China, A Country Desired by Local Chinese Language Teachers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

At the beginning of 2024, a China News Service reporter interviewed three local Chinese language teachers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including Fabricio. Sent by the Confucius Classroom at the Federal Fluminense University in Brazil, they went to China in 2023 for the "Chinese Language Teaching Idols" International Chinese Language Teaching Skills Best Practices.

Fabricio, a Chinese language teacher at the Joaquim Gomes de Sousa Portuguese-Chinese Bilingual High School (referred to as the Rio Portuguese-Chinese Bilingual High School) in Rio State, which was organized by Rio de Janeiro's education department and China's Hebei Normal University, is currently the only local Chinese language teacher trained by Hebei Normal University within Brazil's high school education system. In his class, "Chinese culture" is represented by Yuanxiao (sweet glutinous rice balls) for the Lantern Festival, the shadow puppetry of "Chang'e Flying to the Moon" for the Mid-Autumn Day, and the "dragon boats on sea" for the Dragon Boat Festival.

Fabricio teaches students Chinese characters.

The Rio Portuguese-Chinese Bilingual High School is located in Niterói, Rio. "Our school is right next to Guanabara Beach. Why not have a real dragon boat race for the Dragon Boat Festival?" Fabricio said with a smile. The high school students were incredibly enthusiastic about drawing designs, doing carpentry, and painting intricate patterns to create lifelike dragon heads for the boats. "Everyone had a blast. Even the rowing club we partnered with strongly requested another race next year."

In the eyes of Qiao Jianzhen, the head of the Confucius Classroom at the Federal Fluminense University, Fabricio's students always "steal the show" at the annual Rio Chinese Language Day. Qiao Jianzhen explained that these Brazilian children can make steamed buns, cook Kung Pao chicken, practice Tuina massage and ear acupuncture, even well explain "Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism".

Qiao Jianzhen (right) distributes HSK test certificates to students

"Fabricio has a kind of magic. He could communicate China's stories with detailed and daily joy, rather than in a solemn way," said Qiao Jianzhen.

During his trip to China, Fabricio made a special trip to the Temple of Heaven, a place he had "always dreamed of visiting", and spent an entire afternoon there. The snow-covered ground was serene, the pine and cypress trees stood solemnly, and the architecture was magnificent. "I was deeply impressed with the traditional Chinese cosmological concept of a round heaven and a square earth," he said. "It is this great and profound cultural heritage that attracted me to China."

Arlley, a local Chinese language teacher at the Marica Portuguese-Chinese Bilingual School in Rio, visited China for the first time, and experienced the convenient mobile payments and the rapid high-speed train. "Everything felt so futuristic," he said. "China is a technological nation from the future."

The 23-year-old young man comes from a slum community in Rio. He began learning Chinese language at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro. As an outstanding student of the Confucius Classroom at the Federal Fluminense University, he obtained a position as a Chinese language teacher.

Learning Chinese language was not easy, but Arlley stuck to the path. "There are so many applicants for Chinese language. At first, I wasn't lucky enough to be selected, so I worked hard quietly," he recalled. Later, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, classes could only be held online. He once won a scholarship to study in China, but had to give it up because he couldn't afford the airfare.

He uses Chinese songs as "teaching aids". He plays the guitar and sings A Bunch of Plum Blossoms to encourage children, reminding them that "success comes through hard work".

"Chinese language brought a great sense of achievement and incredible experiences. I teach to provide the same opportunities to children," said Arlley.

The third teacher to China was Lucas Mesquita Teixeira, who also comes from a slum community in Rio. After graduating from the Rio Portuguese-Chinese Bilingual High School, he enrolled at the Rio de Janeiro State University and spent a year studying at Hebei Normal University. Now, he runs "Lucas Mandarin" online, a popular program. 

Lucas told the reporter that during high school, he taught Chinese to friends in his community. Today, his program has reached hundreds of thousands of netizens. "Many friends know about my experiences. They also want a better life, so they want to learn Chinese."

Lucas's New Year wish is to return to China for further studies, and "become a China hand, and a bridge between Brazil and China".