Confucius Institute

The Confucius Institute USFQ is an international, non-governmental and non-profit educational institution, whose mission is the teaching of the language and the promotion of Chinese culture. Currently, there are more than 550 Confucius Institutes and more than 1,100 Confucius classrooms in 162 countries.

The Confucius Institute USFQ is the first and only of its kind in Ecuador. It was founded in 2010, thanks to the strategic alliance established between the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) and its Chinese counterpart, the University of Petroleum of China in Beijing (UPC-BJ), with the support of the Chinese International Education Foundation (CIEF), formerly Hanban, and the Center for Education and Language Cooperation (CLEC) Foundation. Currently, the IC USFQ is part of the internationalization area of the university.

In addition, the Confucius Institute USFQ is authorized to administer the Mandarin Chinese language proficiency exams in Ecuador, also known as the HSK, HSKK, and YCT exams.

Mission

Promote the Chinese language and culture in Ecuador, taking into account what China represents to the world.

Vision

To become the leading center as a Confucius Institute in the teaching of the Chinese language and culture throughout South America.

Values

  • Quality education
  • Innovation
  • Critical thinking
  • Respect and kindness
  • Transparency and responsibility

Chinese courses

General Information

The Confucius Institute USFQ offers a study program that encompasses both the Chinese language and culture, through which students develop skills to function socially and commercially with China.

Classes are led by Chinese teachers and qualified local teachers.

The teaching method covers various aspects such as reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, phonetics and vocabulary.

Levels

The Confucius Institute USFQ divides its academic curriculum into five levels, each level is made up of five modules. A module lasts 48 synchronous hours of class.

Levels
Level I: Basic
Modules I
  II
  III
  IV
  V
Level II: Basic – Intermediate
Modules VI
  VII
  VIII
  IX
   X
Level III: Intermediate
Modules I
  II
  III
  IV
  V
Level IV: Intermediate - Advanced
Modules VI
  VII
  VIII
  IX
  X
Level V: Advanced
Modules I
  II
  III
  IV
  V
Levels Modules
Level I: Basic I II III IV V
Level II: Basic – Intermediate VI VII VIII IX  X
Level III: Intermediate I II III IV V
Level IV: Intermediate - Advanced VI VII VIII IX X
Level V: Advanced I II III IV V

Location tests

People who have some previous knowledge of the Mandarin Chinese language will be able to take a written placement test, which allows their level to be determined according to their knowledge of the language. This exam has an additional cost.

Weekly and Saturday courses

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of our courses are taught online. This provision will be maintained until December 2022 or depending on the situation at the national level. Details on how to join virtual classes will be sent by Telegram to students by the assigned teacher after registration.

Classes are taught on two schedules:

  • Weekly: Monday to Thursday, one hour and a half – from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm (the availability of both schedules varies depending on each level).
  • Saturday: 4 hours of class – from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

HSK/HSKK/YCT exam preparation courses

The Confucius Institute USFQ offers preparation courses for proficiency exams for people who wish to reinforce their knowledge of Mandarin Chinese, learn techniques to take the exams, and become familiar with them. These courses are not regular and have an additional cost.

Registration

General Information

The classes are open to all public from the age of 13, without age limit.

To complete the registration, the following steps must be followed:

  • Complete the online registration form through this link
  • Print the application for admission, sign and attach a photo.
  • Attach a photocopy of your id or passport.
  • Download the Telegram App for classes.
  • Get the HSK book depending on the module you are in.

Students with Chinese language skills will be able to take a proficiency test to determine their placement based on their language level.

Fees

Students entering the Confucius Institute USFQ for the first time must pay the following fees:

Item
Cost
Module I * Virtual
USD 170.00
Registration (one-time)
USD 55.00
TOTAL
USD 225.00

 

Item
Cost
Module I * Face-to-face
USD 190.00
Registration (one-time)
USD 55.00
TOTAL
USD 245.00

* 30% will be applied for students who present a valid student card and the elderly.

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Referential calendar. Subject to modifications.

* From the Basic Level Module II, only USD 170 per module will be paid if it is virtual and USD 190 per module if it is face-to-face.

Scholarships and Camps in China

General Information

In order to encourage learning the study of the Chinese language and promote the teaching of the Chinese language at an international level, the Center for Language, Education and Cooperation (CLEC) Foundation offers each year a series of scholarships for the improvement of the Mandarin Chinese language, for research, undergraduate, master's and doctoral scholarships, for regular students and for local IC USFQ teachers.

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To this date, IC USFQ has sent nearly 400 students to China to study the language and culture of that ancient country.

