For the love of the language
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Zhang was recently recognized as one of the "People of the Year" for her efforts in dissemination of Chinese culture at the "2013 Brilliance of China" event. |
Since most of the Africans love music, Zhang decided to teach the language through Chinese songs, and various other cultural activities such as kung fu, folk arts and Chinese food.
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That efforts seem to have more than paid off, gauging by the growing number of centers offering Chinese classes in Cameroon. Zhang says that one of the centers give students a Chinese language education degree from the University of Maroua in northern Cameroon, the first of its kind in Central Africa.
Many of Zhang's students have already graduated from college and are teaching Chinese in local schools, while others have come to China for higher education.
"One of my students, Romeo, even got married to a Chinese girl last year, and sent me their wedding photos. He has got a PhD degree from East China Normal University, " says Zhang with excitement on her face as she talks about the achievements of her students.
In 2010, Zhang finished her term in Cameroon, and returned to China. The Cameroon government gave her the "Presidential Knight Medal" in 2011 for her contribution to Cameroon-China cultural ties.
However when the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania was established in January 2013, no one expected Zhang to return to Africa to be the trailblazer for the newly born Confucius Institute for the second time.
This time, she even brought her husband along.
