Confucius Institute at Lomonosov Moscow State University

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participation in interuniversity activities; participation in Hanban activities; reporting system etc.¹⁷⁵ Continuous efforts to improve the educational process, working out of its own textbooks, trainings of the teaching staff, weekly courses on history, geography and tea culture, seminars on economic and political cooperation between Russia and China - all these steps turned the scale in favor of this particular CI, and it eventually gained that high status.¹⁷⁶

4.5.3 Confucius Institute at Lomonosov Moscow State University

In 2007, Chinese and Russian sides signed the joint agreement to open the Confucius Institute affiliated to Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU). The CI was officially established on October, 27, 2008. It became the second Confucius Institute to be opened in Moscow. The partner university of the CI at MSU in China is Peking University¹⁷⁷.

The structure of the CI at MSU is pretty much the same as for the CI at RSUH: the courses are taught both by the Russian-speaking teachers and Chinese-speaking teachers.

According to the information on the CI at MSU official website¹⁷⁸, the course programme is divided into three categories:

1) Chinese language. Basic course;

2) Conversational Business Chinese;

3) Professional Business Chinese.

The Basic Chinese course usually lasts for 4 semesters (each semester is approximately 4 months). The aim of the programme is to master the basic level of knowing the language among the students. These courses can be attended by people from 14 years old onwards. During this programme students are forming step by step the practical skills in speaking, writing, reading and listening. Those who have successfully

175 Interview with the CI at RSUH director from the Russian part, Moscow, Russia< February, 2015.

176 Awarding the CI at RSUH. (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2015, from http://www.confucius-institute.ru/

(Награждение ИК РГГУ [Электронный ресурс]. Российско-китайский учебно-научный центр Институт Конфуция РГГУ. – Режим доступа: http://www.confucius-institute.ru/)

177 Peking University (北京大學 Beijing daxue) – was established in 1898 university in Beijing, one of the oldest and most important institutions of higher learning in China. Its total enrollment is about 35,000.

The school originated as the Capital College. By 1920, it had become a center for progressive thought.

Peking University has consistently ranked as the top higher learning institution in mainland China. In addition to academics, Peking University is especially renowned for its campus grounds, and the beauty of its traditional Chinese architecture.

178 http://www.ci-msu.ru/

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attended four semesters of the courses can continue studying Conversational Business Chinese course or Professional Business Chinese course. The main books for this course are the new edition of a Russian version of famous “Practical Chinese Reader” textbook (實用漢語教科書)¹⁷⁹. However, other materials are also used.¹⁸⁰

The Conversational Business Chinese course aims at teaching students oral business communication in Chinese. The student learns the basics of business negotiation or translation/interpreting in commercial sphere. He/she develops skills in reading business materials. This programme is taught by the Chinese-speaking teachers. As it has been already mentioned, if students want to undertake these courses, first they have to complete four semesters of the Basic Chinese course, their level of HSK is approximately 3-4. The Conversational Business Chinese course usually lasts for 2 semesters.¹⁸¹

The Professional Business Chinese course aims at training students in oral and written Chinese in business communication. The students are developing skills in conducting or interpreting business negotiations: discussion of the transaction and terms of the contract; the ability to conduct business correspondence; skills in reading Chinese business press. To undertake this programme the students should complete 6 semesters of studying Chinese. They should also possess at least basic level of business vocabulary.

Their level of HSK is approximately 4-6. The Professional Business Chinese course also last for 2 semesters.¹⁸²

All Chinese courses mentioned above last for 3 hours and are held twice a week in the evenings, except for the Basic Chinese language course, which could also be taught in the mornings, depending on the group preferences.

There are also free lectures in the CI at MSU talking about Chinese history, economy and culture, as well as calligraphy class taught once per week.¹⁸³

179 It is a series of Chinese language teaching books developed to teach non-Chinese speakers to speak Chinese. Practical Chinese Reader is administered by the Chinese Department of Culture, and most students of Standard Mandarin in a classroom setting probably have contact with the book. The course consists of a Chinese reader, a character workbook, and a grammar workbook. It was first published in 1981 by Beijing Language and Culture University Press (BLCUP). It allows the use of writing in typical Chinese pinyin.

180 Chinese language courses. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ci-msu.ru/studies/kursy.html (Курсы китайского языка [Электронный ресурс]. Институт Конфуция МГУ имени М.В. Ломоносова. – Режим доступа: http://www.ci-msu.ru/studies/kursy.html)

181 Ibid.

182 Ibid.

183 Ibid.

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As well as any other Confucius Institute, the CI at MSU organizes various cultural activities: e.g. the institute celebrates Chinese New Year; holds exhibitions, aimed at introducing the mysterious Chinese culture, the country’s long exiting history etc. There were also some exhibitions where the visitors could take a look at different materials on studying and teaching Chinese. Sometimes the CI organizes photo-exhibitions, where all the photos are about China. However, the most popular expositions are with Chinese traditional calligraphy (書法 shufa), stone carving (寶石雕刻術 baoshi diaokeshu ) and paper cutting (剪紙 jianzhi).¹⁸⁴

Every year the CI at MSU organizes concerts in the PRC’s embassy in Russia.

