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 | 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.
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 * | USD 209.50 |
| Registration (one time) | USD 55.00 |
| Material (lasts five modules) ** | USD 16.00 |
| TOTAL: | USD 280.50 |
* From Basic Level module II, only the value of USD 209.50 per module will be paid.
** Since 2020, the value for class material is not being charged. This provision is subject to change.
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.
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 2022. (upload the respective file provided by the IC USFQ here)
HSKK/HSKK Chinese Proficiency Test
NOTE: As of the year 2022, by order of the Chinese Testing International center (the institution that accredits us to take the HSK/HSKK exams), all students who take the HSK 3 exams and onwards must also take the corresponding HSKK oral exam.
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$ 52 |
| HSK 2 | US$ 78 |
| 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 |
HSKK oral exam
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Beginner | US$ 78 |
| Intermediate | US$ 104 |
| Advanced | US$ 130 |
Our Team
CI USFQ Administrative Team
Kiara Guerra
Director
Kiara has a degree in international relations and a master's degree in public policy. In 2012, she won a Confucius Institute USFQ scholarship to continue her Mandarin Chinese studies in Beijing at the Capital University of Economics and Business (CUEB). She is in charge of the general administrative and operational management of IC USFQ, as well as coordinating and co-organizing academic and cultural activities.
Mario Cisneros
Administrative Assistant
Mario is a multimedia animator, in charge of social media management and customer service, in addition, he provides support in the organization of HSK/HSKK exams and advises students in their applications for scholarships in China. She has been working at IC USFQ since 2011.
Inner Brice
Academic coordinator
Inner studied business administration, is in charge of responding to the concerns, complaints, suggestions and requirements of students and parents, coordinates and plans the Mandarin Chinese classes of each cycle, provides support in the organization of cultural activities. He has been working at the IC USFQ office in Guayaquil for five years.
Ericka Jiménez
Financial Assistant
Ericka studied commercial engineering and is in charge of the registration and invoicing process for students. She also provides support in the preparation of financial reports. She has been working at the IC USFQ Guayaquil office for more than three years.
CI USFQ Academic Team
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.
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.
Zhao Ling
Teacher
Zhao Ling got her bachelor's degree in teaching English as a foreign language from Dalian University, she also has a bachelor's degree in English from the Open University of China. She has taught English as a foreign language in various schools and colleges in China. In addition, she is an expert in the tea ceremony, she was a teacher of the traditional Chinese tea ceremony at the Center for Educational Research. Since 2021, she has joined the IC USFQ faculty team.
Li Xinyi
Teacher
Li Xinyi has a bachelor's degree in teaching Chinese as a second language from Hebei Normal University, she also has a master's degree in language teaching from the University of Edinburgh. She has been teaching Chinese as a foreign language for 6 years in Ecuador and in the United Kingdom, applying different teaching strategies in the learning process. She has been a teacher at IC USFQ since 2018.
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.
Zhang Li
Teacher
Zhang Li received his Bachelor of Arts from Jiaotong University and his Master of Arts from Jiaotong University. He has extensive experience as a singing and dance teacher, and has staged several plays in schools and colleges in China. He has been a teacher at IC USFQ since 2018.
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.
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
