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Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese Lunar Calendar. On the 10th of February, the Chinese said goodbye to the Year of the Rabbit 2023 and welcomed the Year of the Dragon 2024. The Chinese New Year, Folk Culture Festival 2024 Organized by the Confucius Institute of Kelaniya University in conjunction with the Chinese Spring Festival was held in Dharmaloka Hall on the 06th of February 2024. The main purpose of this event was to give a live experience of the Chinese Spring Festival. More than 150, University Undergraduates and more than 100 Students from schools teaching the Chinese language participated in this event.

This Program was shaped by the beautiful dance, singing, drama elements, and Wushu performance of the University Students and School Students for almost three hours. The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Kelaniya, Mr. Sudath Senarath, and the Head of the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Kelaniya, Ven. Prof. Nadalagamuwe Dhammadinna Thero was invited as the Chief guests. The program consisted of three sessions. After the Welcome speech of Co-Directors, Dr.Wu Hongyuan and Dr. Jani Samarakoon, the Chief Guest Ven. Prof. Nadalagamuwe Dhammadinna Thero was been invited to address the audience. Later Ms. Zhu Lin, a lecturer at the Confucius Institute gave a valuable lecture on the origin of the Chinese Spring Festival, its customs, and the celebration activities of the Chinese Spring Festival. As a very special part of the event, the students were allowed to learn how to make dumplings. The invited Chef, Ms. Yang, the Chinese lecturer Ms. Zhu Lin, and Dr. Jani Samarakoon taught to students the steps to make and wrap the dumplings according to the proper way.

In the Second session, while dumplings were steaming, students who participated in this event got the opportunity to practically learn Chinese paper-cutting art, and Chinese ancient calligraphy under the guidance of the Volunteer Chinese lecturers and local lecturers of the Confucius Institute and the Department of Modern Languages. Also, there were so many other fun games and a Raffle Draw for the students to participate in, and could be able to win gifts and money prizes with red envelopes.

The third session of the Program started at 2.00 P.M. The Chief Guest, Dr. Sudath Senerath delivered the speech. Next, the audience got the chance to taste delicious Chinese cultural foods including dumplings while watching the Cultural Entertainment events. The students of the Weekend Certificate Courses in Chinese Language conducted by the Confucius Institute at UOK, the School Students along with the University undergraduates showed their mesmerizing talents on the stage.

In conclusion, the staff and lecturers of the Confucius Institute, the lecturers of the Department of Modern Languages, and the University students worked hard to organize this event. Furthermore, this day was a great opportunity for both University Students and School Students to share their experiences, and a valuable opportunity to reflect on how important the China – Sri Lanka friendship is for the Education and the Cultural Exchange.

The Winter Camp 2023 organized by the International College of Chinese Language and Culture of Chongqing Normal University, started on the 1st of December 2023 and successfully ended on the 11th of December 2023. Twelve Undergraduates have participated in this program representing the Confucius Institute at the University of Kelaniya. The Chinese Co-Director, Dr. Wu Hongyuan also participated in guiding the students during the Winter Camp Program in China. This event lasted for 10 days and provided students with an opportunity to deeply understand Chinese culture and a precious experience of Chinese culture.

During the program, the students got the chance to learn Chinese Traditional Paper Cuttings, Chinese Calligraphy, The Art of Traditional Chinese Painting, Traditional Chinese Dance and Traditional Chinese Music, Chinese Martial Arts, and basic Chinese Language and Cultural Courses.

At the same time, they were able to explore the beauty of the historical cities and places in China by visiting Chongqing City, Chongqing Normal University History Museum, Chongqing Zoo, Jiefang Bei, and Hongya Cave, Rongchang City, the Rongchang Ceramic Museum, the ancient city of Wanling, the Violin Museum in Wanling City, the Dazu rock carvings, the Xiabu tie, and traditional Chinese Cloth dyeing, according to the program's inclusion. As well as they could taste the famous Hotpot and many other Chinese Cuisines.

The Twelve Undergraduates had the greatest opportunity to interact with Chinese Culture during this program period by participating in various Cultural Activities, participating in different cultural games, and visiting Chinese urban and historical places. Therefore, students could deeply experience the natural essence of traditional Chinese culture and traditional and modern Chinese Customs, able to broaden their horizons of book-related Chinese Language and Cultural knowledge through this unforgettable educational experience as well as gain a rich comprehensive understanding of China.

We are very thankful to the International College of Chinese Language and Culture of Chongqing Normal University for providing our students with this greatest opportunity, which is a huge inspiration for their Chinese Language Learning Journey to explore China.

The Final Examination of the 24th Batch of the Weekend Certificate Courses in Chinese Language conducted by the Confucius Institute at the University of Kelaniya was successfully held at the University's Confucius Classroom and Japanese Language Laboratory on 09th and 10th of December 2023 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The Final Examination was conducted according to three levels.

- The Certificate Course in Chinese Language

- The Intermediate Certificate Course in Chinese Language

- The Intermediate Certificate Course in Chinese Language

The Final Examination of the Certificate Course in Chinese Language was held on the 09th of December 2023 and the Final Examination of the Intermediate Certificate Course in Chinese Language, and the Final Examination of the Advanced Certificate Course in Chinese Language were held on the 10th of December 2023 respectively.

