COURSES

Confucius Institute - Courses

The Confucius Institute organises the Chinese language courses in autumn and spring that last three months per season. Depending on their level of knowledge, the students are grouped into HSK 1, HSK 2, HSK 3, HSK 4, and HSK 5. Over the six years of its existence, the Confucius Institute has organised many language and culture courses and workshops, which were attended by more than 500 students and citizens, some of whom had the opportunity to visit China and improve their knowledge. Many Chinese language students have the opportunity to go to a ten-day summer camp and study the language, visit the cities of Beijing and Tianjin and some of the most important cultural and historical sites in the People's Republic of China.

The Institute also organises free elective Chinese language courses for over 200 primary and secondary school students. On 5 October 2020, a Confucius Classroom was opened at Banja Luka Grammar School and it was the first modernly equipped classroom for the study of the Chinese language and culture. Through classes and different activities, and projects, the students and professors of this school may learn and improve their knowledge of the Chinese language as well as learn more about the Chinese culture. Banja Luka Grammar School is one of the few secondary schools in the region that got approval to open a Confucius Classroom in such a short period of time, which is a great success for the Confucius Institute, the school and the City of Banja Luka alike.

Every year, students may take free one-month Chinese language courses during January (winter intensive course) and July or August (summer intensive course), in which they can improve their knowledge and better prepare for the next regular course. For two years, the Confucius Institute has also held the new Business Chinese Course, intended for those who wish to learn the basics of business correspondence in Chinese and the Chinese business culture and etiquette. Last year, it also started providing online Chinese language courses for all those who live in remote places or those who prefer to attend the classes from their homes.

Furthermore, the students attending the Chinese language courses at the Confucius Institute participate in the Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Contests, which are held every year for university, secondary and primary school students. They achieve great results, often win the contests, and get the opportunity to represent their country in China.

The Confucius Institute offers all HSK course options, in-person groups for primary school students and adults, which are held in the classroom setting at the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Banja Luka, University Campus. Students are taught by native speakers and the Chinese language teachers. At the end of the programme, they receive certificates of completion of the Chinese language course, and can take the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK and HSKK), an international standardised test of Chinese language proficiency, assesses non-native Chinese speakers’ ability in using Chinese as a second language), or the YCT exam for primary school students, at the Confucius Institute, which is also the Chinese Proficiency Test Centre.

What you can expect to have learned when you pass the following course levels:

HSK 1

Number of words learned: 150
Number of characters mastered: 170
Understanding and using simple characters and sentences, and preparing to continue learning the Chinese language.

Pinyin/Latin alphabet is used to represent the sounds of Chinese.

HSK 2

Number of words learned: 300
Number of characters mastered: 347
Using the Chinese language in everyday speech.

Pinyin/Latin alphabet is used to represent the sounds of Chinese.

HSK 3

Number of words learned: 600
Number of characters mastered: 617
Using the Chinese language in everyday communication, describing work or studying. Ability to use the Chinese language in conversation with Chinese people, while traveling in China, etc.

HSK 4

Number of words learned: 1200
Number of characters mastered: 1064
A wide range of topics that can be discussed in Chinese and making conversation with Chinese people at a higher level.

HSK 5

Number of words learned: 2500
Number of characters mastered: 1684
Ability to read newspapers and magazines in Chinese, watch Chinese movies and write speeches in Chinese.

HSK 6

Number of words learned: 5000
Number of characters mastered: 2663
Full understanding of all information in Chinese and easy communication on any topic.

Learning Chinese online offers many advantages. Students can attend classes from any location, which is especially convenient for those who live in other places or prefer to attend classes from the comfort of their own homes. All that is needed for remote learning is the Internet and a computer. The Confucius Institute offers all course options. Students are taught by native speakers and Chinese language teachers. At the end of the programme, they receive certificates of completion of the Chinese language course, and can take the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK and HSKK), an international standardized test of Chinese language proficiency, assesses non-native Chinese speakers’ ability in using Chinese as a second language), or the YCT exam for primary school students, at the Confucius Institute, which is also the Chinese Proficiency Test Centre.

