Chinese volunteers of Tianjin Normal University: volunteering to be a culture messenger and a friendship bridge

This is a group of students from Tianjin Universities. They are messengers of culture, travelling to foreign countries, teaching local people the Chinese language, and disseminating the Chinese culture; they are bridges of friendship, arriving in a strange country, and bringing love and support of the Chinese people in disastrous situations. They used to be ignorant youth on campus, young, ambitious, and vigorous; while after returning, they became much more mature, being confident, optimistic, calm and strong. They have rhymed a gorgeous movement full of glories and dreams with their youthful lives.

They have a common name: volunteer Chinese teachers.

Zhao Jin -- A Volunteer Chinese teacher in Chile: Promoting the friendship and seeding the hope over the ocean.

Zhao Jin，from Tianjin Normal University, was a volunteer Chinese teacher in Liceo Marta Brunet in Chillan City, Chile. On February 27, 2010, Chillan City was struck by a strong earthquake. Zhao Jin awakened from her sleep and found the bed shaking violently. She quickly stood up, but fell to the floor because of the strong shock. A feeling of great horror swept over the girl who had never experienced an earthquake. Just at this moment, the landlord's son shouted to her, and she rushed out of the room desperately.

Faced with this unprecedented natural disaster, although I am a foreigner, I should share weal and woe with my Chilean friends." Because of the earthquake, the whole city’s water supply was cut off and the water was scarce. A Chilean colleague gave Zhao Jin a bucket of water generously, but when Zhao Jin learned that her neighbor was still looking for water, she did not hesitate to share a portion of the water with them. Her neighbor was very grateful and surprised. Zhao Jin said frankly: “Friendship knows no borders. I accepted the love from Chilean friends and it is natural for me to repay the love to the Chilean friends.”

Because of the earthquake, the communication between Zhao Jin and the outside world was completely down. Till the third day after the earthquake, the teachers in China got in touch with her. On the fourth day, upon getting access to the Internet, Zhao Jin checked her email, which was completely stuffed with E-mails from family, friends and also school teachers. “When I was struggling for survival in the earthquake, many teachers in China were also worried about me, and my confidence doubled. Since then, I know I am not alone; the motherland is always my powerful backing. "

One week after the earthquake, the airport restored operation and the foreigners in Chile left gradually, but Zhao Jin decided to stay. She got in touch with the Chinese Embassy in Chile and volunteered as a translator for the Chinese rescue team, "As for the situation and terrain of the epicenter, nobody knows better than me. I want to spare no effort to do something for the disaster area. ” The rescue team staff members are deeply moved by her simple words.

During the earthquake relief, Zhao Jin wrote an article “Chile, I stay with you”, published in the most influential newspaper “Explore” in Chillan City. In the article, Zhao Jin showed her most sincere feelings to Chile. She encouraged the Chilean friends not to be disheartened and expressed that the Chinese people will tide over the crisis with the Chilean people, side by side, hand in hand.

Zhao Jin said that three years of work in Chile enriched her experience, and in a very unusual way, the Chillan City persuaded this Chinese girl to stay. When receiving a call from the embassy counselor, asking her if she would continue to serve, Zhao Jin agreed without hesitation. “Facing the disaster, the international Promotion of Chinese Language enriches its value with special meaning. I will remain here for Chinese language teaching.” Zhao Jin said with deep feeling.

Not long ago, after a short break in China, Zhao Jin boarded the plane once again to Chile, and began her new journey as a volunteer Chinese teacher, bringing the Chinese culture and Chinese people's friendship to the foreign land full of love and hope.

Liu Jiangna, a volunteer Chinese teacher in Australia: I love my work here.

Graduating from the College of International Education & Exchange, Tianjin Normal University, Liu Jiangna was sent to Australia as the first volunteer Chinese teacher, working in the Standard Chinese School of Australia, Canberra as a Chinese language teacher in 2007.

On August 25, 2007, Liu Jiangnu arrived in Australia for the first time. Right off the plane, the principal of the Standard Chinese School of Australia who came to pick her up laid out a task for her: to participate in the parents’ meeting organized by the school next day. In the evening, according to the requirements of the principal, Liu Jiangna prepared over night all the “tricks” she learned during her master studies and trainings to ensure the success of the meeting. Liu Jiangna’s debut in Australia the next day turned out to be a successful one, and she received broad affirmation from both students and parents. “No time to adapt to the time difference, no time to adapt to the environments, my began my work as a volunteer Chinese teacher like this.” Liu Jiangna said with emotion.

With no working experience to borrow from, Liu Jiangna had to develop appropriate methods for local Chinese teaching entirely by her own practice. However, the difficulty of this task has been greatly increased due to different levels of the Chinese language learners. Among her students, the youngest was only several years old, whereas the oldest was more than 70. Such a wide span of age was beyond Liu Jiangna’s expectation. “During that time, the knowledge, skills, as well as the positive and optimistic attitude taught by the teachers at the Tianjin Normal University gave me a great strength.” While teaching, she has consistently summed up the experience, adjusted the teaching methods, taught the students in accordance with their aptitudes, and developed different teaching programs for the students of different ages and backgrounds to keep the students’ interests in learning Chinese.

In addition to the heavy teaching task, Liu Jiangna also served as an assistant of the Standard Chinese School of Australia, responsible for recruiting and consultation, etc. These were unfamiliar to Liu Jiangna the newly graduate, but she also realized that they were not only challenges but also opportunities. Liu Jiangna admitted: “People were looking at me with expectant eyes, and my success or failure directly influences the success or failure of volunteer Chinese teachers, so I have to face positively.”

In Liu Jiangna’s mind, volunteer Chinese teachers are engaged in ordinary work, but they also play an important role in language and culture exchanges, “our words and deeds will not only represent ourselves, but also represent our country and people. I love my country deeply; I love my work deeply. ”