Chinese Language Education at the University of Buea in a Cameroonian Teacher's Eyes

The Confucius Institute at the University of Yaoundé II in Cameroon has cooperative Chinese language teaching sites in Yaoundé, Douala, Marua, Buea and other cities. In addition to the teachers from China, these teaching sites have a professional workforce made up of local teachers, and Chi Derek Asaba is one of them.

Currently, Chi Derek Asaba is teaching at the Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters, University of Buea, where he oversees the development of the Chinese-English translation program. His love for the Chinese language enables him to make rapid progress in his academic and career development. In 2014, Chi Derek Asaba obtained a bachelor's degree in Chinese language and literature from Malua University. In 2018, he obtained a master's degree in English translation from Shanghai Foreign Studies University. In 2019, he got another master's degree in linguistics and applied linguistics from Shanghai Jiaotong University. He is now working for a doctorate in translation and cross-cultural communication at Shanghai Jiaotong University. "During my PhD, I will learn more about Chinese language and teaching skills, and use what I have learned to help my students in the classroom, so that I can do a good job in every Chinese lesson." 

" In 2020, I began to teach Chinese part-time at the Advanced School of Translation and Interpretation in Buea. Later, I became a full-time Chinese teacher at the University of Yaoundé II and was assigned to the teaching site at the ASTI, University of Buea." Chi Derek Asaba said. "When I first arrived at the University of Buea, Chinese teaching there was still in its initial stage. There was no standard syllabus, nor were there any designated teaching materials. After a semester of observation and exploration, I finally made up my mind to develop a Chinese language syllabus for this Advanced School of Translation and Interpretation well known across Africa." 

Nowadays, the syllabus is still being refined, but Chi Derek Asaba already has a clear picture in his mind. "We know exactly where to go and how to get there. There is a well-known saying in China, that is, 'a journey of thousands of miles begins with a single step'. What's more, where there is a will, there is a way. So, all we have to do is to explore and persevere with love." 

"Now our enrollment of students is increasing year by year. This is a good sign. The college is also paying more and more attention to the teaching of Chinese. So we hope to offer a master's degree program next year," Asaba said with a broad smile. "Believe me! The development of Chinese language education is unstoppable and our future is full of sunshine."