Ateneo de Naga University High School - Sino studies extend to juniors; AdNU welcomes new Sino mentors

Ateneo de Naga University High School

Sino studies extend to juniors; AdNU welcomes new Sino mentors

By James Ibasco, Blue & Gold Staff

Picture by Mr. Honesto Bermudo III

Chinese teachers pose with Mr. Honesto Bermudo III, APCI

Now the corridors and classrooms sound with intensified "Ni hao!" and "Lao shi hao!".

Mandarin classes, which enhance the Ateneans' mastery of the "putonghua," Chinese characters and Chinese culture, are introduced to the third year students this academic year as more teachers from Fujian Province arrived.

Last school year there were two Chinese teachers namely Dai Tingting (Anna) and Xu Shangdong (Paul). Their sessions in Chinese replaced temporarily the Reading sessions among seniors of the previous school year. This academic year, the school welcomes two new mentors: Zhuang Yun (Cindy) and Huang Binqing (Helen). Mr. Xu and Ms. Huang handle classes in the college department. Ms. Zhuang, handles third year classes while Ms. Dai handles fourth year.

All the teachers are from Fujian Province, whose Provincial Education Association for International Exchange has ties with the Ateneo de Naga University. The Fujian Association's program aims at establishing mutual understanding in different countries and learning other culture.

The extension of Chinese classes to third year students is the brainchild of the administration, thinking that it would be good to learn the language at an early age and that they would be able to use the skill in the future.

The Chinese studies include introduction to Chinese language and culture and the language will focus on basic, conversational Mandarin. In the first term, it will focus on mastery of phonetic sounds and the introduction of initial, finals, and tones. The second and third terms will focus on writing simple Chinese characters. The program also includes introduction to Chinese music, movies, and traditional crafts.

The Chinese teachers are glad with the students' warm reception of foreign language studies. They are also having positive comments on the students’ behavior and how they quickly learn Mandarin. They are hoping that the students would put more effort in learning the language and culture.

The teachers are also enjoying their stay in the Ateneo, immersing, at the same time, in Filipino way of life. They said that they are honored because they find the faculty members very talented and very passionate about their work. They are also thanking the whole Ateneo community from helping them to adjust in Ateneo and what they have learned from them.

With full cooperation of the Ateneo community and teacher volunteers, they hope that this program would be successful just like what happened last year. They also hope that the program would progress and that it would be able to reach the freshmen and sophomores on the following years.