Finland : Chinese is universally acknowledged as one of the most difficult languages to master. With its new and innovative approach, GBTIMES Ltd has developed a way to make learning Chinese easy. GBTIMES Ltd, in cooperation with China Confucius Institute on the Air, has established the first Confucius Classroom on the Air in Finland.
Through the Confucius Classroom, students can learn at their own time and at their own pace through a comprehensive system that integrates learning Chinese into their daily routine.
“We wanted to utilize our full media presence to create a way for people to learn Chinese that makes it a part of their everyday life,” Zhao Yinong, CEO of GBTIMES, explains. “We broadcast one-minute Chinese lessons daily over Radio Classic so that people can listen to them in their cars. Radio Classic is a nationwide radio station heard over 13 cities in Finland.”
“Students that want to learn more can then access our Learn Chinese website through their PC or mobile devices during their free time. We are also planning to make video lessons available on IPTV and are developing mobile apps that people can download and use when they’re traveling, for example. ”
The Confucius Classroom also offers face-to-face teaching and tutorial services. “In the fall, we will offer Chinese classes. The classes will be taught by native Chinese teachers. While this teaching will take place first only in Tampere, we will organize Chinese Corners in different cities in Finland where anyone who wants to practice Chinese can participate. It will be a great way to improve your Chinese conversational skills,” Zhao says.
In addition, students who want to take the Chinese language proficiency exams for non-native speakers called Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì (HSK), the equivalent of the English TOEFL, can sign up for more advanced courses offered by the Confucius Classroom.
With the fresh concept of the Confucius Classroom on the Air supported by online and offline activities developed around this project, GBTIMES Ltd has truly succeeded in creating a cutting-edge system for students of Chinese everywhere.
The opening ceremony for the Confucius Classroom will be held on the 15th of May. On the same day, there will also be an open house for those interested in learning Chinese at its premises on Pinninkatu 55 A 4th floor, Tampere from 11 am to 1 pm. The opening ceremony will be attended by officials from China Confucius Institute, the Chinese embassy of Finland and other guests, including former Tampere Mayor Mr. Timo P. Nieminen, and other distinguished guests.
