The Chinese Language Unit
The Chinese language is one of the oldest languages, with archaeological evidence showing ancient Chinese inscriptions on turtle shells and animal bones that date back 4,000 years. It is also the most widely spoken language in the world, with approximately 1.5 billion speakers in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore. Unlike alphabetic languages, Chinese uses characters (汉字 hanzi). Over time, the language has undergone significant changes, including the simplification of characters and the introduction of the phonetic spelling system (pinyin 拼音), making the language easier to learn and aiding in its spread.
The interest in learning the Chinese language is growing rapidly in many countries. This is partly due to the large number of Chinese speakers worldwide and the strength of the Chinese economy, which gives the language great appeal. From an early stage, the Chinese government has adopted effective policies to promote both the Chinese language and culture by supporting educational institutions both domestically and internationally. It also offers hundreds of educational scholarships to foreign students, particularly in Asia and Africa. Additionally, the Chinese government supports the training of Chinese language teachers through various programs run by the Confucius Institute to further promote the spread of Chinese language and culture.
It is worth noting that in 2010, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted April 20th of each year as the International Day to celebrate the Chinese language. In line with this, the Community Center for Translation and Language Teaching (CCTLT) at Sana’a University established a Chinese language unit in 2017. This unit aims to teach and promote Chinese language and culture, recognizing its significance in the era of globalization, science, and technology.
The Unit Aims
The Chinese Language Unit aims to achieve the following objectives:
Introducing students to the Chinese language, its script characters, and cultural contexts.
Developing students’ communication skills in Chinese, both in writing and speaking.
Equipping students with the required skills to learn and use Chinese for academic and personal purposes.
Offering Chinese language tests for various purposes, including travel and commerce.
HSK Chinese Proficiency Program
Program Importance
The importance of this program stems from the global significance of the Chinese language today. As the most widely spoken language in the world, especially in Asian and East Asian countries, Chinese plays a key role in the global landscape. With China being the world’s second-largest economy, proficiency in Chinese offers valuable opportunities in employment, trade, and business. Moreover, the Chinese government provides numerous scholarships through cultural exchange programs and other initiatives in various fields, where proficiency in Chinese is a prerequisite for study.
Program Aims
Introducing students to the basics of the Chinese language, starting with phonetic spelling (pinyin) in addition to Chinese characters (Hanzi).
Teaching students the grammatical rules and writing conventions of the Chinese language.
Developing students’ ability to use Chinese for self-introduction, discussing daily activities, and interacting in various contexts.
Enhancing students’ reading skills and comprehension of everyday conversations
Program Features
The program adheres to the standards set by the Confucius Institute for promoting the Chinese language and culture (HSK).
It includes well-experienced and highly qualified tutors.
The curriculum features modern textbook series with accompanying resources, audio-visual materials, and teaching aids.
The unit awards students a recognized certificate from Sana’a University.
It utilizes modern educational resources modern technology in the process of teaching.
Target Groups
Students aspiring to pursue studies at Chinese universities or institutes.
Individuals from diverse backgrounds seeking to learn Chinese for career-related purposes.
Traders and importers.
Individuals interested in studying and teaching the Chinese language, literature, and culture.
Program Study Plan
