Confucius Institute Ljubljana Plans are also underway for two more CCs in Celje and Ljubljana #2. To realize this ambitious plan, CI Ljubljana also needs to develop Slovenian sinology teachers, which will co-teach Chinese language and culture in CCs. "Our goal is to build a solid foundation for future Chinese teaching and learning that would bring great benefit to Slovenian school system, teachers involved and to the children when facing a globalised world." Irena Kokovnik (Principal of Trnovo Primary School).
In collaboration with successful Slovenian painter and artist of Chinese decent, Mrs. Huiqin Wang, which has been living in Slovenia for some 30 years, CI Ljubljana has also published the first two picture books in Chinese and English language about Ferdinand Avguštin Hallerstein - a Slovenian in the Forbidden City and Giuseppe Castiglione – an Italian painter in the Forbidden City. "Based on the success of classes among our children, we have also started to run a class for their parents. We are happy that whole families are getting involved in Chinese language and culture learning." Ana Kuhar Režek (Principal of Koseze Primary School)
Additionally, CI Ljubljana has also organized dozens of Chinese language courses for over 150 university students at the Faculty of Economics, Social Sciences, Administration, Pedagogy and even Architecture, as well as organized individual Chinese business lessons for Slovene business people. All students attending these language classes can also qualify to obtain official HSK certification of Chinese language knowledge. Other people interested in mastering basic Chinese every day phrases can also learn Chinese for free online, through a new website www.kitajka.si. "The demand for Business Chinese is growing in Slovenia. Many Slovenian businesspeople are starting to recognize growing business opportunities between China and CEE. They are very eager to learn. For this reason, we will soon be launching a free website for learning basic business Chinese." Zhonghui Ding, MA (Head Chinese teacher at Confucius Institute Ljubljana)
CI Ljubljana is also running a unique business elective course on How to do business with China at the Faculty of Economics in English. It is one, if not the most popular English undergraduate elective course, attended by close to 60 students from 25 different countries during the regular school year and by an additional 80 international students also during the Ljubljana Summer School in July at the Faculty of Economics.
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"In this academic year, we are the only High School in the region which offers Chinese, the only nonEuropean language in the school program, as regular subject. We expect to expand our activities from learning Chinese to short time exchange of students and teachers with our partner school in China. Lastly, learning and speaking Chinese will in the future also offer students abundant study and career opportunities in China."
"Within the How to do business with China course we develop the right mindset for Chinese business, build awareness of the importance of interlinking language, culture and business, and develop the right business, communication, negotiation and marketing skills. Each year, we work with on concrete projects for successful companies (e.g. Medex, TAM Europe, Eta Kamnik etc.) and help them purse business in China and create employment opportunities for our students."
Mišo Dačić (Head of CC Kranj at Kranj High School)
Matevž Rašković, PhD (Professor of How to do business with China)
The Slovenian Times | Spring Edition 2016