From left to right: Volunteer Chinese Language Teacher, April Zhang teaching Mandarin Chinese to Ellerslie second-year students Anjuon Carter and Alexia Thompson-Pollard.

Ellerslie students given an edge through Mandarin Chinese courses

Tue, 01/31/2017 - 12:00am

Students of the Ellerslie Secondary School have been given a cultural and academic advantage as they are presently the only public secondary school on the island which is being taught Mandarin Chinese.

Through the collaboration of the Confucius Institute and the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, approximately 30 students in second form are learning the language twice

a week at their school. The subject of Mandarin Chinese is optional and Principal of the school, Lt. Col. Errol Brathwaite, said the uniqueness of the language has “captured the imagination” of students. During a brief interview at the school, he explained that the programme, which started in September last year, will be evaluated with plans to introduce it to more of the student body.

“The intent is to evaluate that programme once we have had the success that we are hoping to have, then we are hoping to move it from second right through to fifth year. I believe CXC is now looking at introducing Chinese as a CSEC subject, so very soon our students will benefit,” said Lt. Col. Errol Brathwaite.

In addition to widening their knowledge of Chinese culture through language, Lt. Col. Brathwaite added that by learning Chinese, this opens opportunities for the students to study and work in the Asian country.

Students can see the advantages through their Volunteer Chinese language teacher, April Zhang, who teaches the language at the school. Zhang expressed her appreciation for Barbados and its culture, and said it was great that Barbadian students were given an opportunity to learn about her culture, country and language.

Festival and Events Producer, Adisa ‘Aja’ Andwele, also was present to observe the students in the classroom as they learned Chinese. He took the opportunity to talk about the upcoming Fish and Dragon Festival, which is scheduled for Saturday, February 4 at the Church Village Green, starting at 3 p.m. Barbadians will have an opportunity to see Chinese culture through dance, martial arts, acrobatics and music.

Andwele said that the festival is being hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Central Bank of Barbados, and its objective is to “foster continual growth and friendship between China and Barbados”. One of the highlights of this event will be a Mascot, which will symbolise the Barbadian fowl cock and the Chinese New Year 2017 animal, which is the Fire Rooster. (KPB)

Ellerslie students given an edge through Mandarin Chinese courses

Barbados Advocate

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