Strive to Move Forward in Chinese Language Education with Passion

The Chinese teaching institution of the University de Yaoundé II, Cameroon has established Chinese teaching sites in cities such as Yaoundé, Douala, Malua, and Buea. In addition to Chinese language teachers from China, there is a professional local teaching team working in these sites, including Chi Derek Asaba.

Chi Derek Asaba is currently teaching at the Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters, University of Buea, and is responsible for the construction of Chinese-English Translation major. With a love for the Chinese language, he has made rapid progress in academic work and career. Chi Derek Asaba obtained a bachelor's degree in Chinese Language and Literature from the University of Maroua in 2014, followed by a master's degree in English Translation from Shanghai International Foreign Studies University in 2018, and a master's degree in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2019. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Translation and Cross-cultural Communication at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. "During my PhD studies, I will sharpen my knowledge and teaching skills in Chinese language, and apply what I have learned to each class to better educate my students."

"I began to teach Chinese at the Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters, University of Buea in 2020 as a part-time teacher, later became a formal Chinese language teacher at the University de Yaoundé II, and was assigned to teach at the teaching site of the Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters, University of Buea", said Chi Derek Asaba. "When I first arrived in Buea, Chinese language education was still in its infancy at the School, without a standardized teaching programme or designated textbooks. After one-semester of observation and exploration, I secretly made up my mind to set up a Chinese language teaching programme for this renowned higher translation institute in Africa."

Although the programme is still being refined, Chi Derek Asaba has a clear plan. "We know exactly where and how we are going. There is a famous Chinese saying that goes, 'a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step', and the cart will find its way round the hill when it gets there. What we need to do is to explore and persevere in it with love."

"Our student are increasing year by year, an amazing trend. The Institute also pays more attention to Chinese language, and we hope to launch a master's program next year," Chi Derek Asaba said with a smile. "Please believe in the inexorable progress of Chinese language education, and the road stretching towards sunshine."