My Bond with China Brings So Many Students

2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Trinidad and Tobago. Luo Jenny, a Chinese language teacher from Trinidad and Tobago shared her connection with China and the Chinese language.

In 2011, Luo Jenny, a curious sophomore, accompanied her classmate to attend a Chinese language class and was deeply attracted by the Chinese language from then on. After a two-year study, she won the second place in the Trinidad and Tobago round of the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in 2014 and the opportunity to visit China. Soon after, she began hosting "Chinese Corner" at a Chinese language teaching institution in Trinidad and Tobago. Her interaction with classmates attracted the teachers working there, who encouraged her to be a Chinese language teacher. Thus, in 2017, Luo Jenny joined the Chinese language teaching institution in Trinidad and Tobago, transforming from a Chinese language learner to a Chinese language teacher.

Luo Jenny offered courses in both Chinese language and culture. Passionate and patient, she taught students based on her experience and insights in learning Chinese, and integrated her interests and hobbies with the cultural customs of the Caribbean region, fully leveraging her advantages as a local teacher. She likes to interact and share with the students and to make paper cuttings and Chinese knots together, so that students could understand the cultural implications through making handcrafts, thus falling in love with Chinese culture.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021, to sustain class, Luo Jenny gave all lessons for a primary school, a middle school, and a university (for adults). She had to prepare different teaching materials every day and taught students alone. Although the workload was heavy, her friends and colleagues were very supportive, and teachers from local Chinese teaching institutions discussed courses with her and provided auxiliary teaching online to help her finish the work.

Now, Luo Jenny has taught over 1,000 students, some of whom have already gone on to study in China. She considers Chinese as a language rich in culture and fun, which opens the door for learners to a wider world. She always takes herself as an example, saying that she never expected the curiosity 13 years ago would direct her to a career beyond thought, and give her the opportunity to learn about a country thousands of miles away, where she also met people from all over the world.

Nowadays, Chinese language has become her hobby, career, and part of her life. She hopes to see all local primary and secondary schools offering Chinese classes, and more people learning Chinese, for Chinese is increasingly important, just like English and Spanish. People from Trinidad and Tobago should also learn about China earlier to seize the opportunities.