Chinese language to be taught to children in an Orthodox Church in Tver
25.12.2007 · Архив 2005-2009, Новости с мест
The church of the Nativity of Christ in Tver has formed a children’s class for studying the Chinese language in the current academic year.
The rector of the Church, Archpriest Alexander Shabanov, who is also chairman of the diocesan mission department, said in his interview with the Tver diocesan website that Russia is geographically a European and at the same time an Asian country and belongs to both East and West, but ‘Eastern’ elements are not adequately represented in the Russian education system. Children are taught their native language in secondary school, while his church offers a course of a completely different linguistic system, which helps to develop their intellect.
‘Such introduction to a different linguistic culture makes children to compare it with the culture of their own people. They begin to give more appreciation to their own language and tradition, especially the religious one’, he said. Besides, children will study calligraphy as part of their Chinese language course, which will help them to progress in orthography.
His church also offers a music class for children of various ages and an English language course. It also runs a volunteer club for scouts and a Sunday school for adults, which is the largest in Tver.
DECR Communication Service