Confucius Institute

The Confucius Institute is an international educational organization, which teaches the Chinese language and spreads the ancient Chinese culture, ensuring compliance with the highest standards of pedagogical and educational quality. Currently, there are more than 380 Confucius Institutes in the world, in more than 105 countries, with headquarters in Beijing.

The institute offers Chinese language and culture study programs, generating a cultural knowledge of the Eastern environment, which enhances and develops the skills to participate and develop in China's social and, therefore, commercial environment.

In Ecuador, USFQ's Confucius Institute is the only one of its kind and it functions, like the rest of the institutes, with the support of the International Office of the Mandarin Chinese Language, called Hanban. It currently has more than 200 students spread across its headquarters at the Cumbayá Campus and its Guayaquil Extension.

About Us

The Confucius Institute is a non-profit institution dedicated to promoting the Chinese language and culture in Ecuador. Classes are open to everyone from 7 years old and up, with no age limit.

Mission: To promote the Chinese language and culture in Ecuador, taking into account what China represents to the World.

Vision: To become the guiding center as a Confucius Institute in the study of Chinese language and culture throughout South America.

Values:

Efficiency
Professionalism
Quality
Friendliness
Teamwork
Responsibility
Harmony

Study Programs

General Information

USFQ's Confucius Institute offers a study program that covers both the language and the Chinese culture where students develop skills to function socially and commercially with China.

The classes are led by Chinese professors and USFQ professors, with Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.Ds, obtained from the Beijing University of Languages and Culture and the University of Beijing. USFQ is the only university in the country with an A rating, recognized by SENESCYT and the Ministry of Higher Education (MES).

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

Levels and Modules

En el Instituto Confucio hemos divido nuestra malla académica en 5 niveles de 240 horas clase, cada nivel tiene cinco módulos.

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 1	I	II	III	IV	V
Level V: Advanced 2	VI	VII	VIII	IX	X

Location Testing

Students who have knowledge of the Chinese language must take a written and oral proficiency test to determine their location according to their knowledge of Chinese, for this they must contact the Institute and confirm a date to take both the oral and written tests.

Regular and Saturday courses

At the Confucius Institute at the USFQ, the year is divided into two regular periods of four months each, with two modules totaling 96 hours, including the months of September to December and January to May, with these two periods adding up to a total of 192 hours. Our third period or summer course is from May to July and has a 48-hour module; Students who take the three academic periods study a total of 240 hours.

Classes are taught at two times: Monday through Thursday with a duration of one and a half hours each, for a total of six hours per week, and Saturdays for a total of 4 hours.

The courses are from Monday through Thursday, with Saturday modules from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., in-person classes can also be taught depending on the student's availability.

Special Courses

One-on-one classes (In-Person)

In the event that the student requires leveling classes or simply wishes to take individual classes, the USFQ Confucius Institute offers classes tailored to their specific needs based on the availability of the student and the teacher.

Business Classes

Given the current importance of China and its different types of commercial relations with Ecuador, classes are offered for companies with 40 class hours per month, according to the availability of the company and the teacher, covering daily and commercial topics.

HSK Preparation Courses

We offer HSK preparation courses for candidates who wish to reinforce their knowledge of the Chinese language: the objective is to familiarize them with the HSK and HSKK exams.

The courses are developed with three weekly meetings of one hour and thirty minutes over seven weeks, their methodology is participatory and the weaknesses of the candidates are identified individually for their subsequent correction.

Vacation Camp

The USFQ Confucius Institute conducts the "Chinese Summer Camp" every summer. This is an educational program that allows familiarization with the Chinese language and culture, aimed at children from 7 to 14 years old.

During three weeks in the Institute's facilities, the participants live an extraordinary experience between games and didactic activities in order to make learn about different aspects of the culture of distant China.

Various activities, including Chinese calligraphy, traditional games, crafts such as cutting paper, making kites, and masks are combined with learning everyday words (the days of the week, numbers, or animals are taught through games and songs), allowing for learning the language and having fun at the same time.