The concert programme usually includes Chinese and Russian traditional songs, national dances, performances by masters of martial arts other Chinese traditional arts.¹⁸⁵

The CI at MSU has a wide range of scholarships and opportunities to send its students to China. For example, this year the CI at MSU as well as the CI at RSUH organizes summer school in two Chinese universities – Peking University and Central University of Finance and Economics¹⁸⁶. Summer school programmes organized by any Confucius Institutes are pretty much alike: students have Chinese classes and also have an opportunity to visit different places in the country (however, though these two particular summer schools are going to be held in Beijing, most of the attractions offered are also situated in the city or nearby, like the Great Wall, for example).¹⁸⁷

The CI at MSU plays a significant role in bolstering the Sino-Russian cultural exchanges. In 2014, in the context of the Year of Youth Exchanges between Russia and China, the CI organized a youth forum in Moscow Oblast¹⁸⁸ (the vicinities of Moscow).

184 Cultural activities. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ci-msu.ru/kulturnaya-zhizn.html (Культурная жизнь [Электронный ресурс]. Институт Конфуция МГУ имени М.В. Ломоносова. – Режим доступа:

http://www.ci-msu.ru/kulturnaya-zhizn.html)

185 Ibid.

186 Central University of Finance and Economics (中央財經大學 zhongyang caijing daxue) was founded in 1949, shortly after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Originally named the Central Institute of Taxation, it was the first university of finance and economics established by the Chinese central government. In 1996, the Institute was given its current name.

187 Studying in China. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ci-msu.ru/studies/study_china.html (Учебные стажировки в Китае [Электронный ресурс]. Институт Конфуция МГУ имени М.В. Ломоносова. – Режим доступа: http://www.ci-msu.ru/kulturnaya-zhizn.html)

188 Moscow Oblast (Московская область) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its area, at 45,900 square kilometers is relatively small compared to other federal subjects, but it is one of the most densely populated regions in the country and, with the population of 7,095,120 (2010 Census), is the second most populous federal subject. There is no official administrative center of Moscow Oblast; its public authorities are located in Moscow and across other locations in the oblast.

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According to the information on the official website of Chinese Embassy in Russia (2014), the forum was held in May, 17-18, under the name “Chinese and Russian Youth:

Today and Tomorrow” (Молодежь Китая и России: сегодня и завтра). More than 50 students of the CI took part in the event along with professors and faculty staff of the institute. The students from China currently studying at various Moscow universities also attended the forum.

Such an event can be regarded as an important scientific part of the Confucius Institute. The directors of the CI at MSU from both sides spoke about the history of Sino-Soviet cultural exchanges, as well as about the present situation in this field. The students had a chance to discuss issues related to various spheres of life in China and Russia. The Youth forum is a good opportunity in further deepening the relations between two nations.

Both Russian and Chinese young generations have chance to communicate and get a better understanding of each others' lifestyle, needs, dreams etc. Taking into account the Sino-Russian friendly relations are constantly developing, such an event as only contributes to further development of the bilateral friendship.¹⁸⁹

In November, 2014 the CI at MSU held another international youth forum called

"Sino-Russian relations: past and future trends". That event was dated to the 65th anniversary of the official establishment of the People's Republic of China and the 65th anniversary of Sino-Russian diplomatic relations. The forum consisted of the CI's students, those who participated in summer language school and Chinese students who are studying in Russia.¹⁹⁰

Nowadays, international youth forums can be regarded as a very important tool of communication between nations. By giving young people an opportunity to share their views, ideas and concerns, it becomes possible to build a modern efficient communication bridge between various countries. The fact that the CI at MSU decided to be responsible for organizing such events as the youth forums between Russian and Chinese students tells us that this particular institute is interested not only in teaching Mandarin and organizing some cultural events, but it also wants to give its students and others an

189 В Подмосковье прошел китайско-российский молодежный форум Института Конфуция при МГУ [Электронный ресурс]. Посольство Китайской Народной Республики в Российской Федерации. – 2014. –22 Мая. – Режим доступа: http://ru.china-embassy.org/rus/jylx/t1158365.htm

190 International youth forum "Sino-Russian relations: Past and future trends" (2014, November 17).

Retrieved from http://www.ci-msu.ru/novosti/forum2015.html (Международный молодежный форум

«Отношения России и Китая: история и перспективы» [Электронный ресурс]. Институт Конфуция МГУ имени М.В. Ломоносова. – 2014. –17 Ноября. – Режим доступа: http://www.ci-msu.ru/novosti/forum2015.html)

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opportunity to express their opinions on topics related to various aspects of Sino-Russian relations. If it continues in the same spirit, such events might become more frequent and involve more participants and resources, which will for sure contribute to Sino-Russian relations.