61 Successful Chinese Language Exams and Summer Experiences

On September 27, 61 language exam certificates were awarded at the Confucius Institute in Pécs, Hungary, as part of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration.

61 Successful Language Exams!
In Pécs, Hungary, interest in Chinese language learning and culture has remained strong for the eighth year in a row. The Confucius Institute at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Pécs has been offering Chinese language instruction for elementary school students since 2015 as part of the Chinese School special program. Since 2016, it has also been offered in Pécs secondary schools and in credit-based form at the University of Pécs. Since 2019, the Institute has also been operating as a language testing center, where language learners can take the HSK language exams accredited by the Chinese government. This is a specialized Chinese language test system that provides the same standard throughout the world. Every year, more and more people are trying to take the Chinese language exam. In May of this year, a record number of 61 students took the exam in Pécs. Of these, 14 elementary school students excelled on the YCT, the child version of the language test system. In recognition of their work, the language exam certificates were awarded at the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration organized by the Institute. At the event, Dr. József Betlehem, Vice-Rector of the University of Pécs and Hungarian Director of the Confucius Institute, and Dr. Wang Zhijiang, Chinese Director, also gave speeches.

Chinese Language Camp in China!
At the celebration, students who attended a language camp in China at the end of the summer also spoke about their unforgettable experiences. They first visited Tangshan, then spent a few days in Beijing. Most of the participants had the HSK2 language exam, which is roughly equivalent to a basic level of language proficiency. Thus, it was useful for them to spend the mornings in language classes. They also got a glimpse of Chinese tea culture, gastronomy, and got to know the two cities.
"The best thing was probably that we had the opportunity to spend a whole day with a Chinese family," said Balázs Csurka, the only participant in the camp who started learning Chinese as an adult. He believes that Tangshan is more down-to-earth than the vast Beijing, but it would take days to really experience the city's highlights. In the capital, they visited the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and walked about 6 bastions along the Great Wall of China.

Mid-Autumn Festival
After the New Year celebration, this is the second most important Chinese holiday, which is a movable holiday: its peak is associated with the full moon. The most characteristic traditions are the use of red lanterns, dragon dances, and the consumption of the so-called mooncakes. The latter is made with different fillings depending on the region. The most typical is probably the one filled with azuki bean paste or lotus seed. The recipe is much less important than sharing the mooncake with family and friends!