News & Events
On 31st August 2021 Starehe Boys’ Centre officially became a Confucius classroom. The signing of the MoU took place at the Starehe Boys’ Centre Director’s office. Present at the signing ceremony was Starehe Boys’ Centre Director Mr. Josphat Mwaura, Deputy Director and Operations Manager Mr. Fred Okono, Confucius Institute Directors; Dr. Hellen Kiende Guantai and Prof. Li Jing, Confucius Institute Lecturer Mr. Zheng ShenPeng and Confucius Institute Administrator Ms. Ruth Sarah Achieng’.
The status of a Confucius classroom is given to a school or institution that hosts a Chinese club. It is meant to bring support to teaching of the language and cultural activities by the Chinese International Education Foundation. The success of a Confucius institute like KUCI is gauged by its ability to propagate the teaching of Chinese language and culture and this is partly done through establishment of Confucius Classrooms. So far the Kenyatta University Confucius Institute has four Confucius Classrooms under its banner, namely; Rusinga School Confucius Classroom, USIU Confucius Classroom and Starehe Boys’ Centre Confucius Classroom. Soon to be signed is Crawford International School Confucius Classroom. Cumulatively the classrooms have over 600 students currently learning Chinese language and culture.
The Chinese International Education Foundation formerly known as Hanban offers support in terms of purchase of books, assignment of lecturers that are fully paid by the Chinese Foundation, issuing of scholarships to excelling students and support for various Chinese cultural activities.
Speaking after the signing of the MoU, Starehe Boys’ Centre Director Mr. Josphat Mwaura said he was glad to start the journey that would see his boys learn the very relevant foreign language. He said his boys excel in arts like martial arts and are excitedly waiting for the start of the martial arts class.
Starehe Boys’ Centre is a school of great interest to Kenyatta University as it is not only a top national school in Kenya, but almost always has all its students join universities after their KCSE. Through constant contact with Confucius Institute, the boys will get to appreciate Kenyatta University and eventually make it their local university of choice for all course.
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“My name is Harriet Makasi, a student of BA Gender and Development in Kenyatta University School of Humanities and Social Sciences. I also study Chinese Language and Culture at the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University.
Harriet Makasi displaying martial arts moves.
I learnt about Confucius Institute and Chinese Language in November 2018 from a friend who had enrolled for a Beginners in Chinese Language and Culture course that semester. It sounded very interesting especially because the school fees was only Ksh.2000 per semester for Bona fide Kenyatta University students like myself. He told me about the many opportunities that came with studying at the Institute. Key among them were opportunities available to students to go to China through scholarships and the Summer Camp Program. ‘Summer Camp’ I later learnt is a program by the Confucius Institute that gives opportunity to excelling students to go on a fully paid two weeks trip to China. For two weeks students get to visit very many interesting places throughout China in a move to spur more interest in the language and enhance their understanding of the Chinese culture. Language and culture cannot be separated. I enrolled to study the Beginners in Chinese Language and Culture Course the following semester, around January (2019). The classes were so much fun because of the hype of learning a new language and a whole lot of new things. I finished my Course in August 2019 but I continued studying the language on my own.
I also learnt about HSK Exams (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) which is a global Chinese Proficiency Test, like TOEFL. By sitting for this exam and being certified according to different levels from Beijing, one can use the certificate to apply for scholarships to study in different Universities in China. I applied and sat my first HSK exam in October 2019. I started with HSK 3 and scored 289 out 300. I then sat for HSK 4 in February 2020 and got 244 marks out of 300. With these two certificates I applied for a one year Scholarship to study Chinese Language at our partner University, Shandong Normal University in Jinan city China. I got the opportunity and would have physically reported in September 2020 but due to the COVID-19 Global Pandemic I couldn't travel. I have postponed the scholarship and I will be reporting in March of 2021 as the effects of the pandemic ware off.
As exciting as getting the scholarship is, there is a more exciting opportunity I got that put me on the global stage. I had the chance to take part in the Chinese Bridge Competition, which is an annual competition for Chinese students that tests their mastery of the language. The best Student from every country goes for the final competition in Beijing, China. I was the best student in Kenya in 2020, but again we couldn't travel to Beijing China as is customary, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire competition was done online. I first had to compete against competitors from other African countries where the best six would be selected to proceed with the competition. I attained the first position in the Africa Top Six category. Quite an achievement I must say all thanks to the dedicated team of lecturers that prepared me for the competition. We then had another competition, still in Africa where they'd select the best three, to go compete with the best three from other continents. In this second competition, I attained the fourth position. Participating in the Global Chinese Bridge Competition comes with many other opportunities like winning Scholarships to study in China and Media exposure as the completion is broadcasted nationally on Chinese television stations. It also gave me a lot of exposure and broadened my horizons a great deal. I thank my lecturers for their unending support throughout the competition because I wouldn't have made it that far without them. My fellow students at the Institute also spent sleepless nights participating in a global online popularity vote that I won in Africa. Thank you family! And that is what we are at the Confucius Institute, a family!