What you can expect to have learned when you pass the following course levels:

HSK 1

Number of words learned: 150
Number of characters mastered: 170
Understanding and using simple characters and sentences, and preparing to continue learning the Chinese language.

Pinyin/Latin alphabet is used to represent the sounds of Chinese.

HSK 2

Number of words learned: 300
Number of characters mastered: 347
Using the Chinese language in everyday speech.

Pinyin/Latin alphabet is used to represent the sounds of Chinese.

HSK 3

Number of words learned: 600
Number of characters mastered: 617
Using the Chinese language in everyday communication, describing work or studying. Ability to use the Chinese language in conversation with Chinese people, while traveling in China, etc.

HSK 4

Number of words learned: 1200
Number of characters mastered: 1064
A wide range of topics that can be discussed in Chinese and making conversation with Chinese people at a higher level.

HSK 5

Number of words learned: 2500
Number of characters mastered: 1684
Ability to read newspapers and magazines in Chinese, watch Chinese movies and write speeches in Chinese.

HSK 6

Number of words learned: 5000
Number of characters mastered: 2663
Full understanding of all information in Chinese and easy communication on any topic.

This course is intended for those who have not studied the Chinese language before, and who will now have the opportunity to learn the basics of the Chinese language and its use in business communication. Already at the first level of the course, you will learn basic greetings and polite words in the Chinese language, as well as words and dialogues that are used in everyday life. You will learn how to make simple business conversations, how to ask and answer simple questions, arrange meetings, present yourself and your products, etc. You will also master the business etiquette, i.e. how to behave in certain business situations, you will learn why it is important to exchange business cards and how to give and receive business cards in China, etc.

The course consists of 3 levels:

1. Business Chinese Standard Course – Basic 1, Basic 2, Basic 3,

2. Intermediate Business Chinese Standard Course, and

3. Advanced Business Chinese Standard Course, each lasting three months.

After each course level, you may take a Business Chinese Test/BCT.

Тhe Tai Chi course is conducted twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7 pm, outdoors in front of the Faculty of Political Science, University Campus, or the hall of the Faculty, depending on the weather conditions. The course is led by a licensed trainer. Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art, over 600 years old, which is practised worldwide due to the multiple benefits it has on people's health. Practising Tai Chi is good for both physical and mental health. It is suitable for people of different ages, as well as for all physical conditions of humans. It is especially suitable for the elderly because of its movements, which are performed slowly, coordinated and relaxed.

Playing Weiqi at first glance does not seem difficult. The rules are very simple, there are not many of them, and they can be learned quite quickly, perhaps in just one hour. However, it is no longer that easy when you start to play the game, and this is not only true for beginners. By learning it step by step, we will quickly become players, perhaps very good ones. But, as in everything in science, art, or life in general, the more we know, or the better players we become, the more our horizons will open up to the unknown, and we will realize that neither the human brain nor the objects of knowledge have an absolute boundary, and that Go is exactly such a game - the more we master it, the more interesting and elusive it becomes. and the more we discover its laws, beauty, and power.

Sign up for the course at konfucijev.institut@unibl.org and have fun and learn to play this ancient Chinese board game with the professional instructor Dragan Barišić, every Saturday at 12 h in the hall of the Faculty of Political Science (Bulevar vojvode Petra Bojovića 1A, Campus).

RULES OF THE GAME

Weiqi is a two-player strategic board game in which the aim is to fence off (surround) more territory than the opponent. It is played mainly on a wooden board with horizontal and vertical lines. The players take turns placing their black and white stones on the vacant intersections on the board. and each player has 180 stones. All empty intersection points surrounded by stones of the same colour are counted as territory. In equal games, black always plays first, then white, and so on, alternating one move at a time. The goal of the game is to win, and you do it by scoring points. Points are conquered territory and captured opponent stones. Each empty intersection is worth one point. Each captured opponent stone is worth one point.

To apply for the course or for any further information on the teachers and course schedule, please write to us at the email: konfucijev.institut@unibl.org