30 Public Servants Complete Basic Mandarin Course

21/10/2024

BY Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

The Mandarin course was a collaboration between the Embassy of the Republic of China
(Taiwan) and the Ministry of Public Service, as well as TaiwanICDF, and aimed to enhance the
civil servants’ communication capability and promote cultural exchanges.
A certificate ceremony was held on Friday, October 4, 2024, at the Public Service Training
Division in Union, Castries, where participants made presentations in Mandarin through dialogue
and song.

H.E. Peter Chia-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, praised Mr. Andres Chi,
Mandarin Teacher at the Taiwan Technical Mission, who was responsible for the course’s design
and instruction.
Ambassador Chen also highlighted the achievements of one of the participants in particular, Ms.
Ava Marius, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, who passed the Test of Chinese as a Foreign
Language (TOCFL) in August with very high scores. In congratulating all the participants, he
encouraged them to emulate Ms. Marius’s example.
“I believe that after completing this course, all of you can also challenge the TOCFL to test your
learning progress,” said Ambassador Chen. “This year marks the third time the TOCFL exam is
being held in Saint Lucia, with a total of 85 candidates registered. I hope to see all of you obtain
the exam certificates next year.”
Ambassador Chen added that, starting this semester, Taiwan has dispatched a third Mandarin
teacher to Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School, thereby allowing students in the
southern part of Saint Lucia to also have the opportunity to learn Mandarin.
“Therefore, if you have children or friends’ children attending Vieux Fort Comprehensive
Secondary School (VFCSS), St. Joseph’s Convent (SJC), St. Mary’s College (SMC), or Sir
Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC), they have the opportunity to start learning
Mandarin earlier, which will open up more possibilities for their future,” Ambassador Chen said.
Ambassador Chen thanked Hon. Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte, Minister for the Public Service,
Labour and Gender Affairs, for her great leadership, and her team for their staunch support
towards making the Mandarin course successful. In recognizing that civil servants are the
backbone of every Government, he said Taiwan is proud to continue supporting the Mandarin
course and other training initiatives for public servants in Saint Lucia.
Meanwhile, Ms. Albertha St. Catherine, Acting Director of the Department of Public Service
Training Division, congratulated the participants, noting that learning a new language, especially
Mandarin, is no easy accomplishment. She said that language -- aside from being a means of
communication -- is also bridge that connects cultures, ideas and people.
“Your proficiency in Mandarin opens doors to outstanding collaboration in an increasingly
globalized world,” St. Catherine told the participants. “You are now equipped to engage in
meaningful dialogue to foster relationships and to promote mutual understanding in diverse
settings.”
She added: “The skills and language you have gained through your studies will serve you very
well in your future endeavours. Whether you pursue careers in diplomacy, business, education or
public service, each of you has the potential to make a significant impact. I encourage you to
leverage your language skills to inspire change and innovation in your respective communities.”
St. Catherine also praised Mandarin Teacher Mr. Andres Chi for fostering a nurturing and
supportive learning environment for the participants.

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