By Rudina Hoxha
Li Beilei has been teaching Chinese as a second language to international audiences since 2009. In 2012 she joined Confucian Institute Tirana, now she will become one of the leading Chinese instructors at LSIA’s Tirana headquarters. As an enthusiastic educator with a great passion for teaching Chinese language and culture, instructor Li has proudly joined our staff based on the partnership agreement that both Confucian Institute and LSIA signed last year to strengthen our Chinese program.
Li is happy about her decision to join LSIA. When this proposal was put up, she did not think twice. “I thought it might be very interesting to give lessons there. Also, I thought I might know greater teachers and better students. In addition, I could learn more about cross culture, so I took on this task,” she says in her interview.
Her job is even more pleasurable because Li loves Albania, its people, its nature, its climate and all about it.
Full interview below:
When did you come to Albania and what are your impressions about our country?
I came here in 2012. To be honest, I like Albania a lot. Most people are very nice to me and they are very warm-hearted. And the country is so beautiful, the sea, the mountains, and Oh My God, there are lots of lakes. Of course, I also admire the weather here which is similar to the one in my own city Xi’an in China. So it’s easier for me to get used to it. And I appreciate here the slow life style.
How enthusiastic is for you to be part of LSIA? What are the inputs you intend to bring to this School?
I’m working at Confucius Institute of Tirana University. A month ago, our Director told us that there is a school in Tirana which is about to open soon and it needs one of our Chinese language teachers to give lessons there. So I thought it might be very interesting to give lessons there. Also, I thought I might know greater teachers and better students. In addition, I could learn more about cross culture, so I took on this task.
What’s your teaching philosophy?
Teach students in accordance of their aptitude.
Is there a different way when you teach a child and an adult?
I think children are more emotional and responsive, adults are more rational. So the teaching skills are different. For kids, you cannot explain too much, instead they need more practices.
How do you make sure the students understand you? Can you share some of your tactics?
Very easy! Ask and discuss with them. If most of them don’t understand what I said, I explain to them again. If only few of them don’t understand explain during class or after class. I think it is a very flexible approach.
How good are Albanian students in learning Chinese? What advice would you offer for others thinking to learn Chinese?
These two languages have some common things, for example, the alphabets, and some grammars. The Chinese grammar is easier than Albanian one or others’ because adjectives have no gender differences, no verb and time changes. Chinese language is different from other Latin languages because we use characters, so learning Chinese is a kind of challenge but it will be a very meaningful experience and I do believe that who speaks Chinese well will have more chances to get better jobs.
