“I’ve known little about Chinese culture before. However, the ‘Confucius Institute Day’ offered me the first chance to write delicate Chinese characters and experience the art of paper cutting. I also tried to use Chinese chopsticks.” Nippni, a 3rd grader of the Department of Geography at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, happily told the journalist.
On October 25th, the office building of China-Sri Lanka Joint Center for Research and Education at the University of Ruhuna in Matara, a city in the south of Sri Lanka, roared with laughter. Jointly organized by the Confucius Institute at Colombo University and China-Sri Lanka Joint Center for Research and Education, the “Confucius Institute Day” Chinese culture experience activities attracted a number of teachers and students in the University of Ruhuna.
Local teachers and students learning calligraphy at the University of Ruhuna in Matara, a city in the south of Sri Lanka, October 25th
Several volunteer Chinese teachers from the Confucius Institute at Colombo University were busy teaching the students how to facsimile Chinese characters with brush and make window paper-cuts with scissors, and helping students to know about the Chinese Zodiac and chopsticks through entertaining and informative activities.
Zhang Xi, Director of the Confucius Institute at Colombo University, introduced that the University of Ruhuna is a new teaching site of the Confucius Institute at Colombo University with over 100 students signing up for the upcoming Chinese courses. Through the “Confucius Institute Day”, they aim to promote Chinese culture to get more teachers and students to know China.
Gamage, Professor of the University of Ruhuna and Sri Lankan Director of China-Sri Lanka Joint Center for Research and Education, noted that, the University of Ruhuna is expected to become a university of international quality. Holding the “Confucius Institute Day” and offering Chinese courses will help promote friendly relations between Sri Lanka and China. (cited from Confucius Institute Headquarters, source: xinhuanet.com, Story by Tang Lu, Zhu Ruiqing)