On January 18, 2025, the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia aired a special Spring Festival program on the “Chinese in the Air” section of Liberia Broadcasting System. This program is an important part of the series of activities organized by the Confucius Institute to celebrate the Year of the Snake.
The program was co-hosted by Teacher Huang Yu, along with local teachers Samuel K. Deyekeh and Boakai Karllon Wilson. Using vivid, engaging, and humorous language, they provided a thorough yet accessible explanation of the cultural significance of the Spring Festival to the Liberian audience. The program began with the melodious strains of a Spring Festival prelude, and the three hosts introduced the traditional customs of the festival, starting with the classic poem “Yuan Ri” (New Year’s Day). They also extended the discussion to the Chinese zodiac, focusing on the Year of the Snake.
While introducing the knowledge of the Spring Festival, the program also included teaching segments on Chinese vocabulary related to the festival, accompanied by lively and festive Chinese New Year songs. This created a fun and relaxed atmosphere for the audience to learn Chinese. In the final segment, the three hosts reviewed vocabulary related to “spring” and “year” to reinforce the listeners’ understanding.
The program featured an interactive hotline segment, which encouraged active participation from the audience. Listeners expressed great interest in Chinese Spring Festival culture and engaged in lively discussions with the hosts about the holiday. Some students from the Confucius Institute expressed gratitude for the Chinese language learning opportunities provided both inside and outside the classroom. Other listeners mentioned their love for Chinese culture and that they tune in to the Chinese in the Air” program every week. Many callers greeted the hosts using the Spring Festival greetings they had just learned from the program.
In addition to the radio broadcast, the program was simultaneously streamed on Liberia Broadcasting System’s official Facebook page, attracting a large number of viewers.
“Chinese in the Air” is one of the signature Chinese language programs offered by the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia. It not only teaches the Chinese language but also introduces Chinese culture to the Liberian public through its “Cultural Introduction” section. This Spring Festival special program opened a window for the people of Liberia to learn about Chinese Spring Festival culture.
Credit: CIUL