The Art display that made Makasi Winner of the Kenyan Chinese Bridge Competion
There are many other activities at the Confucius Institute that are open for all students of Chinese Language to take part in. For example, I joined the Martial Arts team, the Choir, and the Drama club. Through participating in these activities and excelling other students have gotten scholarships to go study in China, all fully sponsored. They are also very good avenues for advancing one’s spoken Chinese ability as the lecturers are extremely social and can be contacted any time for consultation. The Institute also holds some traditional Chinese festivals that help students to learn more about the Chinese culture and understand China better.
I look forward to studying the language further to be able to speak fluently like a native Chinese. I am planning to do a Master’s Degree in Chinese Language and Culture. When I put that together with my undergraduate degree I know I will be extremely marketable in the job market. With over 50,000 Chinese nationals currently living in Nairobi, the Institute receives very many requests from Chinese companies that seek qualified Chinese translators and interpreters to work for them. It has been a wonderful journey so far, and I thank the Confucius Institute for this chance to study Chinese at such an affordable cost. I also thank my lecturers and classmates for their support in my journey at the Institute.
27th October 2020.
Harriet Makasi.
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The Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University held its second photography competition on the 10th of August 2020. Themed “The road of Growth” the online event was geared towards sparking the student’s enthusiasm for learning Chinese language despite the fact that the COVID19 pandemic had interfered with their school year program. The main theme was broken into sub themes namely; ‘My dream’ ‘Know China’ ‘Confucius Institute and I’ & ‘Chinese Learning’
Lecturers at the Institute were elated to receive very many applications from students who were eager to win amazing prizes. There were three evaluation categories that counted the number of Facebook likes, number of online votes and evaluation of each group’s score. The competitors had been put into different groups.
The award categories were; 8 excellent awards, 6 third prizes, 4 second prizes and the first prize. Harriet Makasi, a Beginner in Chinese Language and Culture student won the first prize award for the group photo she presented. Speaking after receiving the award, Ms. Maksai said she appreciated the Institute for creating such opportunities for engagement with students online even during the pandemic. Her words were echoed by other students who said they felt the distance created by the pandemic had been shortened by the exciting online photography contest. Many students submitted photographs that displayed elegant demeanor and unmatched creativity. Many gave shots that displayed engagements between Kenyans and Chinese nationals. This is a true reflection of one of Confucius Institute’s mandate which is to enhance mutual friendship, appreciation and understanding of Kenyan and Chinese language and culture. The annual photography contest is one of the many activities at the Institute that act as an avenue for students to sharpen their talents.
Photograph of the CI dance team
Winning photograph of a group of CI students on a visit to China
CI students displaying martial arts ability.
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USIU Confucius Classroom Official Launch
On 13 th February 2020, Students Faculty and Partners of United States International University led by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul T Zeleza celebrated the official launch of USIU Confucius Classroom. This is a great achievement for USIU as it is the First Private University in Kenya to have a Confucius Classroom. With an increasing student base that takes Chinese language studies, the University has over the years continued to produce excellent speakers of Chinese Mandarin. This launch ceremony comes after the official signing ceremony that was held on June 25 th 2019 at the University’s Vice Chancellor’s office.
Held at the USIU Auditorium, the 500 sitter building was almost filled with students, faculty and teachers from USIU, Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi Confucius Institute, Discovery Chinese Centre, Ruiru Fairview Academy, Mahanaim College, KCID, China Radio Confucius Classroom among others. Representative partners included Chairman of the Kenya China Alumni Association, Crawford International School, CITAM Church and officials from the Chinese Embassy in Kenya.
Kicking off the launch ceremony was USIU DVC Academic Prof. Amb. Ruthie Rono who welcomed all that honored the invitation. She said USIU places great importance in teaching every single one of their students at least one foreign language and that places them in a competitive place in the global market. Chinese she said, had attracted many students who are either taking it either as a major of a minor. The Keynote speech was by USIU Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul T Zeleza. He said language is a window that can be used to understand a people’s social makeup and state. He said his students would strengthen ties with peoples globally faster and better by learning their language. He hoped that by launching the Confucius Classroom his students would benefit more and especially through scholarship and employment opportunities.
Chinese Director Prof. Li Jing and an official from the Chinese Embassy in Kenya plant a commemoration Tree
In attendance also was Dr. Mabonga from KCID (Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development). He said in his speech that Chinese language as a subject in the new
curriculum was at grade 4 by 2020. He hoped that USIU Confucius Classroom would work closely with KCID to help in the ongoing development of competency based
curriculum.
USIU Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences Prof. Martin Njoroge moved the vote of thanks. He acknowledged and thanked all that honored the invitation to the launch of USIU Confucius Classroom. Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University led by its two Directors was at the core of helping USIU apply to be considered a Confucius Classroom. KUCI has continued to offer consultancy on different aspects that led to Hanban finally approving USIU to be a Confucius Classroom. A few years ago KUCI accompanied USIU students on a tour of China and Shandong Normal University proving the University’s commitment to the studying of Chinese Mandarin language. The USIU Confucius Classroom is the second under KUCI. The first Confucius Classroom under KUCI is Rusinga Schools.
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