The Confucius Institute at Pace University has been established for six years. It has actively interacted with the community and the academic world, becoming an indispensable cultural and educational institution in Lower Manhattan.
Zhu Min, the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Pace University, stated: "The Confucius Institute at Pace University is the first Confucius Institute in New York to be established with a university as its base. Since 2009, it has grown from a small-scale institute with only 50 students to its current size of over 500 students."
Zhu Min added: "Currently, our Confucius Institute offers a wide range of cultural activities, including annual cultural events such as the Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, cultural courses in collaboration with the university such as Chinese cultural knowledge lectures, and exciting events in partnership with the community such as International Education Week and Student Day. We have professional teaching staff to provide instruction for students ranging from zero-level beginners to HSK Level 6 proficiency."
Regarding future development plans for the Confucius Institute at Pace University, Zhu Min said: "We are planning to launch a mobile app called 'Phoenix Chinese Learning.' This app will vividly combine Chinese language knowledge points with learning techniques, making it easier and more fun for Chinese learners to study using electronic devices. In our future work, we also hope to improve our existing teaching programs and strive to develop more Chinese language test centers."
John Thompson from the Confucius Institute at Pace University provided a historical explanation of the guqin and performed live, playing "Autumn Moon over the Han Palace" with notes as clear as flowing water, earning rounds of applause from the audience. Chinese language teacher Yang Juan conducted a live Chinese teaching demonstration, which was warmly welcomed by the Chinese learners present using a graphic-rich teaching model.
Mental health and special education experts from New York higher education institutions held a themed seminar on family education and child mental health for Chinese-American families in the New York area. The education experts noted that Chinese people in the U.S. face significant pressure in life and study due to cultural differences and language barriers, and these pressures can accumulate over time to become triggers for mental illness. Psychological adjustment and resilience in the face of adversity are crucial.
At the end of the event, the guests prepared a birthday cake for the Confucius Institute at Pace University to celebrate its 6th anniversary. The entire celebration concluded in a joyful atmosphere.