Little Confucius Talk with Foreign Confucius

Dialogue across Time and Space
——The students from Daming Lake Elementary School face-to-face with the winners of UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy 

Wearing Hanfu, and coming up with the calligraphic works of the Analects, three little Confucius are ready to field a dialogue with foreign Confucius.

"What feelings do you have after coming to the hometown of Confucius?" asked Gao Shuya for Mr. Moctar Hamuduoni after sending the calligraphic works.

9-year-old primary school student Gao Shuya asked Mr. Moctar Hamuduoni representative of the Illiteracy Eradication Directorate of the Ministry of Education of Morocco winner of the Confucius Prize for Literacy.

The 10-year-old Luo Tianyi asked Ms.Aurora Gullo representative of Colombia "Let's Change Fund".

Educational experts from various countries have a photo with the "little Confucius".
Dazhong, Jining, Sept. 27(Reporter Yin Yutao, Sheng Kun, Ma Xin)

On the afternoon of September 26, the UNESCO EFA International Symposium was held at the 2nd floor conference room in Jining Shengdu International Convention Center. Nearly 100 educational experts from more than 20 countries around the world gathered together. As renowned specialists of global literacy and  universal education, they were considered as foreign "Confucius", among them three recently won the 2012 UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy. Bearing the feelings of excitement and admiration, they set foot on the land of the great educator Confucius's hometown Jining Shandong, and received a special gift from three students of Daming Lake Elementary School who wearing traditional Chinese clothing. The two sides also carried out an enthusiastic dialogue on the topic of "Confucius".

Dialogue through time and space:

"Foreign Confucius" came to Confucius hometown, and "little Confucius "wearing Hanfu sent Calligraphy works

At 2:00 pm September 26, the UNESCO International EFA seminar was held in Jining Shengdu International Convention Center, UNESCO officials and nearly 100 educational experts from more than 20 countries around the world gathered at the 2nd floor conference room to discuss the promotion of international literacy and universal education plans. Three winners of the UNESCO Confucius Prize appeared compelling. They are Mr. Tshewang Tandin from Bhutan, Asia; Ms. Maria Aurora Carrillo Gullo from Colombia, Latin America; Mr. Merck Tal Hamuduoni from Morocco, Africa. Their participation in the three winning projects has made an outstanding contribution in the field of global education and literacy in rural areas and in the field of women and children education.

At 5:00 pm, the International Symposium came to tea break, three representatives of prize winners and education experts from around the world stepped out of the meeting room one after another. Much to their surprise, three students wearing Hanfu from the traditional cultural and educational elite—Daming Lake Elementary School, Jinan City, Shandong Province, have long been waiting outside the meeting room. They respectfully bowed to salute and presented a gift—
Confucius quotes calligraphy written by them.

"Confucius is one of the greatest educators in the world, as an admirer of Confucius, I am very proud to receive the UNESCO Confucius Prize!" said Ms. Maria Aurora Carrillo Gullo excitedly. Much to her happiness, once setting foot on the land of the hometown of Confucius, she received such a precious calligraphy of sayings of Confucius, and she was very grateful to the three "little Confucius" from Shandong.

Meeting with three educated and lovely "little Confucius", Mr. Tshewang Tandin and Mr. Merck Tal Hamuduoni were happy too. They held calligraphic works to have a photo with three "little Confucius". To show his gratitude, Mr. Tshewang Tandin also presented "little Confucius" a gift from Bhutan—a fine magazine on education.

The appearance of three "little Confucius" wearing Hanfu made educational experts from different countries attending the International Symposium surprised and excited. They came up with cell phones or cameras, eager to take pictures of "little Confucius", or hugged them to take photos together. Everyone's face is filled with joy and excitement. Soon the three "little Confucius" became "big star" at the outside of the conference room.

At the seminar, the three winners’ representatives have been called "foreign Confucius", because they won the "Noble Prize" on education with their remarkable achievements in the global educational literacy. Wearing Hanfu, three "little Confucius" became the stars at the outside of conference room. "It’s really a blessing that 'little Confucius' met with 'foreign Confucius' across time and space!" said Mr. Xiang Chunping, who was responsible for the administrative work of the conference.

Children sent gift to Mr. Tshewang Tandin in charge of Bhutan Adult and Higher Education Division "non-formal and continuing education program".

Merck Tal Hamuduoni representative of the Illiteracy Eradication Directorate of the Ministry of Education of Morocco had a photo with the kids.

Merck Tal Hamuduoni answered question raised by Gao Shuya.

Ms. Aurora Gullo，representative of Colombia "Let's Change Fund"， explained the meaning of calligraphy.

Mr. Tshewang Tandin presented "little Confucius" gift--Bhutan education magazine.

Warm conversation:

What does your school look like? Do foreign students learn the Three-Character Classic?

