation | CISU | <p>Stellenbosch University hosted a delegation from Xiamen University (XU) in China on Friday, 14 June. The delegation, led by XU Vice-President Prof Yang Bin met with Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector & Vice-Chancellor and staff members from SU International. Prof Bin was accompanied by Mr Mao Tongwen, Director of the Southern Base of Confucius Institute Headquarters and Ms Lai Siwei, Program Coordinator of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange at Xiamen University.<br></p><p>Xiamen University is one of 14 SU partner institutions in China.<br></p><p><img src="/english/PublishingImages/Lists/dualnews/My%20Items%20View/XiaSU.jpg" alt="XiaSU.jpg" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p><p>XU Vice-President Prof Yang Bin with Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector & Vice-Chancellor of SU.<br></p><p><br></p><p>(Main photo - From left: Ms Lai Siwei, Program Coordinator of the Office of International Cooperation; Dr Ying Wang, Co- director of the CISU; Mr Mao Tongwen, Director of the Southern Base of Confucius Institute Headquarters; Prof Yang Bin, Vice-President of XU; Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector & Vice-Chancellor of SU; Ms Lidia du Plessis, Coordinator: Staff mobility programmes and partnership projects and Ms Sarah van der Westhuizen, Programme Manager: Semester Mobility and Special Programmes at SU International. )<br></p><p><br></p> |
| CISU Offers South African Students a taste of the traditional Chinese "Dragon Boat Festival" | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9227 | | CISU Offers South African Students a taste of the traditional Chinese "Dragon Boat Festival" | Professor Huang Binlan | <p>On 3rd June 2022, Worcester Gymnasium was honored to be part of an activity day celebrating Chinese culture, cuisine, and language. This day of enrichment was brought to Worcester by Professor Binlan Huang, Chinese Co-Director of CISU (Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University), and two CISU teachers.<br></p><p><img src="/english/confucius-institute/PublishingImages/testing-2/1.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br></p><p>Despite the suspension of Chinese classes during the pandemic, this event was well-attended, attracting over 130 teachers and students, all eager to learn more about this special day. In China, Dragon Boat Festival is a time to attend to issues surrounding health and emotional wellbeing, a message poignant to us in our current times.<br></p><p><br></p><p>In keeping with the spirit of this event, there was something for heart, body, mind, and spirit. Students took part in a lively session of Taichi, as well as a calming calligraphy session where they wrote the words “Ping An” (peace/ wellbeing). Students also got to express their creativity and made bright red dragon boats, the color being synonymous with vitality and celebration in China.</p><p><img src="/english/confucius-institute/PublishingImages/testing-2/2.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br>In celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival, Worcester Gymnasium students were also exposed to the culture and tradition surrounding this special day.<br></p><p><br></p><div>Firstly, students were entranced by the first presentation, the story of the Dragon Boat Festival. The story focuses on a poet of royal descent who deeply loved his country. His noble aspirations are thwarted by the Qin emperor, and thus, anguished, he throws himself into the river. His followers, who love him dearly, rush to his aid in boats. Too late, they throw rice balls into the water to stop the fish from consuming his body.</div><div><br></div><div>Food in China is not only a culinary experience but steeped in history, myth, and legend, too. Having heard the origins of Dragon Boat’s “Sticky Rice Dumplings”, students got to use a pair of chopsticks and try them for themselves. Chopsticks, the students learned, are more than just tools with which to eat. The second presentation explained just that, showing them the meaning and symbolism surrounding these modest sticks, as well as their etiquette and taboos. <br></div><div><br><br><img src="/english/confucius-institute/PublishingImages/testing-2/3.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br><br></div><div><img src="/english/confucius-institute/PublishingImages/testing-2/4.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /><br><br></div><div><br></div><div>Overall the event was a great success, and participants all hope there will be many more. <br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p> |
