The Confucius Institute at the National University of Samoa (N.U.S) is looking for Samoans who are fluent in Chinese to teach the language next year.

This was confirmed by the Director of the Confucius Institute Dr. Tony Liang and the N.U.S. President and Vice Chancellor, Professor Alec Ekeroma, in an emailed response to questions sent by the Samoa Observer.

Dr. Liang said the border closure brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation of travel to Samoa of Chinese language teachers, which leaves the institute no choice but to recruit locally.

“Actually we are always trying to find local teacher candidates since establishment and I have been contacting one who graduated from a Chinese university. But she cannot take this position for moving to New Zealand,” he said.

The selection criteria for local Chinese teachers is overseas learning experience in China; a bachelor of arts degree with a Chinese language related major; fluent speaker of Chinese with above HSK Level 3 Competency preferred; pass the online Chinese interview; a clean Police record; and able to work legally in Samoa.

The teaching position will be a full-time job, according to Dr. Liang, with the successful applicant holding the position for 1-2 years and having the ability to teach in Government Ministries on request. The successful applicant should also be able to work together with Chinese teachers.

“Some interested are asking for details and we need to select excellent applicants as candidates. I expect to find one or two local teachers by the end of Jan 2021,” he said.

Professor Ekeroma told the Samoa Observer in a response to email queries that the search for a local teacher was due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, he clarified that the position is “not exclusive” to Samoans and will be open to anyone who meets the selection criteria.

Asked about the progress of students studying at the Institute since its establishment, the Vice Chancellor said: “We have had community Beginners Chinese language programs. We offered the HSK Level 1 Chinese Language test last year. Most of our CI-NUS programmes are for beginners and intermediate learners.

“The Faculty of Arts Department of English & Foreign Languages offer the 100 level and 200 level Chinese language courses for a Minor in the BA programme.”

Professor Ekeroma added that the Confucius Institute will reopen in the first week of February and the Chinese Director, Dr Guojie 'Tony' Liang will answer queries online.

“The President of the Liao Cheng University, who is our partner in administering the Confucius Inst at NUS, was keen to assist in every way possible to make sure the objectives of the Institute were fulfilled including the reopening of language classes in 2021,” he added.