After taking photo, three "little Confucius" and three "foreign Confucius" held a warm dialogue and a fun picture appeared:
"Hello! Good afternoon!" "little Confucius" greeted three "foreign Confucius".

"Nihao! " three "foreign Confucius" responded in Chinese promptly.

Three "little Confucius" cannot speak fluent English, so followed greetings they can only gave anxious gestures; and three "foreign Confucius" can only speak a few Chinese words, smiling at the children but do not know what they said. There was no way but resort to a translator to make foreign exchanges finally smooth.

"How do you feel after winning the prize?" 10-year-old Luo Tianyi asked a question that is very much concerned.

"I come from Columbia, and I’m very pleased to be here in the hometown of Confucius—Jining, and winning the prize named after Confucius!" said Ms. Aurora Gullo smilingly.

"What does school look like in your country and what kind of courses do you teach?" further asked Luo Tianyi.

"Our educational project is aimed at the poor, and the main course is language that is to teach them to read and write." said Ms. Aurora Gullo.
"What do you feel when you come to the hometown of Confucius?" asked 8-year old Liu Yue who suffered no chance and raised the question to Mr. Merck Tal Hamuduoni.

"I feel excited and proud coming to Qufu, Jining. I hope children get to know more about Confucius and also education can help more people." said Mr. Merck Tal Hamuduoni patiently.

"Confucius is a great educator. Does winning the prize influence you future work?" asked Gao Shuya.

"This prize means a lot to our country and also to me, and will promote our country's future literacy education and EFA." said Mr. Merck Tal Hamuduoni.
"Chinese elementary school students learn Confucius culture and history. Do the children in your country learn traditional culture such as Three Character Classic, Rules for Students?" asked Luo Tianyi.

"Thank you for your question. In my country students learn the language of my country, culture, and also celebration of music and dance. Confucius culture is mentioned in our history textbook, but not as detailed as in Chinese elementary school." said Mr. Tshewang Tandin.

Site of UNESCO EFA International Symposium

Bhutan Adult and Higher Education Division "non-formal and continuing education program" and Colombia "Let's Change Fund" program won the "Confucius Prize for Literacy", and honorary award was won by the Illiteracy Eradication Directorate of the Ministry of Education of Morocco.

Education experts are eager to take pictures with the three "little Confucius".

During the tea break, three "little Confucius" wearing Hanfu attracted experts.

Education experts from Africa are taking photo with "little Confucius"

Say you later
Inviting "foreign Confucius" to visit Daming Lake in Jinan

"Our school is Daming Lake Elementary School, which is next to Daming Lake, and welcome to Jinan and give us lecture!" 9-year-old Gao Shuya issued a sincere invitation. She told "foreign Confucius" that Daming Lake Elementary School was originally built in Xuewen temple and closely linked with Confucius culture.
"Thank you!" Mr. Tshewang Tandin accepted the invitation standing for "foreign Confucius", and will go to Jinan to see Daming Lake and exchange with more "little Confucius" if there is any chance.

"Our school put more emphasis upon traditional culture education. We made this special trip to Jining and exchange with foreign educational experts, and we made this special trip to the Jining and exchange with foreign education experts. Our aim is to let the students have an intuitive understanding of Confucius culture and foreign education, and it is of great help to develop their overall ability!" according to the teacher of "little Confucius". Daming Lake Primary School was built in the 1950s on the site of original Confucius Temple. Although school later was removed from temple, yet the school has been focusing on traditional culture education.

In September 2002, the school included "Classics" enlightenment education into its formal curriculum, combined traditional culture with modern quality and highlighted kindness and courtesy training. School graduates go to the Confucius Temple to hold adult ceremony. Meanwhile, it often organizes students to travel to saint's hometown Qufu and Zoucheng. According to Jiang Hui, Daming Lake Elementary School's graduation ceremony has been held in the temple. The graduates bow three times to the Confucius statue to bid farewell to childhood, through which school intends to inherit and carry forward traditional Chinese culture.

"They accepted our calligraphy works, took photo with us and smiled at us to show gratitude. All this impressed me a lot!" said Liu Yue who was first nervous meeting foreign teachers, then became excited after talking with them.

"Foreign teachers exchanged with us for a short time, but I still feel very happy and we had a great time together just like we are friends already!" said Gao Shuya excitedly. She told reporters that it has been the most memorable experience ever since talking with foreign teachers, and came to have a better understanding of "It's a delight to have friends coming from afar!"

"Foreign teachers are kind, encouraged me smilingly, and patiently answered my question, so all my fears were gone!" Luo Tianyi said to reporter. The conversation with "foreign Confucius" not only enhanced my communicative ability, but also got to know some new knowledge. "I strongly hope that these foreign teachers will come to our school for lecture and also when growing up I’ll become a Confucius to promote traditional Chinese culture to all over the world!"