The workshops are led by native speakers and always have the company of scholars from the Institute to facilitate communication between the participants; the activities are carried out from Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

This includes:

Use of the Institute's facilities

Mid-morning brunch

Professors specialized in teaching

Personalized attention (1 monitor for every 10 children)

Daily visibility of activities through social networks (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)

For more information or registration, contact mcisnerosb@usfq.edu.ec, or call (02) 297 1700 ext 1463

Admissions Process

General Information

Classes are open to the public from the age of 7, with no age limit.

Chinese language classes will begin in September 2016 (date to be defined) from Monday to Thursday and Saturday. Students must enroll within the established deadlines. The process is the following:

Fill out the online application - Form: http://evaluaciones.usfq.edu.ec/InstitutoConfucio/registro.php
Print the application for admission, sign and attach a photo.
Bring a photocopy of the ID or passport.

Students with a knowledge of the Chinese language may take a proficiency test to determine their placement based on their language level. You can download the Internal Regulations of the Institute for students by clicking here..

Curriculum

Chinese language classes are held from Monday to Thursday with a duration of one and a half hours, for a total of six hours per week. The hours are flexible, from 07:00 to 21:00; Classes are also held on Saturdays from 08:00 to 12:00 in Quito, Cumbayá and Portoviejo, and from 09:00 to 13:00 in Guayaquil. Level I comprises five modules, each module lasts 48 hours-class. See the attached table.

Level 1		Hours
Module I		48 hours
Module II		48 hours
Module III		48 hours
Module IV		48 hours
Module V		48 hours
	TOTAL	240 hours

Confucius Institute students who follow their courses regularly will have the opportunity to travel to China to participate in intensive language courses for one month, and will be able to apply for a full scholarship at Chinese universities to study Chinese language and culture.

Costs

Students entering the USFQ Confucius Institute for the first time must cancel the following values:

Item	Cost
Module I	US $209.50
Registration (one time fee)	US $55.00
Material (lasts five modules)	US $16.00
TOTAL	US $280.50

* From the Basic Level Module II, only the value of 209.50 will be paid per module.

Certificates and Diplomas

Students who pass modules I and II will be issued a certificate of Chinese language study. Students who pass the five modules will be issued the CHINESE LANGUAGE LEVEL I certificate, with the respective number of hours of study. This will be maintained at subsequent levels based on your progress in your studies.

Students who obtain Level I will also be able to participate in the Chinese HSK proficiency exam, equivalent to the TOEFL in English. The diplomas provided by this exam are internationally recognized.

Scholarships and Camps in China

General information

In order to encourage the study of Chinese, USFQ's Confucius Institute, together with the Hanban International Office, send Ecuadorian students to scholarship projects and summer camps.

After studying Level I of Chinese Language (5 modules), equivalent to 240 hours, students will be able to take the HSK and HSKK proficiency exams in order to participate in the "Confucius Institute scholarships", to complement their studies of Chinese language and culture in the short, medium, and long term.

Over the past eight years, we are proud to have sent over 400 students to China to study the Chinese language and culture.

>> REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 2020 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

Scholarship Types

Language and Culture Scholarships

To promote the continued development of the Confucius Institute (Hanban), the general administration presents the Scholarship program for regular students and professors. According to the different types of programs, the scholarships are divided into four groups:

Four-week scholarship
Academic semester scholarship
Academic Year Scholarship
Scholarship for Master's in Teaching Chinese and other languages

Applicants cannot be Chinese citizens and must be between 16 years (for the four week scholarship) and 35 years of age and in good health.