| The CISU Celebrates the 13th UN International Chinese Language Day | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9119 | | The CISU Celebrates the 13th UN International Chinese Language Day | Professor Binlan Huang | <p></p><div>UN International Chinese Language Day is observed annually on April 20 and seeks to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity. It also promotes the equal use of the UN's six official languages within its organization.</div><div><br>To celebrate the 13th UN International Chinese Language Day in 2022, the Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University (CISU) held two lectures and several activities at Stellenbosch High School. About 50 students, teachers, and parents attended the lectures. In addition to this school, the CISU held cultural activities at other venues, ranging from the SU campus to some of our other local schools, such as Kylemore High School and Rietenbosch Primary School, the latter of which has its own CISU Classroom.<br></div><div><br></div><div> Activities included writing the 'Fu' (福) character, making lanterns, and practicing Chinese Tai Chi and martial arts. More than 100 students and teachers participated in these activities. Since the covid pandemic in 2020, this is the first time for the CISU to hold on-site lectures and conduct cultural activities. The lectures and activities were well received and enjoyed immensely! </div><div><br></div><div>The first lecture was about “China's 24 Solar Terms" and was presented by our CISU lecturer, Yang Jia. He introduced this system and then explained its significance. He said that “Guyu", the sixth solar term, begins on April 20, and it was thus chosen to be the UN International Chinese Language Day.</div><div><br></div><div>The second lecture “The Deeper Cultural Connotations of Chinese Characters" was delivered by CISU Chinese lecturer, Mikaela Keen. Chinese characters, she said, were a rich and nuanced conveyer of Chinese traditional culture. “Ideographic characters", for example, are a combination of a specific image (shape), a sound (phonetic element), and meaning (story). The shape shows an instantly recognizable image. Therefore, Chinese characters are rich and layered in meaning. If we take the 福 ("Fú" ) and 家 ("Jiā") characters as examples, we can see how they illustrate meaning. These kinds of insights will not only help learners memorize characters, but will also allow them to appreciate the visual poetry therein. This, in turn, may cultivate the learners' love for Chinese characters and enhance their literacy and motivation.<br></div><p><br></p> |
| Festival Overture by National Orchestra Academia China | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9143 | | Festival Overture by National Orchestra Academia China | Huang Binlan | <p><span style="font-size:13px;">To ring in the new year, musicians around the globe have prepared something quite special. Using a variety of instruments from around the world, they perform the Chinese “Festival Overture”. As you will hear, the music is lively, catchy, and full of the festive atmosphere so typical of Chinese celebrations. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsuwx_lyJmU"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Take a listen</span>!</a></span><br></p> |
| Confucius Institute at stellenbosch university successfully held the "Close to China" theme Chinese club | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6976 | | Confucius Institute at stellenbosch university successfully held the "Close to China" theme Chinese club | CISU | <p>On September 27 2019, at 5 pm, Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University officially held chinese club, which theme is “Close to China”. The participants included Confucius Institute students, staffs of the International Department of the University, local Chinese and their children, etc., totally more than 40 people participated in .<br></p><p>The activity is divided into two parts. Firstly, cisu’s teachers introduce their hometowns in turn. The first teacher come to the stage was Zheng Shengyin, a professional teacher from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. She started from the "clothing, food, housing and travel" and other aspects in Hangzhou. Another teacher, An Kang, used a tourism propaganda film about Guizhou and supplemented her own rural life experience to sing the plateau mountain features of the southwestern border of China and the people's style of China's new countryside.</p><p>The second part of the event was about the students who participated in the summer camp and the winter camp to tell what they saw and felt in China. Riyard and Tarah shared their experience to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Xiamen. Ruo yijie, a Stellenbosch high school student, recalled her summer camp tour: "In fact, I can’t remember most of the sights that I have travelled, but the tension, excitement feeling are still rooted in my heart and printed in your own mind. After the sharing part, the participants took a group photo together.</p><p>As a Confucius Institute that has been established for ten years, the Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University has always remembered its mission "spreading Chinese culture and telling the story of China." The event not only allowed the participants to appreciate the customs of different regions in the eastern and western parts of China, but also indirectly examined the effectiveness of the Confucius Institute students in participating in summer camps and winter camps.<br></p><p><br></p> |
