SFST and SGRC‑WA Hold Maiden “Survival Chinese Language” Class for Foreign Faculty at HUAT
Published: July 2026 
Source: Gabriel Asante / SGRC-WA Relations Office
The School of Foreign Studies and Trade (SFST), in collaboration with the Sino‑Ghana Research Center for West Africa (SGRC‑WA), successfully organized the maiden Survival Chinese Language class for foreign faculty members at Hubei University of Automotive Technology (HUAT) on July 10, 2026.
Participants during the “Survival Chinese Lessons” session, featuring classroom instruction, facilitator presentations, and audience engagement.
The Survival Chinese initiative, introduced by SGRC‑WA, responds to the growing need for international lecturers to acquire basic Chinese language and cultural skills essential for daily communication both on and off campus. The program aims to support foreign teachers with limited or no prior knowledge of Chinese, thereby enhancing their social integration and overall experience in China.
The first session, held from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., was facilitated by experienced language instructors from SFST, including Prof. Sun Yuan, Dr. Zhang Chengcheng, Ms. Niu Chuyi, and Ms. Liu Kexin. Nine foreign teachers from the School of Automotive Engineering, the School of Digital Economy, the School of Automotive Business, and the School of Foreign Studies and Trade participated in the inaugural class.
Delivering his opening remarks, the Director of SGRC‑WA, Dr. Lemuel Gbologah, emphasized that the initiative seeks to equip foreign faculty with essential Chinese phrases, vocabulary, and expressions needed for everyday interactions. He noted that this maiden class marks the beginning of a broader plan to offer the program periodically from the 2026/2027 academic year.
Participants expressed strong enthusiasm for the initiative, highlighting that the classes arrived at a crucial time, especially for those working in China for the first time. They noted that learning basic Chinese from qualified instructors would significantly improve their daily communication, cultural understanding, and social integration.
The successful launch of the Survival Chinese Language program reflects HUAT’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and culturally enriching environment for its international faculty.
