Caption: Contestants take a group photo in the Confucius Classroom at the Emalus campus of the University of the South Pacific in Port Vila, Vanuatu, Aug. 17, 2018. Photo credit: Xinhua via ChinaDaily.com.cn
In the South Pacific island country of Vanuatu, learning Chinese has opened the door for Alice Joseph, 23, to pursue her dream of becoming a medical doctor.
Joseph, who has studied Chinese for about a year at the Confucius Classroom on the Emalus Campus of the University of the South Pacific, or USP, will begin her studies in clinical medicine at the Zhengzhou University in Henan province by the end of August.
A year ago, Joseph won first place in the Chinese Bridge language competition held in Vanuatu. For the preliminary round, she went to China, which she described as an eyeopening experience and motivated her to apply for the Chinese Government Scholarship to study in China.
Joseph said she first started learning Chinese as a hobby, but it turned into an opportunity for her education.
Joseph said she wanted to study medicine but had no opportunity in Vanuatu. "I am so fortunate to have the Chinese Government Scholarship to help me fulfill my dreams," she said.
Confucius Institutes are nonprofit educational institutions that aim to promote Chinese language and facilitate cultural exchanges.