A Survey Of The Current Situation Of Chinese Language Education In Confucius Institute,Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka

With China' s growing presence in the global economy,people around the world have begun to find interest in the Chinese language.The increase in the Sino-African relationship over the years has also caused a growing interest in learning the Chinese language and culture in the African continent,which has also inspired an increase in the teaching of the Chinese language in Africa.The establishment of Confucius Institutes all around the African continent and the world at large is one of the ways through which China seeks to spread its language to various parts of the world.Since its inception in 2008,the Confucius Institute of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka,has recorded persistent growth such that the classrooms have been extended to other Universities in the region,however,with growth comes challenges.This paper was geared towards finding out the situation of learning in the institute and point out any existing challenges.Using primary data obtained from questionnaires,the author analyses the current situation at the Confucius Institute of Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka students' perspective as well as the teachers' perspective.Sixty-nine students filled the questionnaire and the results from the analysis show that the most popular reason for which students at Confucius Institute,Unizik study the Chinese language is the possibility of better job opportunities because of their knowledge of the Chinese language.This study reveals the major problems that exist in the institute to be skipping levels of the Chinese Language Proficiency Test(HSK),students',difficulties in writing Chinese characters and in pronouncing the third tone,a dearth of teachers in the institute and an inadequacy in the books available in the Institute' s library.The author suggests that the students be encouraged to follow the due process while studying the language,the teachers should help the students practise writing and drill the third tone,an increase in the recruitment of both local teachers and Chinese teachers to reduce the pressure faced by the few available teachers,and greater provision of Chinese storybooks and books relating to Chinese culture in the Institute',s library.