University of Dubai's Confucius Institute delivers course for Department of Economic Development

Mohamed Ibrahim Sultan, Abdulla Hussain Turkey, Adel Ahmed Al Majid and Khalid Ali Al Youha attended the 10-week course to develop basic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills using both the Pinyin phonetic system and Simplified Chinese characters. After this basic level of Chinese course, they can identify the sounds and tones of Chinese Mandarin in the Pinyin system and can recognize around 500 words which introduce the social and cultural background of the Chinese language.

In addition to basic language skills, the course focused on commercial communication to enrich the participants' general business Mandarin vocabulary, aimed at enhancing language skills in a business context. They engaged in real-life topics so the students can easily understand and respond to basic conversation such as greetings, self introduction, exchanging business cards, trade licensing, company visits and arranging appointments.

Hemmat Lashin, Local Director of Confucius Institute at University of Dubai, said, "I would like to congratulate the members of the Department of Economic Development on this great achievement and advise them to improve their Chinese language by having frequent interactions with native speakers of the language."

Lashin said most Chinese-language learners are eager to learn and it is not as difficult as many think. "We at the Confucius Institute at University of Dubai are striving to play an important role in changing the impression that Chinese is the hardest language on earth to learn," she said. "By providing easy teaching methods and involving our students in various Chinese cultural programs and activities, we make the path to learning Chinese easier and more enjoyable."

Mohamed Ibrahim Sultan, an inspector for DED who took the completed the 10-week program, said the course helped him a lot, especially in speaking with Chinese business people and staff at a leading Chinese mall. "When I asked for their business license and other documents they can understand me. I am very happy that I am able to communicate with them properly and it makes my job so much easier. I would like to learn more because there are a lot of Chinese visitors and investors coming to the UAE."

Lashin added, "I strongly recommend other organizations to enroll in Chinese language course because Chinese businesses and communities are increasing day by day and not only in UAE, but in the whole world. The Chinese language will naturally lead you to learn about the culture of the country and this can give you useful insights into the Chinese people and their country and it will be easier to deal with them."

Since 2004, the Confucius Institute has been promoting the development of multiculturalism and seeking to deepen friendly relations between China and other nations through educational exchange and understanding. There are now more than 300 Confucius Institutes in 105 countries and regions operating around the world. The Confucius Institute at the University of Dubai became the first one to be established in the GCC in 2011.