+ Summer Camp 2012
+ Summer Camp 2015
+ Summer Camp 2016
+ Summer Camp 2017
+ Summer Camp 2018
+ Winter Camp 2018
+ Summer Camp 2019
+ Winter Camp 2019
+ Student Experience Scholarship Shanghai International Studies University (English)

Application and Evaluation

Scholarship Coverage

Scholarship winners are exempt from registration, pensions, basic school supplies, residence on campus, and will be provided with a one-time relocation grant, monthly allowances or out-of-pocket stipend, medical consultations and comprehensive insurance for foreign students in China. The monthly allocations are in the following amounts: 1,400.00 yuan for the Academic Year Scholarship and 1,700.00 yuan for the Master's students. The one-time relocation allowance is 1,500.00 yuan for a student who participates for more than one academic year.

Applications and Evaluations

From the date of issuance of the procedure for applications, applicants can enter the website http://cis.chinese.cn for Scholarships of the Confucius Institute, and create an individual account, fill out the application online, print and deliver it signed at the respective Institute along with additional documentation.

>> Quick guide for applying for Scholarships 2019

Application Documents

Applicants must submit their documentation according to the following instructions:

Confucius Institute Scholarship Application Form
Copy of Passport (page with photo)
Student Statement: stating your student background and a study plan in China. This must not be less than 200 words for the Four-Week Scholarship, a minimum of 800 words for the Academic One-Year Scholarship, and at least 1500 for the Master's.
A copy of the new HSK and HSKK Results Report.
Degree and report of notarized grades for the applicants to the One Academic Year and Master's Scholarships, subsequently the official Grades Reports sent by the college and/or university (in English) will be required.
Letter of recommendation. Applicants for the Master's Scholarship must submit two letters of recommendation from professors or associate professors (in Chinese or English).
Written commitment: that the Master's applicant will teach the Chinese Language for at least 5 years after graduation (print and sign it in Chinese).
Copy of the Prize Certificate obtained in the Chinese Bridge Proficiency Contest or related certificates issued by the organizers.

HSK and HSKK Chinese Proficiency Exams

Chinese HSK Written Proficiency Exam

The HSK written exam is an international assessment that measures the level of knowledge and command of the Chinese language; Its focus is to measure the communication capacity of people in different contexts such as work, academic or social. The levels that are measured in the HSK written exam are the following:

HSK (Level 1)
Understands and uses basic Chinese words and phrases, meets specific communication needs. In the subjects to be evaluated, the Pinyin or Chinese phonetic alphabet is still used.

HSK (Level 2)
Uses the language in everyday affairs whose familiarity allows them to exchange their ideas in a simple and direct way. In the subjects to be evaluated, the Pinyin or Chinese phonetic alphabet is still used.

HSK (Level 3)
Develops skills and abilities 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 not used, all the written evaluation is in Chinese characters.

HSK (Level 4)
Communicates in different circumstances and holds fluent conversations with native speakers or others who are fluent in the Chinese language. Mastery of certain aspects and nuances in different parts of the Chinese language.

HSK (Level 5)
Reads Chinese newspapers and magazines without much difficulty, understands and interacts with Chinese radio and television programs, can participate in discussions, and communicate successfully.

HSK (Level 6)
Understands, listens to, and reads news in the Chinese language very well, expresses themselves fluently orally and in writing with very good results.

The headquarters of USFQ's Confucius Institute and its extension in Guayaquil offers the possibility of taking the HSK (written) exams at the following levels:

HSK Exam List
HSK 1
	HSK 2
	HSK 3
	HSK 4
	HSK 5
	HSK 6

HSK Exam List
HSK 1	HSK 2	HSK 3	HSK 4	HSK 5	HSK 6

Requirements for taking the exam

Photocopy of ID
Photocopy of voter registration
Photocopy of passport

HSKK Chinese Oral Proficiency Exam

The HSK-K oral exam is an international assessment that measures the level of knowledge and command of the Chinese language; its focus is to measure the communication capacity of people in different contexts such as work, academic, or social. The levels that are measured in the HSKK oral exam are the following:

HSKK (Beginner)
Understands and expresses themselves orally in Chinese about everyday matters that are familiar to them: satisfies basic communication needs.

