Learning Chinese in Belarus: A Serious Commitment

In June 2006, the Confucius Institute of Sinology at Belarusian State University was founded—the very first Confucius Institute in Belarus, and also the place where I once served as a volunteer Chinese language teacher.

The current director, Professor Anatoly Tozik, is well known in China. He served as the Belarusian Ambassador to China (2006–2011), later became Deputy Prime Minister, and since 2016 has been leading the Confucius Institute. I first met him in 2014, when I was translating for a Chinese delegation led by Shan Jixiang, then Director of the Palace Museum. Professor Tozik warmly welcomed his Chinese guests, and he once remarked:

“The world needs communication and understanding. Through learning languages, Belarusians can better understand China—its history, culture, and modern achievements. The stronger China becomes, the more peaceful the world will be. I firmly believe this.”

Why Belarusians Learn Chinese

Belarus takes Chinese language learning seriously. By 2016, six secondary schools had made Chinese a compulsory subject, and dozens more offered it as an elective. The Ministry of Education even planned for every province to have key schools where Chinese would be required.

My own teaching journey began around 2011. At that time, very few places in Belarus offered Chinese classes—only in Minsk and Gomel. Out of curiosity and friendship, many locals often asked me about China:

• “Is acupuncture really effective?”
• “Do you still wear big straw hats to plant rice?”
• “Can pandas be kept as pets?”
• “Does the Chinese government give you freedom?”
• “Do all Chinese people know kung fu?”

These questions, sometimes naïve but always genuine, showed how curious Belarusians were about China. Back then, resources were scarce, so I started a free Chinese salon for friends. We borrowed classrooms, used textbooks I had brought from China, and focused on the aspects of Chinese culture they were most interested in—traditional medicine, feng shui, and of course, modern China.

Everyday Encounters with “Made in China”

One reason Belarusians wanted to study Chinese was simple: China was everywhere. From the thermos I bought in Gomel, made in Shanghai, to the growing number of Chinese companies and students in Belarus, China’s presence was impossible to ignore. Some people even joked, “Marry a Chinese man, and you’ll live happily ever after.”

Language as a Bridge

When asked challenging questions—like why some Chinese products were of poor quality, or about China’s relations with neighboring countries—I always answered honestly, explaining differences between cheap and high-quality goods, or encouraging people to see China with their own eyes.

I believe this is the true value of language learning: it allows people to see the world from different perspectives. When Belarusians speak Chinese, they can directly share their thoughts with Chinese people. When foreigners read Chinese characters, they connect with how Chinese media and society express themselves.

At its heart, language is about mutual understanding. By learning Chinese, Belarusians and Chinese alike move one step closer to each other.