In the global context, language is not only a tool for communication but also a bridge for cultural exchange. As an important platform for China’s external promotion of language and culture, Confucius Institutes have been tasked with spreading the Chinese language and promoting Chinese culture, sparking a global “Chinese fever.”
They are not only centres for language teaching but also platforms for cultural exchange, facilitating the understanding and recognition of Chinese language and culture among people worldwide. Named after Confucius, an ancient Chinese thinker and educator, Confucius Institutes uphold his philosophy of “harmony in diversity”. They are dedicated to building an international family of language exchange and mutual cultural learning.
At Confucius Institute, students not only learn Chinese but also participate in a variety of cultural activities, allowing the world to understand China better and for China to better engage with the world.
Since the establishment of Confucius Institutes in 2004, its influence has soared, making it a global authority on China in its 20 years of existence. In Ghana, the establishment and development of Confucius Institutes have promoted the popularization of Chinese education and deepened the mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and Ghana.
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Confucius Institute worldwide, this article shares the development journey of Confucius Institutes in Ghana, their contributions to Chinese language teaching, their role in cultural exchange and what the future is like with them. It also explores how the Confucius Institute took root, blossomed, and bore fruit in the fertile land of Ghana.
The Development Journey of Confucius Institute in Ghana
Confucius Institutes have played a significant role in promoting Chinese language education and cultural exchange between China and the world. The first Confucius Institute in Africa was established in 2005 at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Since then, the influence of Confucius Institutes has been growing across the continent, including Ghana.
However, its roots in Ghana trace back to 2013 when the first one was jointly established by the University of Ghana and Zhejiang University of Technology. Subsequently, the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast was also inaugurated in 2016 in collaboration with Hunan City University. The establishment of this institute not only provided a new avenue for Ghanaian students to learn Chinese but also became a significant platform for promoting China-Ghana cultural exchanges and cooperation.
The purpose of Confucius Institutes in Ghana was to promote Chinese language teaching and deepen mutual understanding and exchanges between the peoples of China and Ghana. Since their establishment, the Institutes at the University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast have provided opportunities for Ghanaian students to learn Chinese and built a bridge for promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries.
In 2023, Ghana welcomed its third Confucius Institute, jointly built by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Hubei University of Automotive Technology. It is a solid mark of the Confucius Institute’s progress in Ghana and reflects the continuous deepening of China-Ghana educational cooperation.
Apart from marking a significant milestone in the development of Chinese language education in Ghana, the growing number of Confucius Institutes in Ghana is an important achievement in cultural exchanges between China and Ghana. Through these Confucius Institutes, Ghanaian students can learn Chinese and gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese culture, history, and society, cultivating many friendly envoys for friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Confucius Institute’s Contribution to Chinese Language Education in Ghana
The Confucius Institute has made significant contributions to Chinese Education in Ghana, promoting the teaching and learning of the Chinese language in the country. Since the birth of the first Confucius Institute in Ghana in 2013, the three currently in the country have set up more than 24 teaching sites, reaching over 7,000 students and covering areas including Accra, Cape Coast, Kumasi, and surrounding regions. The Institutes have stimulated Ghanaian students’ enthusiasm for learning Chinese by offering a variety of courses and organizing rich cultural activities.
In terms of teaching methods, the Confucius Institute continuously innovates and employs flexible and diverse teaching methods to enhance learning outcomes. At the same time, the Institute also focuses on the localization and digitization of teaching resources, making use of both online and offline learning platforms to meet the learning needs of all persons in Ghana.
The teaching of Chinese has had a positive impact on the development of Ghanaian students. Learning Chinese has provided employment opportunities for Ghanaian students, especially in Chinese enterprises and institutions and has opened avenues for them to understand Chinese culture and participate in China-Ghana cultural exchanges. Additionally, many Ghanaian students have obtained the opportunity to study in China through learning Chinese, broadening their international perspective.
The Confucius Institute’s services are not limited to student groups; but also various government departments and institutions in Ghana, such as immigration services, airports, legal consulting firms, and Chinese-funded enterprises. By providing Chinese language training and Chinese culture courses for employees of these organizations, the Confucius Institute promotes China-Ghana cultural exchanges while enhancing the cross-cultural communication skills of Ghanaian professionals.
