The OTT-HOME International Meeting Point began operating as a meeting place for international and Hungarian culture in Debrecen, in the summer of 2024, at the Deutsches Kulturforum at 24 Batthyány Street.
That is where the Mandarin Club also found a home, which, in addition to language teaching, operates various clubs, such as a creative club where those interested can learn about traditional Chinese crafts; a lifestyle club that offers the art of tai chi; and the youngest guests can enjoy playful language activities in the matinee club.
The first-ever Chinese language course started in September with four groups. The 18 spirited students learnt the basics of the Chinese language in four hours a week.
- For this initiative, the staff of the UDFH Confucius Institute deserve the credits, as our colleagues there raised the opportunity of learning Chinese and getting acquainted with the culture of the distant country not only within institutional frameworks, i.e. in high schools and at the university, but also in the city, offering this opportunity to any resident. Most of the current students are from Debrecen, but we also had participants from Colombia and the Philippines- Erik László Kovács, deputy director of the institute, told hirek.unideb.hu.
Andrea Horváth, president of the Deutsches Kulturforum, also greeted the graduates of the language course and the volunteer Chinese language teachers of the Confucius Institute.
- OTT-HOME was launched with the support of the city and has become, within one year, a point in the life of Debrecen that creates an opportunity for nations, cultures and people living here to meet. We have created a place where we welcome and expect everyone who is open to learning languages and discovering cultures,” Andrea Horváth said in her speech.
Following the successful completion of the first course, the next 8-week course will start on 14 November, Friday. Chinese language teachers hold two classes twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays, using the HSK Standard Course volumes as course books. The teachers hope that as a result of their diligent work, everyone will be able to take the path to the Chinese language exam, i.e. the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi.
More information about the language course and the Mandarin Club programs can be found on the OTT-HOME Facebook page.
Press Centre - BZs