On September 20th, Ban Chao (English name: BANKUWIHA Etienne), an outstanding alumnus of school and a young Burundian Sinologist, was invited to return to his Alma mater. On the afternoon of the same day, he delivered a special lecture titled “From Burundi to China: My Cross-Cultural Learning and Growth Journey” at the International Education College. Zhang Junxiu, the dean of the College of International Education, and Professor An Quanjun, head of the International Chinese Language Education discipline of the College of Literature, attended the lecture. More than 20 international students from various countries in campus and postgraduate students majoring in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages in the College of Literature were present to listen to the lecture.
During the lecture, alumnus Ban Chao, with “Cross-cultural Learning and Growth” as the main thread, shared his insights based on his own experiences. Starting from his initial contact with Chinese culture, he focused on introducing the unforgettable moments during his study at Bohai University - the patient guidance of teachers in class, cultural exchanges and interactions with classmates, and the growth and gains from participating in activities such as the “Chinese Language Teaching Heroes Conference”. These experiences not only deepened his understanding of Chinese culture but also strengthened his belief in promoting the international dissemination of the Chinese language. Meanwhile, he also combined his achievements such as three and a half years of practice in Chinese language education at the Confucius Institute of the University of Burundi, presiding over the Ministry of Education’s scientific research project, and compiling the Chinese-French bilingual textbook “I Love Learning Chinese -J’aime apprendre la langue chinoise”, It vividly demonstrates how students who graduated from Bohai University fulfill their cross-cultural missions on the international stage.
During the interactive session, the teachers and students present actively raised questions on topics such as “Cross-cultural International Chinese Teaching Practice” and “Paths for Academic Cooperation between China and Africa”. Alumnus Ban Chao, drawing on his own experiences of winning awards in the “Chinese Bridge” competition and being named “Student of the Year of Nanjing University”, encouraged everyone to seize the opportunities brought by the high-quality development of the university, and not only focus on their professional fields. It is even more necessary to build cultural Bridges with an open mind. The applause on the spot was continuous and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
This lecture is not only a warm interaction between alumni and the Alma mater, but also an important practice of the school in international exchanges. It not only enabled the teachers and students present to feel the power of cross-cultural growth, but also added international strength to the high-quality development of the school through the way alumni give back to their Alma mater, helping the school to continuously promote internationalized education on the new journey and write a new chapter of high-quality development.