| The CISU Collaborates With the Confucius Institute at the UWC to hold a Lecture on Chinese Medicine. | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6975 | | The CISU Collaborates With the Confucius Institute at the UWC to hold a Lecture on Chinese Medicine. | CISU | <p>On October 24th, local time in South Africa, a lecture on Chinese medicine knowledge and acupuncture treatment was held in the auditorium of the Stellenbosch University Library. The lecturer was Ma Xuesheng from the Department of Natural Medicine of the Western Cape University in South Africa and Dr. Ge Qiongxiang from the Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. More than 30 people from the Stellenbosch University and local Chinese medicine enthusiasts participated in the event.<br></p><p>At 5 pm local time, the Chinese medicine lecture started on time. First of all, Mr. Ma combined his own experience to introduce the history of traditional Chinese medicine, the basic theory of Chinese medicine (yin and yang), the main methods of diagnosis and treatment of diseases and the comparison of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. At the same time, he also introduced two characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine: the overall thinking method and individualized treatment methods. When introducing the theory of balance between yin and yang, the audience at the scene expressed their admiration for the wisdom of the Chinese.</p><p>After that, Miss Ge introduced the history of TCM topical medicine systematically. She introduced the difference between TCM internal medicine and external medicine, and introduced the modern medical treatment method, which combines TCM external medicine and Western medicine operation. The audience can further grasp the profound connotation and cultural charm of Chinese medicine.</p><p>Finally, Mr. Ma and Miss. Ge enthusiastically answered questions from the audience and showed the audience how to treat themselves through traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture, which pushed the atmosphere of learning Chinese medicine and understanding Chinese medicine to the summit. The event not only promoted the popularization of Chinese medicine knowledge in the local area, but also promoted the communication of Chinese medicine lovers between China and South Africa.<br></p><p><br></p> |
| Chinese Spring Festival 2022 | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=9144 | | Chinese Spring Festival 2022 | Professor Binlan Huang | <p>In 2022, CISU celebrated the Chinese Spring Festival on the first 3 days of February. The last day of January is considered “Spring Festivals Eve”. This festival is an event that is celebrated by more than 1.6 million Chinese and Southeast Asians, as well as other Asians living around the world. Due to the fact that it is based on the lunar calendar, the date may thus differ every year. Discover more about this widely celebrated event <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsRQCYudFZQ">here</a>!<br></p><p><br></p> |
| The Confucius Classroom at Worcester Gymnasium School Held the "China in My Eyes" Cultural Event | http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=6974 | | The Confucius Classroom at Worcester Gymnasium School Held the "China in My Eyes" Cultural Event | CISU | <p>On October 21, the Confucius Classroom at Worcester Gymnasium School, under the Confucius Institute at Stellenbosch University, held the “China in My Eyes” cultural sharing event, which attracts many teachers, students and local people.<br></p><p>The event was started by the beautiful Chinese umbrella dance, and the audience gave warm applause to the wonderful performances of the girls. In the next part, two students who participated in the summer camp in June this year shared their two-week experience in China. They took Chinese classes at the beautiful Xiamen University and visited in a romantic piano island – Gulangyu. The guests were amazed at the rich schedule of the summer camp and expressed their hope to participate next year.</p><p>At the event, Confucius Classroom teacher Wang Yaqi introduced China's traditional culture: four inventions, geodetic instruments, Chinese characters and calligraphy, etc., and introduced the new four major inventions of modern China (shared bicycles, high-speed rail, scan code payment and online shopping). The audience were amazed at the modernization and convenience of contemporary Chinese life and lamented the rapid development of China's 70-year history. Then Confucius Classroom teacher Xie Mengning brought a speech on China's modern tourist city Xiamen, Beijing and Shanghai. The three cities are different in style: Xiamen is fresh and playful, Beijing is traditional and modern, Shanghai is romantic and modern. Different geographical and cultural environments have created unique city. The audience hope they could have the opportunity to travel to China and experience different Chinese cultures.</p><p>The “China in My Eyes” cultural sharing event provided a wonderful experience for South African students and the public about Chinese traditional culture and contemporary Chinese status, and also established platform between the Chinese and African people to communicate with each other. The China-Africa Friendship Association will continue to deepen and revitalize under our efforts.<br></p><p><br></p> |
