In March, on the campus of the National Residential School in Rome, Italy, the laurel blossoms and the peach blossoms bloomed. The Chinese International Science High School on the fourth floor of the teaching building was opened in 2009. It is the only national high school in Italy that includes Chinese as a compulsory course and the largest Confucius classroom in Italy. On the walls of the corridor, there are posters on the theme of Chinese culture hand-painted by the students.
“Everyone is very much looking forward to sharing their experience of learning Chinese with Chinese President Xi Jinping.” The school’s principal, Reyale, said that the students are full of enthusiasm for China and Chinese culture. I am in contact with China and understand China, so I love China even more.
It is out of this idea that Reale and the eight students from the school sent a letter to President Xi a few days ago. The students stated in the letter that efforts should be made to promote ideological dialogue, cultural exchanges and mutual learning between Italian and Chinese youths.
Ales Tregari, a fifth-year student of Chinese International Science High School, is one of the writers. He said: “Learning Chinese has broadened my horizons and helped me develop the habit of thinking about problems from a global perspective.” He plans to come to China for postgraduate studies and then work in a Chinese company in Italy.
“Chinese learning has brought us into a new world.” said Giovanni Stopoloni, also a fifth-grade student. During the learning process, he kept asking himself: What is the real China and how can we understand the real China? China? Last year, he and his classmates went to Shanghai for a brief exchange and study, witnessed China’s development achievements and vitality, and realized the vastness and splendor of the world. “In order to express my experience of learning Chinese in the past five years, I wrote a poem for President Xi Jinping. In the poem, I use a metaphor to describe China’s adherence to excellent traditions and continuous development and innovation.” He said, “My future It must be related to China.”
The Chinese International Science High School of the National Residential School of Rome is one of the six Confucius Classrooms under the Confucius Institute at the University of Rome. Due to the long-term adherence to high-quality teaching, more than half of the school’s students each year have passed Level 5 of the Chinese Proficiency Test before they graduate from high school. Since its establishment 10 years ago, the Chinese International Science High School has expanded from 28 students at the beginning to more than 250 students in 5 grades today. A total of more than 100 students have gone to China to study at their own expense for six months to one year, and there are more than 10 graduates. Admitted to a Chinese university to study.
“Only by learning the language well can we better understand the culture of other countries.” Reale said that the purpose of opening a Chinese international science high school is to hope that more young Italians can understand Chinese culture, cultivate their international vision, and become interested. Envoy of friendly cooperation and cultural exchanges between the East and the West. He said that China’s economy and society continue to develop, and more and more Italians hope to strengthen all-round cooperation with China, seize China’s development opportunities, and realize their own development. “Italian young people learning Chinese not only opens a window for the cultural exchanges between Italy and China, but also adds a boost to their future career development.”