Types of scholarship

First Category: Scholarships for Teachers of Mandarin Chinese

  • Scholarships for the doctorate in international teaching of Chinese
  • Scholarships for the master's degree in international teaching of Chinese
  • Scholarships for undergraduate international teaching of Chinese
  • Scholarships for one academic year for improvement and research
  • Scholarships for an academic semester for improvement and research
  • Four-week fellowships for further training and research

The second category: co-supervised training

For more information on this type of scholarship, check the official website of the Chinese as a Foreign Language Teacher Training Scholarships.

The Third Category: Online Scholarships

  • Scholarships for one academic year online for improvement and research
  • Scholarships for one academic semester online for improvement and research
  • Specific online seminars

For more information on available scholarships, requirements and application dates, please review the Guide to apply for Mandarin Chinese as a Foreign Language Teacher Training Scholarships 2023.

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HSKK/HSKK Chinese Proficiency Test

HSK Chinese Proficiency Written Exam

The HSK written exam is an international assessment that measures the level of knowledge and command of the Mandarin Chinese language. Here is a brief description of the different levels of the HSK written exam:

  • HSK (Level 1)
    Understands and uses elementary Chinese phrases and words, satisfies specific communication needs. In the subjects to be evaluated, the Pinyin or Chinese phonetic alphabet is used. For this level the student is expected to know 150 words.
  • HSK (Level 2)
    Uses the language in everyday matters, whose familiarity allows you to exchange your ideas in a simple and direct way. In the subjects to be evaluated, the Pinyin or Chinese phonetic alphabet is used. For this level the student is expected to know 300 words.
  • HSK (Level 3)
    Develop abilities and skills to communicate in work, academic and social situations, can face situations and difficulties that arise in the field of oral and written communication. In the subjects to be evaluated, the Pinyin or Chinese phonetic alphabet is no longer used, all the written evaluation has Chinese characters. For this level the student is expected to know 600 words.
  • HSK (Level 4)
    Communicates in a variety of circumstances and has conversations fluently with native speakers or others who are fluent in Mandarin Chinese. For this level the student is expected to know 1200 words.
  • HSK (Level 5)
    Reads Chinese newspapers and magazines without much difficulty, understands and interacts with Chinese radio and television shows, can participate in debates and communicates satisfactorily. For this level the student is expected to know 2500 words.
  • HSK (Level 6)
    Understands, listens and reads news in Mandarin Chinese very well, expresses themselves fluently orally and in writing with very good results. For this level the student is expected to know 5000 words.

The Confucius Institute USFQ in Quito and its office in Guayaquil offer the possibility of taking the six levels of the HSK (written) exam every year, generally two calls are made.

Requirements to take the exam:

  • Photocopy of identity card or passport

HSKK Chinese Proficiency Oral Exam

The HSKK oral exam is an international assessment that measures the level of knowledge and command of the Mandarin Chinese language. Here is a brief description of the different levels of the HSK written exam:

  • HSKK (Initial)
    Understands and expresses himself orally in Mandarin Chinese on everyday matters that are familiar to him, that is, satisfies basic communication needs.
  • HSKK (Intermediate)
    Understands and communicates relatively fluently in Mandarin Chinese with native Chinese speakers.
  • HSKK (Advanced)
    Understands and expresses their own opinions fluently in Mandarin Chinese.

The Confucius Institute USFQ in Quito and its office in Guayaquil offer the possibility of taking the six levels of the HSKK (oral) exam every year, generally two times per year.

Requirements to take the exam:

  • Photocopy of identity card or passport

Online registration for HSK and HSKK exams

Registration to take the different levels of the HSK and HSKK exam must be done through the following link: http://www.chinesetest.cn/index.do. Participants are reminded that they must upload an updated photograph with a white background, since the absence of it would limit the possibility of accessing this evaluation.

Registration Requirements

  • Active email account
  • Updated passport size photograph with the following characteristics:
    • Format: JPG
    • Dimension: 180x240 (pixels)
    • File size: Less than 100 Kb
    • Background: white

 

Items and Fees

HSK Written Exam

Item
Cost
HSK 1
US$ 40
HSK 2
US$ 60
HSK 3 and HSKK primary
US$ 140
HSK 4 and HSKK intermediate
US$ 180
HSK 5 and HSKK advanced
US$ 220
HSK 6 and HSKK advanced
US$ 240

Online HSK written test

Item
Cost
HSK 1
US$ 52
HSK 2
US$ 78
HSK 3 and HSKK primary
US$ 182
HSK 4 and HSKK intermediate
US$ 234
HSK 5 and HSKK advanced
US$ 286
HSK 6 and HSKK advanced
US$ 312

Face-to-face HSKK oral test only

Item
Cost
Beginner
US$ 60
Intermediate
US$ 80
Advanced
US$ 100

Online HSKK oral test only

Item
Cost
Beginner
US$ 78
Intermediate
US$ 104
Advanced
US$ 130

HSK/HSKK Dates for 2024

Exam day
Exam date
Maximum registration date
Modality
City
Saturday
16-Mar-24
18-feb-24
Face
Guayaquil
Saturday
25-may-24
07-may-24
Online
Ecuador
Sunday
08-sep-24
12-ago-24
Face
Guayaquil
Sunday
08-dec-24
11-nov-24
Face
Quito

Referential calendar. Subject to modifications.

