ANGELES CITY – Chinese people “speak the same language”, an open secret that led them to be one of the world’s largest trading partner today. And Filipinos, especially Kapampangans, could learn a lot from them.
“Speaking the same language” can open a lot of opportunities in education, peace efforts, and more importantly, in business and industry. It could open doors for collaborative work on a global scale.
Aware of this emerging reality, Angeles University Foundation established the Confucius Institute (CI-AUF) in partnership with the Fujian Normal University (FNU) in January 2010, to promote and develop the teaching of Chinese language and culture to Filipinos.
For AUF President Atty. Joseph Emmanuel Angeles, it only takes a few meters from home to learn one of the most spoken language in the world today – mandarin.
“To share the Chinese culture is to build a harmonious world,” says Atty. Angeles, who reveals that he will be the first student of CI-AUF to refresh his knowledge of Mandarin which he studied for 14 years as a grader and high school student at Xavier School.
He says that CI-AUF serves as a window to China’s rich culture. Eventually, CI-AUF will also engage in research on China’s traditional medicine. For now, it will focus on sharing China’s language, culture and the arts.
Certainly, AUF’s institutional capacity to engage in inter-cultural activities with contemporary China has been strengthened by CI-AUF, says Atty. Angeles.
Starting March 22, CI-AUF will offer short courses in business Mandarin, practical spoken Chinese and art classes which include calligraphy, Chinese traditional music and dance, and Chinese martial arts, tai-chi and quigong. Even Filipino kids can enjoy this summer through CI-AUF’s Happy Chinese for children.
According to Dr. Lourdes T. Nepomuceno, Philippine director of CI-AUF, the institute now has nine Chinese volunteer teachers from FNU, one of China’s premier universities known for its excellence in teacher education.
“Tuition fee is very affordable too,” says Nepomuceno. As an initial offer, big discounts will be accorded to AUF students, faculty and alumni, while tuition is going to be free for AUF officials, media practitioners, regional tourism and government officials.
TAKING THE LEAD
Asked why the Chinese education ministry chose AUF to establish the world’s 282nd Confucius Institute, Atty. Angeles says that AUF has made its mark in global education through its active partnership with several Chinese and other Asian higher education institutions.
In fact, Dr. Lourdes says, AUF is home to 451 foreign students who are pursuing degree programs. This figure does not include yet ESL students who arrive in big numbers throughout the year.
“AUF possesses all the qualities of a university that makes it attractive to the foreign market, and this is one thing that distinguishes us from the rest,” ends Dr. Lourdes.
“Speaking the same language” can open a lot of opportunities in education, peace efforts, and more importantly, in business and industry. It could open doors for collaborative work on a global scale.
Aware of this emerging reality, Angeles University Foundation established the Confucius Institute (CI-AUF) in partnership with the Fujian Normal University (FNU) in January 2010, to promote and develop the teaching of Chinese language and culture to Filipinos.
For AUF President Atty. Joseph Emmanuel Angeles, it only takes a few meters from home to learn one of the most spoken language in the world today – mandarin.
“To share the Chinese culture is to build a harmonious world,” says Atty. Angeles, who reveals that he will be the first student of CI-AUF to refresh his knowledge of Mandarin which he studied for 14 years as a grader and high school student at Xavier School.
He says that CI-AUF serves as a window to China’s rich culture. Eventually, CI-AUF will also engage in research on China’s traditional medicine. For now, it will focus on sharing China’s language, culture and the arts.
Certainly, AUF’s institutional capacity to engage in inter-cultural activities with contemporary China has been strengthened by CI-AUF, says Atty. Angeles.
Starting March 22, CI-AUF will offer short courses in business Mandarin, practical spoken Chinese and art classes which include calligraphy, Chinese traditional music and dance, and Chinese martial arts, tai-chi and quigong. Even Filipino kids can enjoy this summer through CI-AUF’s Happy Chinese for children.
According to Dr. Lourdes T. Nepomuceno, Philippine director of CI-AUF, the institute now has nine Chinese volunteer teachers from FNU, one of China’s premier universities known for its excellence in teacher education.
“Tuition fee is very affordable too,” says Nepomuceno. As an initial offer, big discounts will be accorded to AUF students, faculty and alumni, while tuition is going to be free for AUF officials, media practitioners, regional tourism and government officials.
TAKING THE LEAD
Asked why the Chinese education ministry chose AUF to establish the world’s 282nd Confucius Institute, Atty. Angeles says that AUF has made its mark in global education through its active partnership with several Chinese and other Asian higher education institutions.
In fact, Dr. Lourdes says, AUF is home to 451 foreign students who are pursuing degree programs. This figure does not include yet ESL students who arrive in big numbers throughout the year.
“AUF possesses all the qualities of a university that makes it attractive to the foreign market, and this is one thing that distinguishes us from the rest,” ends Dr. Lourdes.
