Young Chinese volunteer teacher helps deepen China-Vietnam relations

Guan Li (2nd L, Rear) tastes dumplings with her students at the Hung Vuong University in Phu Tho Province, Vietnam, Oct 14, 2015. "This is my second year of volunteering in Vietnam. I have extended my term to a second year as I do not want to leave and disappoint my students," said Guan, the 25-year-old Chinese volunteer teacher who teaches at the Hung Vuong University. [Photo/Xinhua]

"When I started learning Vietnamese, from my pronunciation, local people immediately knew I was a foreigner. But now, they often ask me which part of Vietnam I am from. It means that I have made progresses in my Vietnamese language skills," she said.

"Being a Chinese volunteer teacher in Vietnam, I also have responsibilities of bringing Chinese culture to Vietnamese students and deepening the friendship between the two countries," Guan emphasized.

"Most of the students in Hung Vuong University are from rural areas. They have a desire for knowledge and show interest in Chinese culture. That's why I have continued to stay here to help them," Guan said.

Hung Vuong University was established in 2003 as a public university in Phu Tho province. The employment rate of its graduates from the Chinese language department has held steady at 100 percent, according to university president Cao Van. This year, Hung Vuong University recruited some 40 students studying Chinese language.

Since 2007, Hung Vuong University has cooperated with several universities in China's Yunnan and Guangxi for student exchanges, according to Guan.

"Through the exchanges, many of them have made friends with Chinese students and keep regular contact via the Internet," Guan told Xinhua, saying this will help students in improving their Chinese language skills and learning more about China and Chinese culture.

"Some of them opened Chinese micro blogs and even have Chinese partners," Guan said.

This year, Guan's boyfriend registered to join the volunteer program and has also been assigned to Vietnam's central Da Nang city to teach Chinese language. "Finally, we will meet in Vietnam," Guan said delightedly.

After visiting Da Nang, Guan found that there is currently no exam center for the Chinese Proficiency Test HSK for Vietnamese students there.

"After finishing my second term, I plan to travel to Da Nang to help set up an HSK exam center for students there," Guan said, adding that this is a "big dream" she has wanted to realize.

Through the efforts of young people, Guan and her friends are among growing numbers of those who are contributing to strengthening the relationship between China and Vietnam, especially in cultural and people-to-people exchanges.