* Non-Refund Clause: Payments made for HSK or YCT exams are non-refundable under any circumstances. By registering for the exam and making the corresponding payment, the participant accepts this non-refundable condition.

Our Team

CI USFQ Administrative Team

 

CI USFQ Academic Team

 

Confucio - Zhang-Hao

Zhang Hao

Co-director

Zhang Hao studied English language and literature at Northeast Normal University. Since 2001, she has been an associate professor at the School of Foreign Languages of the Petroleum University of China in Beijing (UPC-BJ). She was a visiting teacher at the University of Cambridge, she also served as a teacher of Mandarin Chinese at the Confucius Institute of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (IC USFQ) between 2013 and 2016. Zhang Hao co-edited two dictionaries and two textbooks, and has with multiple posts. Her research interests include translation between English and Mandarin Chinese, translation theory and practice, English literature, teaching English as a foreign language, and teaching Mandarin Chinese as a foreign language.

Confucio - Zhou-Dashuang

Zhou Dashuang

Teacher

Zhou Dashuang obtained his bachelor's degree in teaching Chinese as a foreign language from GuiZhou Normal University. In addition, he has a master's degree in teaching Chinese as a foreign language from Si Chuan International Studies University. He was a teacher of Mandarin Chinese in Thailand and Boliva, since 2021 he joined the IC USFQ team of teachers.

Confucio - Meng-Chunlei

Meng Chunlei

Teacher

Meng Chunlei has a bachelor's degree in teaching Mandarin Chinese as a foreign language from Han Dan College. She also has a master's degree from Beijing University of Language and Culture in teaching Chinese as a foreign language. He was a Mandarin Chinese teacher in Thailand and Bolivia. He has been a teacher at IC USFQ since 2018.

Confucio -Duan-Xuemei

Duan Xuemei

Teacher

Duan Xuemei has a BA in Vietnamese Linguistics from Guanxi University for Nationalities and an MA in Teaching Mandarin Chinese as a Foreign Language from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. She was a Mandarin Chinese teacher in the Philippines and Cape Verde, she has been a teacher at IC USFQ since 2018.

yu-fanyu

Yu Fanyu

Profesora

Yu Fanyu obtuvo su licenciatura de la Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnología de la Ciudad de la Universidad de Chongqing, con especialización en ingeniería. Tiene una maestría de la Universidad de Estudios Internacionales de Sichuan en la enseñanza del chino como lengua extranjera. Yu Fanyu trabajó en el Instituto Confucio de la Universidad de Bulgaria durante dos años. Ella puede tocar el instrumento tradicional chino, llamado pipa, en el décimo nivel. Yu Fanyu se unió al equipo IC USFQ en 2023.

bi-yan

Bi Yan

Profesora

Bi Yan tiene una licenciatura y una maestría de la Universidad Normal de Harbin en enseñanza de chino como lengua extranjera. Trabajó en Londres durante cuatro años como profesora de chino mandarín. Bi Yan se unió al equipo de profesores de IC USFQ en 2023.

zhou-maoqiong

Zhou Maoqiong

Profesora

Zhou Maoqiong obtuvo su licenciatura en inglés de la Universidad de Yibin. Tiene una maestría en enseñanza de chino como lengua extranjera de la Universidad de Southwest. Zhou Maoqiong fue profesora de chino mandarín en Tailandia, también fue profesora universitaria de lengua y literatura china. Se unió al equipo del IC USFQ en 2023.

li-niuniu

Li Niuniu

Profesora

Li Niuniu tiene una licenciatura en inglés de la Universidad de Aeronáutica de Zhengzhou. Fue profesora de chino mandarín en Tanzania. Además, ha impartido cursos de inglés en una escuela de formación privada en China. Se unió al equipo de profesores de IC USFQ en 2023.

Cultural agenda

Every year the IC USFQ organizes different cultural activities in order to promote the understanding of this ancient culture. Many of the traditional Chinese celebrations vary in date each year, because they follow a lunar calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar that governs us in Ecuador. We invite you to review our cultural agenda to learn more about the Chinese festivities and about other cultural initiatives that we organize this year:

  • Chinese New Year (known as the Spring Festival) - Tuesday, February 1, 2022
  • Lantern Festival (known as Lantern Festival) - Tuesday, February 15, 2022
  • Dragon Boat Festival (Intangible Heritage of Humanity) - Friday, June 3, 2022
  • Mid-Autumn Festival (known as Mooncake Festival) - Saturday, September 10, 2022
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