"Uncovering the Facts"
"Focus Interviews" China Central Television, Jan. 19, 2011
Hello everyone, thanks for tuning in to Focus Interviews
Recently, a statue of Confucius was erected at the National Museum of Chinese History
And as a representative of traditional Chinese culture, Confucius is coming to be known by more and more people in the far-off country of America
There are already 71 Confucius Institutes in America
Through which people there are learning more and more about China
So recently our journalist went to Chicago to find some Americans who knew a thing or two about China
This year, many American universities have seen growth in their Chinese programs
So it's not just at Confucius Institutes where Americans can learn Chinese
At present there are over 4,000 K-12 schools in America that offer Chinese classes
And there are over 160,000 students studying Chinese there
That's eight times higher than six years ago
And at universities, the more Chinese classes are offered, the more popular they get!
This youngster is a junior at the University of Chicago
But he's originally from New York
He started studying Chinese just three years ago
But now his Chinese is extremely good!
He even has a beautiful Chinese name, "Sima Yan"* * My full name in Chinese, Xiaoma is my nickname
Do you know where your name in Chinese comes from?
Yes, as in the story of Song dynasty historian Sima Guang breaking the water tank
Three years ago, Sima Yan started studying Chinese at school
And pretty quickly he became fascinating by Chinese culture
In 2011, he received the Chinese Government Scholarship
This is a scholarship that the Chinese government provides to foreigners to come to China and study
And so Sima Yan had an unforgettable year at Beijing Language and Culture University
What was it like being in China that year?
Well…
Well, everyone treated me very well while I was there
It's similar to Confucius’s classic saying…
"Is it not a delight after all to have friends come from afar!"
This is precisely how people behaved towards me
Now, Sima Yan often chats with his Chinese friends online
His friends often compliment him: "Your Chinese is so good!"
Sima Yan wants to go back to work in China after graduating
Because he loves the energy of Beijing
Sima Yan told us that more and more Americans have been studying Chinese over the past few years
This is our Chinese textbook
We've learned a lot
Like the story of Lei Feng
And who contemporary Chinese youth admire
Like Yao Ming, for instance
In order to improve her Chinese, this American girl is part of a Chinese cooking group
Which has several foreign students interested in Chinese
Who cook together with Chinese students every day
They simultaneously practice Chinese and learn how to cook Chinese food
And experience Chinese culture
Sima Yan is inventing a new dish today
He's combining Chinese fried rice with Mexican...
...avocados!
An original creation!
Yeah
You know, there are definitely some cultural differences between us
But...
At the same time you can also learn from each other
It's not just that they are learning about Chinese culture
We Chinese students are also learning about other cultures as well
"You need to trust..." 🎵 Singing popular Chinese song "Tong Hua" 🎵
"...that we will have a fairy tale ending"
"And end up happy and joyous!"
Seeing all of this, one can't help but think...
Perhaps in the future when we go to America and start speaking the famous Confucian saying...
"When three people walk together..."
Our American friends will be able to complete the line...
"My teacher must be among them"
And then we would exchange a knowing smile
The traditional cultures of China and America are a precious resource that we can share
And they are a bridge by which we can understand each other
Today, whether it's between the governments or the people of both countries
We are broadening and deepening our understanding of each other
As the peoples of the two countries continue to interact with each other in more and more ways…
America and China will be able to communicate and cooperate more closely together
The power of cultural communication will allow for more and more empathy and mutual understanding between us