In the summer of 2017, eleven international students and eleven Chinese students of Jilin University (JLU) engaged in a joint “Belt and Road” voluntary teaching program. Divided into two teams, the students set off on July 11th to embark on a 17-day teaching and survey trip that would take them to Weinan, Xi’an and Fuping in Shaanxi province and Quanzhou in Fujian province.
This activity was jointly hosted by JLU Youth League Committee, College of International Education and Supporting Education Association Concerning Sinology and Foreign Cultures. Sixty-seven international students applied voluntarily, and eleven of them were selected after interview. They are from countries along the Belt and Road such as Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Iraq, Bangladesh and India and countries such as South Korea, Mali, Sweden and Ghana. One of them is a doctoral candidate, five are postgraduate and five undergraduate.
The teaching was in Jinyu Town Middle School in Weinan city and Hongsi Village Hongde Primary School in Quanzhou city. Courses offered covered the Silk Road, Chinese classics, learning about the world, all-round development, handiwork, English, physics, maths, safety education and sign language. Contests and galas helped children learn more about sports, art and music. Amid a relaxing and fun atmosphere, they broadened their horizon, acquired new knowledge and became a better person. The JLU teachers developed a deep bond with these children: children loved them and they did not want to leave. Lalwani Sunil Kumar, a student from India who taught in Jinyu Town Middle School, said that he would always cherish this memory and that it would not fade over time. Mensah Bright Lumor, a student from Ghana who taught in Hongde Primary School, said that he would never forget these lovely children and this beautiful experience.
For the social survey, the two teams visited libraries, college campuses, parks, scenic spots and stores along the street to do some research about “the impression of China” and the protection of the Maritime Silk Road cultural heritage. They also visited some historical places of interest including Fuping Pottery Art Village which was home to Fule International Ceramic Art Museums, the Terra Cotta Warriors of Emperor Qin, Luoyang Bridge, China Museum for Fujian-Taiwan Kinship and the Confucius Temple; they also listened to Nanyin, intangible cultural heritage along the Maritime Silk Road. The research made the Belt and Road more influential. The international students deepened their understanding of the Belt and Road initiative and cultural and economic exchanges between countries since a long time ago. Many students showed their willingness to contribute to the initiative so as to help countries clear up their misunderstanding and develop a deeper bond.
The joint voluntary teaching program served as good program for Chinese and international students to deepen their bond and friendship. The voluntary teaching and social survey enabled more people to know more about the Belt and Road initiative. The international students truly felt an open, inclusive and steadily growing Chinese society; also, more Chinese people learned about the geology, civilization, economy and social developments of the countries of these international students via their introduction. Therefore, cultural communication and friendship were improved.
College of International Education
August 27, 2017
