This summer, the first Colorado State University Confucius Institute Cultural Summer Program was successfully carried out at Hunan University in Changsha, China. The program, led by CICSU Chinese director Luo Xuemei, brought together 14 students from CSU for an incredible education abroad experience. The 14-day experience was sponsored by the Confucius Institute Headquarters/Hanban, the Confucius Institute at Colorado State University (CICSU) and the CSU Office of International Programs, and co-sponsored by the Chinese International Exchange and Cooperation Office, the Chinese Language and Literature Institute, and the Confucius Institute Working Office of Hunan University.
On the morning of May 22, Hunan University organized a warm welcome ceremony to express their sincere greetings to all the students and introduced the program schedule. The two-week program was divided into two parts: teaching activities and cultural experiences. For the language learning aspect, the experienced teaching team at Hunan University divided students into three levels based on their results from a placement test. Teaching included traditional Chinese language class and one-on-one conversation practice with language partners.
All 14 of the CSU students passed their HSK Chinese proficiency tests at the end of the program, thanks to diligent studying and the help of the Chinese teachers and language partners. Most of the students plan to continue studying Chinese, and are hopeful to return to China someday.
In addition to language courses, the students learned about Chinese culture through various activities, such as visiting the Yuelu Academy, exploring Chinese cultural museums, touring Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, seeing Changsha City’s attractions, eating local cuisine, attending a series of lectures like “Chinese Architecture” and “Huxiang Culture”, as well as cultural activities such as Chinese tea, martial arts Tai Chi, and Chinese painting art. All of these activities enhanced their time in China and helped to further understand and fall in love with Chinese culture.
On June 3, a “Chinese Night” celebration brought the China Summer Cultural tour to a close. On a stage full of Chinese props and decorations, the Hunan University students and the CSU students presented a talent show, sharing their cultural knowledge and newfound friendships.
The first CICSU China Cultural Summer Tour allowed American students to deepen their understanding of Chinese language and culture, inspire their enthusiasm for learning Chinese, and lay a solid foundation for the future cooperation and exchanges for Colorado State University and Hunan University.
As a bridge to promote the mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and American people, the Confucius Institute at Colorado State University enables American students to study in China, enhancing its influence in Colorado, and playing a prominent role in Chinese and American cultural exchange.