This is the first Onsite Course of the Weekend Certificate Courses in Chinese Language after 2020. The Course Coordinator, Dr. Jani Samarakoon, the Local Chinese Lecturers as well as Native Chinese Lecturers were actively engaged in the whole teaching process.

There is a high demand from people from different fields and occupations for the Weekend Certificate Courses in Chinese Language due to the productive and practical course content as well as the strong commitment, enthusiastic teaching methods, and well-organized lecture preparations of the Lecturers of the Confucius Institute.

This course was able to be held successfully for 05 months period. The students who participated in the course have given very commendatory feedback about the success of this course.

We wish all the students would be able to get the best results.

The Confucius Institute at the University of Kelaniya has successfully held the HSK/HSKK Examination for the third time this year on the 03rd of December 2023. It’s also the very first Paper Based HSK/HSKK Examination which is conducted by the Confucius Institute at the University of Kelaniya after 3 years since 2020. Among all the four test centers in Sri Lanka, the Confucius Institute at the University of Kelaniya was the first test center that stepped forward to conduct the paper-based Chinese Proficiency Examination for the first time after 2020.

More than 150 University Undergraduates had requested the opportunity to sit for the HSK/HSKK Examination through the Data Collection we obtained. Due to the strict rules and regulations of the Chinese Test Centre in Beijing, we had to fulfill all the relevant requirements as a responsible examination center. Therefore the applicants have been limited only to the University Undergraduates.

On the 02nd of December 2023, the Mock Examination for the Oral Test was conducted to familiarize the examinee with the HSKK Examination process. The Final Examination was carried out in five Examination halls for HSK Level 1 to HSK Level 4 for 159 University Undergraduates. All the Chinese and Local staff members followed the standards of the HSK Examination during the whole Exam period.

Through different obstacles and months of hard work of the Confucius Institute’s staff members, the HSK/HSKK Examination was able to finish successfully.

The Exam Results are due in a month. We wish all the examinees would be able to get the best results.

 

On 04th of July 2023, hosted by the China International Chinese Education Foundation and undertaken by East China Normal University, the 2023 Seminar for Foreign Directors of the Confucius Institute in China was held in Shanghai. 27 foreign Co-directors of Confucius Institutes and heads of Confucius Classrooms from 25 countries will participate in the 9-day training in China. Dr. Jani Samarakoon, Co-Director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Kelaniya, represented Sri Lanka at the Training Program.

Mr. Zhao Lingshan, vice chairman and secretary-general of the foundation, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. He extended a warm welcome to all the deans who came to China for the first time after the epidemic and expressed his gratitude for the severe epidemic situation and the relatively difficult situation of sending Chinese personnel. All the foreign directors of the post expressed their sincere respect and best wishes. He introduced the development and changes of the Confucius Institute in the past three years since the establishment of the foundation, and raised three expectations for the foreign director to play an important role: First, to be a good "leader" of the Confucius Institute, to cooperate with the Chinese director and fully mobilize Cooperate with universities and superior resources in the region; second, be a good "promoter" for the local development of the Confucius Institute, expand the circle of friends of the Confucius Institute, and win the support of more universities and external partners; third, be a good "thinker" of the foundation, put forward the most valuable opinions and suggestions on the continuous promotion of the development of the Confucius Institute.

Ms. Zhang Junli, deputy secretary-general of the foundation, made a special report entitled "Inheritance and Development of the Confucius Institute". She systematically introduced the responsibilities and key projects of the foundation, the development process of the Confucius Institute, and promoted the better development of the Confucius Institute under the new mechanism and the foreign president made suggestions to play a better role. 

The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Gu Hongliang, vice president of East China Normal University, and Mr. Qian Xuhong, the president of East China Normal University, attended and delivered a welcome speech. Through special lectures, themed discussions, field trips and cultural experiences, this training will allow foreign directors to have a deeper understanding of the charm of the Chinese language and cultural connotations, and intuitively feel and understand the achievements and development of China's economy, education, and science and technology. The current situation has further stimulated their sense of identity with the cause of the Confucius Institute, and helped the Confucius Institute to better promote cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.

The first training program for foreign directors of the Confucius Institute in 2023 was successfully completed in Shanghai. During the 9-day training, the foundation arranged lectures by Chinese and foreign experts in the fields of Chinese philosophy, economy, culture, and media for the deans, organized a trip to Hyundai Company to understand the research and development of artificial intelligence products, visited the famous historical and cultural city of Suzhou, and experienced Chinese Health Qigong, Chinese Acupuncture and Tea Culture. During the training, the deans conducted in-depth discussions on topics such as the positioning and characteristic development of the Confucius Institute, and improving the teaching quality of the Confucius Institute.

At the closing ceremony, representatives of directors from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas pointed out in their speeches that the training program for foreign directors in China provides a rare learning opportunity for everyone, and it is a way to increase understanding and mutual trust and to learn and exchange management experience of Confucius Institutes.

Mr. Zhang Junli, Deputy Secretary-General of the Foundation, concluded at the closing ceremony that the sustainable development and brand image building of the Confucius Institute requires the cooperation of Chinese and foreign directors, Chinese and foreign partner institutions, and the joint support of friendly people from all walks of life. Mentioned about work hand in hand to create a good ecology, and build the Confucius Institute, the "golden bridge" of cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, stronger and wider.

This training program is the first training class for foreign directors in China since the establishment of the foundation. In the future, some foreign directors will be invited to study in China every year to help improve the operation and management level of the Confucius Institute.

 

 

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