In addition to teaching Chinese, the Confucius Institute in collaboration with the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) and Chinese-funded enterprises co-organizes a lot of Chinese cultural activities in Ghana, including the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Chinese tea ceremony, calligraphy, and martial arts performances, among others.
Furthermore, the Confucius Institute provides a stage for Ghanaian students to showcase their Chinese language skills and enhance their confidence and motivation to learn Chinese through events such as the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese language competition. These initiatives collectively promote the development of Chinese language teaching in Ghana and deepen the understanding of Chinese language and culture among the younger generation in Ghana.
The Role of Confucius Institutes in Cultural Exchange in Ghana
Aside from serving as a centre for language teaching, the Confucius Institute in Ghana is an important bridge for cultural exchange between China and Ghana. By organizing cultural events such as Tea Culture Festivals, calligraphy, and Tai Chi, the Confucius Institute effectively promotes the understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture among the people of Ghana.
These activities showcase Chinese traditional arts and culture while establishing the Confucius Institute as a prominent partner in fostering cultural exchange and understanding between China and Ghana.
The Confucius Institute also hosts “Chinese Tea Culture” themed events, providing Ghanaian teachers and students with the opportunity to experience Chinese tea culture firsthand, thereby deepening their understanding and interest in traditional Chinese culture. Through these interactive experiences, the Confucius Institute enables Ghanaians to appreciate the beauty of Chinese art and to personally experience the charm of these traditional crafts, thereby increasing their affinity for Chinese culture.
Furthermore, the Confucius Institute focuses on cooperation with local educational institutions by jointly organizing cultural festivals and events, such as “Chinese Day” themed activities, which further deepen Ghanaians’ understanding and interest in Chinese culture, building a solid bridge for cultural exchange between China and Ghana. Through these activities, the Confucius Institute showcases the charm of Chinese culture, promotes cultural exchange and understanding, and strengthens the friendship between the people of these two countries.
Future Prospects of Confucius Institutes in Ghana
The future development strategy of Confucius Institutes in Ghana can focus on deepening localization and digital transformation. Localization is an inevitable choice for the in-depth development of Confucius Institutes. By closely cooperating with local educational institutions in Ghana, Confucius Institutes can better integrate into the local education system and meet the specific needs of Ghanaian students for Chinese language learning. Confucius Institutes can strengthen cooperation with local educational institutions in Ghana by jointly developing Chinese teaching materials suitable for Ghanaian students, training more local Chinese teachers, and designing courses that fit the Ghanaian educational environment to promote the localization of Chinese education.
At the same time, Confucius Institutes can also focus on digital development, using online education platforms and resources to break through geographical and spatial limitations, providing a wide range of Ghanaian students with flexible and diverse learning methods. Currently in Ghana, the establishment and teaching of the Chinese language are primarily concentrated in the urban areas of the southern regions, with a noticeable absence of institutions and learning centres in the northern and middle belts. However, with the digitization of teaching and learning materials, it becomes possible for institutions in these areas to also gain access to Chinese language education.
In addition, Confucius Institutes can further deepen the understanding of Chinese culture among the people of Ghana by organizing various cultural exchange activities, such as the Chinese Culture Festival, Chinese Bridge competition, et cetera, thereby strengthening China-Ghana cultural exchanges. Through these strategies, Confucius Institutes will reinforce their role as a solid partner for cultural exchanges between China and Ghana, further promoting cultural exchanges and deep friendship between the two countries.
Conclusion
The Confucius Institutes in Ghana have played a significant role in Chinese language teaching and cultural exchanges. They have provided a platform for learning Chinese, enhanced the understanding of Chinese culture among Ghanaians and fostered people-to-people bonds among Chinese and Ghanaians. As Confucius Institutes celebrate its 20th anniversary worldwide, its influence in global language education and cultural exchanges continues to grow.
Looking forward, Confucius Institutes in Ghana are expected to continue serving as a bond of friendship between China and Ghana, promoting educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries, deepening mutual understanding, and contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Michael Oduro is a former student of the University of Ghana and while there, he served as President of the Chinese Students Association. He is pursuing a Master’s degree with a major in International Chinese Language Education at the Beijing Foreign Studies University in China.
