Chinese Language Immersion Sports Camp runs through July 25 at UH Manoa

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
D.E. Perushek, (808) 956-3124
Center for Chinese Studies
Posted: Jul 7, 2009

The UH Manoa Confucius Institute is hosting 21 motivated middle and high school students, ages 12-17, with little or no experience in Chinese, to participate in a three-week residential program.

The 2009 Confucius Institute/STARTALK Chinese Language Immersion Sports Camp opened on July 6 and runs through July 25. It is funded by $150,000 from four U.S. government agencies, and $17,000 from the People's Republic of China's Office of Chinese Language Council International.

The visiting students, half of whom are from Hawaii and the rest from the U.S. mainland, are living in Frear Hall as they acquire basic communication skills in Chinese. For physical activity, they will receive instruction in table tennis and martial arts, under the tutelage of championship-level instructors from the People's Republic of China.

On their last day of camp, they will stage performances to entertain and demonstrate their skills in Mandarin Chinese and of the Chinese culture.

In the same program, 22 Chinese language teachers from across the U.S. are attending training that focuses on innovative, meaningful activities for students, including technology-driven ones. The teacher-training institute began on July 2.

This highly successful sports camp is in its third year.