HSKK (intermediate)
Understands and communicates relatively fluently in the Chinese language with speakers whose native language is Chinese.

HSKK (Advanced)
Understands and expresses their own opinions fluently in the Chinese language.

The headquarters of USFQ's Confucius Institute and its extension in Guayaquil offers the possibility of taking the HSKK (oral) exams at the following levels:

HSKK Exam List
HSKK Beginner
	HSKK Intermediate
	HSKK Advanced

HSKK Exam List
HSKK Beginner	HSKK Intermediate	HSKK Advanced

Requirements for taking the exam

Photocopy of ID
Photocopy of voter registration
Photocopy of passport

Online registration for HSK and HSKK exams

Registration to take the different levels of the HSK and HSKK exam must be done at the following link http://www.chinesetest.cn/index.do. Participants are reminded that they must upload a photograph as their absence would limit the possibility of accessing this evaluation.

Registration Requirements

Active email account
Current passport size photo with the following characteristics:
- Format: JPG
- Size: 180x240 (pixels)
- File size: Smaller than 100kb

>> HSK AND HSKK EXAM REGISTRATION GUIDE

Preparation Courses

GROUP COURSES

ONE-ON-ONE COURSES

Cost of the group preparation course: US $104.75
Cost of the one-on-one preparation course: US $350.00

Items and Costs

HSK Written Exam
Level
	Cost
HSK 1
	US $40
HSK 2
	US $60
HSK 3
	US $80
HSK 4
	US $100
HSK 5
	US $120
HSK 6
	US $140

HSK Written Exam
Level	Cost
HSK 1	US $40
HSK 2	US $60
HSK 3	US $80
HSK 4	US $100
HSK 5	US $120
HSK 6	US $140

HSKK Oral Exam
Level
	Cost
Beginner
	US $60
Intermediate
	US $80
Advanced
	US $100

HSKK Oral Exam
Level	Cost
Beginner	US $60
Intermediate	US $80
Advanced	US $100

Contact Extensions

Cumbayá:
(02) 297 1700 Ext. 1463 / 098 458 4592 / mcisnerosb@usfq.edu.ec
Guayaquil:
(04) 602 6514 / 098 441 1978 / ibriceh@usfq.edu.ec

Our Facilities

Cumbayá Campus

The headquarters of the Confucius Institute at the USFQ, is located within USFQ, on its Cumbayá Campus. It is immersed in a liberal arts environment which allows students to develop their study of the Chinese Language in a privileged environment full of green spaces and with a spring weather.

Currently the CI USFQ Headquarters has more than 100 students who, apart from learning the language, share different activities that bring them closer to the Chinese culture.
An important space for students to meet is the library, where they have more than 500 volumes of books on literature, history and culture, as well as an important video library that will undoubtedly bring them closer to distant China at their disposal.

Chinese language courses are offered on regular and Saturday hours, as well as individual classes.

Cumbayá Campus
Campus Cumbayá USFQ, Edificio Casa Blanca. Calle Diego de Robles S/N y Pampite
(02) 297 1700 ext. 1463 / (098) 458 4592 / mcisnerosb@usfq.edu.ec

Guayaquil Extension

The Guayaquil Extension is located in the northern sector of the city, in the Kennedy citadel, Francisco de Orellana Avenue, the new financial center of the city, very close to important shopping centers, main banks and various state dependencies.

It has 3 classrooms, a reading room, a meeting room, a teachers' office, a large reception area and an auditorium with capacity for 80 people. 230 books and 70 DVDs can be found in the reading room.

This extension teaches Chinese language and culture classes such as calligraphy, taijiquan, cooking, cut paper and Beijing opera mask painting, commercial Chinese, Chinese for children, HSK preparation classes and private classes.

Guayaquil Extension
Avenida Francisco de Orellana, Edificio World Trade Center, Torre B, Piso 10, Oficina 1005
(04) 602 6515 / (04) 602 6514 / (098) 441 1978 / ibriceh@usfq.edu.ec