by xinhua writer Justice Lee Adoboe

ACCRA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- As China-Ghana relations continue to deepen, the enthusiasm for learning Chinese is rapidly spreading across Ghanaian schools, reflecting a broader cultural and educational engagement between the two sides.

At the forefront of this trend is Penuel International School in Kasoa in the Central Region of Ghana, where young students embrace the Chinese language, inspired by opportunities for cultural exchange and future academic ambitions.

On a Wednesday morning at Penuel International School, located about 35 km west of the country's capital Accra, pupils are immersed in their Chinese lessons. In one classroom, Cai Leqin, a Chinese teacher assigned by the Confucius Institute at the University of Cape Coast (CIUCC), leads the session.

With visible excitement, the students repeat Chinese sentences in unison. Some take turns introducing themselves in Mandarin, while others translate Chinese vocabulary into English. "I find learning the Chinese language exciting and useful because it helps us to understand their culture," said Cheryl Abban, one of the pupils. Cheryl, who aspires to become a lawyer, hopes to study in China and sees learning Mandarin as a way to better communicate and integrate into Chinese society.

Recognizing the growing global influence of China, the school's board and parent-teacher association approved a proposal in 2018 to introduce Chinese language classes. A memorandum of understanding was signed with the CIUCC, which now regularly dispatches both native Chinese and trained Ghanaian teachers to support the program, said school director Alex Lavoe.

In another class, the pupils burst into cheerful greetings as Cai enters the room. They quickly settle into the lesson, writing Chinese characters and pinyin on the board. Cai moves around the classroom, making corrections and encouraging the students to improve their writing skills.

Despite their young age, many of the students understand the long-term value of learning another language, especially the Chinese language. For others, the motivation is more immediate. Anastasia Appiah, a student in the class, is inspired by the Chinese Ambassador's Scholarship, which awards cash prizes for excellence in Chinese studies.

"Learning Chinese gives you great opportunities, including participating in the Chinese Bridge competition. If you win, you get a full scholarship to visit China. That experience can have a big impact on your life," Anastasia said.

Cai said she is pleased with her students' progress. "Chinese is a difficult language, but they try their best to learn in school and after school as well," she said. "They contact me after school through text messages to ask questions about Chinese culture. When they want to learn Chinese dance, they ask me to send videos. I am very happy to see that."

According to Lavoe, the addition of Chinese lessons has significantly boosted the school's popularity. "Initially, the enrollment was 420. After the school introduced Chinese, it jumped to 720 within four months. Then to 900, and now we have passed 1,000," he said.

To meet rising demand, the school is also preparing to launch Chinese classes for adults, particularly for those doing business with China or frequently traveling there.

Lavoe expressed hope that the school's pupils would one day travel to China to experience its culture and people firsthand, in order to further strengthen the bond between the two nations through the power of language and education. ■