Source: School of Chinese as a Second Language
Written by: The Confucius Institute in Indianapolis
Proofread by: Liang Jianxin
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

At the end of the 2015 spring semester, the Non-Credit Chinese Courses at the Confucius Institute in Indianapolis (CI Indy) in the United States has become very popular. Students sent emails and letters to the Chinese director of CI Indy, praising their perfect Chinese teacher Zhao Haixia enthusiastically.

Zhao Haixia got her Master’s Degree in 2010 at the School of Chinese as a Second Language (SCSL) of Sun Yat-sen Unviersity (SYSU), majoring in Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL). She also worked as a Chinese teacher at SCSL in 2011-2012. In the year of 2013, selected by Hanban, Zhao Haixia was sent by SYSU to teach Chinese at CI Indy.

Zhao Haixia was the Chinese teacher for Non-Credit Conversational Chinese 1 and Conversational Chinese 2. After these two courses, real estate businessman, Mr. Douglas Huntley, highly recommended the Chinese class at CI Indy: “Without a doubt, the best language class any of us have ever had.” Mr. Douglas Huntley also showed his appreciation: “We LOVE our teacher. We expected a normal, boring language class, but we all got so much more. Not only does she teach the class in a thoughtful and professional manner, but she does so with such a contagious, wonderful enthusiasm! Not only do we learn the words, the grammar, the syntax of Mandarin. No, not just that. Her personal story-telling bring China to us, right here in Indy. It's absolutely exciting to attend her class.”

Lawyer, Mr. Bill Schabler, sent a recommendation letter for Zhao Haixia with an official letterhead from his law firm. In the letter, he wrote: "Instructor Zhao’s enthusiastic teaching method made learning the Chinese language a pleasure.” “Although she presented a variety of course material in a short period of time, the class responded favorably to her organized and well planned lessons.” “My positive educational experience with Instructor Zhao has motivated me to continue with the next course. I would recommend her class to anyone interested in learning the Chinese language and culture.”

Ryan Cook, who works at the Indiana University Health Hospital, gave a feedback of the course in Chinese. He said: “I like this Chinese course a lot. Zhao Haixia is a great teacher. She prepared every lesson very well. I will continue with the next Chinese course in the following semester. I am very happy.”

These students, who engage in business or interacting with Chinese people, are more and more interested in studying Chinese language and culture, especially when they see their Chinese customers’ smile, when Chinese friends compliment them on their Chinese language abilities, and when they communicate successfully in Chinese. Generously, they gave all the credit to CI Indy and the Chinese teachers there.

Teaching Americans Chinese language and promoting Chinese culture are the major work of CI Indy. CI Indy also undertakes the majority of the credit courses of the Chinese program at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). CI Indy also has Non-Credit Chinese courses, free faculty Chinese course and tutoring classes. Non-credit Chinese courses are open to the general public and college students who wouldn’t take credit courses due to time conflicts. The class takes place in the evening, and each course lasts six weeks. The flexible time and the enthusiastic Chinese teacher make the Non-Credit courses more and more popular.

Since 2008, SYSU has sent 13 Chinese teachers and volunteer Chinese teachers to CI Indy to teach Chinese. In addition, 10 volunteer Chinese teachers from SYSU worked at the Confucius classrooms of CI Indy and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. These teachers are all from the School of Chinese as a Second Language of SYSU.