STORY: Chinese teacher earns praises for teaching Chinese language in Tanzania
DATELINE: Sept. 4, 2023
LENGTH: 0:05:48
LOCATION: ZANZIBAR, Tanzania
CATEGORY: EDUCATION

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Tanzania's Zanzibar
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI YAYA, Chinese language teacher
3. various of Li Yaya preparing lessons
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI YAYA, Chinese language teacher
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ABEDA SHAAME NASSOR, Secondary school teacher
6. various of Li Yaya and students in the classroom

STORYLINE:

"How are you teacher," a common greeting in schools in China, has become increasingly popular among students in Tanzania's Zanzibar, where Li Xianyi, an associate professor of Chinese language and literature, has been volunteering to teach Chinese for more than 10 years.
   
Li, who has another name Li Yaya, has a busy schedule from dawn to dusk as she travels in rural areas teaching the Chinese language.
   
"I have been teaching the Chinese language to poor pupils and students in Zanzibar's rural areas to bring more employment opportunities for them and further their education," Li told Xinhua at Jendele Secondary School where 20 students are learning the Chinese language.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LI YAYA, Associate professor of Chinese language and literature
"Teachers are being respected here, especially teachers from China. People like learning Chinese. Some of my students are about my age. They treated me as a family member. I go to their house for New Year's or Muslim holidays. They offer me a sense of belonging."

Li said that during the past 10 years, she has taught more than 1,000 students in and out of schools and some of them have now become Chinese language teachers.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LI YAYA, Associate professor of Chinese language and literature
"From the elderly to the children, I feel that their attitude toward China is different, compared with some years ago. Learning Chinese now is not only for job opportunities, but also because they want to understand Chinese and read Chinese stories in their own country. As there are so many Chinese people here, they want to have the chance to communicate directly."

Abeda Shaame Nassor is among the Chinese language teachers trained by Li.

"I began learning the Chinese language in 2022 in order to advance my academic career and learn more about the Chinese culture taking into account that the Chinese have been our long-time friends," Nassor said.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ABEDA SHAAME NASSOR, Chinese language teacher
"Our teacher is very self-sacrificing. (She) gives a lot of her time and energy and facilities to make sure that we learn well. For instance, she makes us meet a lot of Chinese people, and they give us help to develop our learning. So I want to tell her that we love her so much, and we are happy for what she gives us, and we want to tell her to continue giving us support in many things."
   
Recently, Chinese doctors who are providing free medical services for people in Zanzibar gathered at Li's home where they donated food and school stationeries to about 30 children, who are Li's neighbors.
   
Radhna Khamis Ally, a mother of three children, said "I have known Li Yaya for more than three years. She is a good neighbor and she loves children, especially those from poor families."
   
In March this year, the Chinese language course was included in the local national education syllabus and the Ministry of Education of Zanzibar authorized the China-Africa Youth Foundation to lead the Chinese language course in the government's eight secondary schools.
   
"The Chinese language is very important for Africa," Li said, adding that the teaching of the Chinese language will help promote the Chinese culture among Zanzibar's young generation.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Zanzibar, Tanzania.
(XHTV)