Kaleab Zelalem (1st R) talks with his students during a Chinese lesson at Ni Hao Habesha Language Training School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on June 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Fangqiang)
by Xinhua writers Habtamu Worku, Liu Fangqiang
ADDIS ABABA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- On a typical Saturday morning, a diverse group of Ethiopian Chinese language enthusiasts from varied walks of life are eagerly immersed in practicing Mandarin dialogues inside one of the small, yet vibrant, classrooms that are colorfully decorated with Chinese characters and cultural elements in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
This unique institution, called Ni Hao Habesha Language Training School, is the first of its kind in Ethiopia, established with the overarching goal of spearheading Sino-Ethiopian cultural and language exchanges.
At the heart of this fast-growing ambition is Kaleab Zelalem, a 27-year-old Ethiopian with an "intense passion and admiration" for the Chinese culture and language. It all started when Zelalem traveled to China for education in 2017, where he studied International Law for four years in the city of Huangshi, central China's Hubei Province.
"The (Chinese) culture, the norms, and the way they think are absolutely different from the rest of the world. So, in order to fit into that community, I had to learn the language. That's when things became interesting to me," Zelalem recalled.
Following his return to Ethiopia, Zelalem noticed the ever-growing demand among fellow Ethiopians to learn Chinese. Aware of the gap in addressing this fast-growing demand and fueled by his newfound admiration for the Chinese culture and language, the young man founded the Ni Hao Habesha Language Training School in 2022, becoming the first private language teaching institution in the East African country solely specialized in teaching the Chinese language.
"I saw the gap and the demand. Many government officials and business people were looking to learn the Chinese language because most Chinese people would be happy if they communicated in Chinese. That is when I was like, okay, this is the time to open a Chinese language school," he said.
His vision was simple -- "to not only teach the language but also to introduce and impart the unique perspectives and customs that shape the Chinese worldview."
One Chinese lesson at a time, starting some two-and-one-half years and further expanding its reach through time, the school is now transforming how Ethiopians view China and its people, while in the process, discovering a newfound appreciation of the richness of Chinese culture.
The school, as part of its ambition to promote language and cultural exchanges between the two peoples, also offers short Amharic, Ethiopia's working language, training courses to Chinese nationals who are interested in uncovering Ethiopia's culture and language.
"The unique thing that we have at this Ni Hao Habesha Language Training School is that we not only teach the language, we teach their culture, we teach their norms, we teach the way the Chinese people perceive the world, which is unique," Zelalem said. "If we don't understand the language at heart, we will not be able to communicate effectively. We need to understand their culture, we need to understand China, we need to understand the Chinese people and everything."
This holistic approach has attracted a diverse set of Ethiopians and beyond, ranging from government officials and business people to tour guides, young college students, and people from all walks of life.
Bethlehem Abera, a business management graduate currently working as a customer relations officer at a local import-export firm, is one of such students who believes that the decision to learn Chinese is already paying dividends, both professionally and personally.
"In my time of working together with Chinese people, we used to communicate in English at first. But now, after I started my Chinese class, somehow, we communicate some words in Chinese, which makes them happy. I see their happiness on their faces, and I really feel proud, too. That is why I feel like I need to learn more every day," she said.
For Abera, her growing ambition to learn the Chinese language and know more about China, its people, and its culture is enshrined in the teaching-learning approach implemented at the school, as an embodiment of the founder's dream to promote Sino-Ethiopian cultural exchange.
Senay Alemnew, a 22-year-old graduating student at the Addis Ababa University (AAU) School of Commerce, is another enthusiast who has been learning Chinese at the school for the past two years.
Echoing the sentiment, Alemnew speaks in awe about the opportunity presented to uncover China and its culture at the school.
"The class is interesting. It has history classes as well, and it is very nice. My fascination with China is because of the history of China, which is very nice. It has amazing people, culture, and also the level of development that they have achieved is very impressive. That is why I started the class, and I look forward to going to China," he said.
In its two-and-one-half years of operations, the school has already taught Chinese to more than 500 students, not only Ethiopians but Chinese enthusiasts from different nations, such as Austria and Tanzania. In doing so, Zelalem has amassed heartwarming compliments and memories from his students.
"Once, I was teaching an Austrian diplomat who wanted to go to China for work. After I taught him Chinese, he told me that he never thought an Austrian guy would learn Chinese from an Ethiopian guy. That was one of the best impressions I got from my students," Zelalem recalled with a smile.
He also recalled an instance where a Chinese national was able to write and read the Amharic language in just a few months, much to the delight of the school's founder.
With his unwavering passion for bridging the cultural divide, Zelalem and his fast-growing Chinese training school, which now employs three qualified Chinese language instructors, are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the next chapter of Sino-Ethiopian relations.
The school has introduced a holistic curriculum designed for Ethiopians to learn the Chinese language and culture. In partnership with the Confucius Institute at the AAU, the school also facilitates international Chinese language certificates for its students.
As Zelalem looks to the future, he is confident that the demand for Chinese language education in Ethiopia will only continue to grow. "I am pretty sure that for the next few years, the demand for the Chinese language will be increasing. I have no doubt about that," he said. ■
