Confucius Institute

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WHY A CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE AT the ESCE ?

Since 1986, ESCE has developed several partnerships with Chinese universities, especially the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing. Today, more than 1000 students from France and China have participated in these joint programs. ESCE continues its exchanges with prestigious universities in China.

In 2024, the ESCE opened a Confucius Institute with Shandong University of Finance and Economics (SDUFE) in its Cœur Défense Campus.

The Confucius Institute at the ESCE marks a new step in promoting the Chinese language and culture among students, with the ambition of becoming a true cultural platform that allows students to stand out in intercultural business communication.

What is the Confucius institute ?

The Confucius Institute at the ESCE is a non-profit institution whose mission is to develop relations between France and China by providing dedicated quality educational resources and services. The ambition is to promote the Chinese language and culture and to develop business relationships. There are currently 18 Confucius Institutes in France.

In a world increasingly oriented towards Asia, particularly China, it is important to strengthen students’ acculturation. With the Confucius Institute, the ESCE aims to intensify its academic exchanges with Chinese universities focused on international business and finance.

Missions & Objectives

With its three supervisors, including two dedicated staff members, the Confucius Institute at the ESCE is already planning to welcome students of Chinese language under excellent conditions on campus, notably by providing a friendly exchange space and a library.

Through numerous cultural events and workshops, it also helps to introduce Chinese culture:

Shows, exhibitions, conferences
Calligraphy and painting classes
Kung Fu and Tai Chi classes
Cultural trips

It is also a way to perfect one’s mastery of the Chinese language and culture with the offer of suitable courses and training. Additionally, the ESCE is an authorized examination center for HSK and BCT certifications.

Find out more about the Confucius Institute

3 fundamental objectives of the confucius institute

Development of the Chinese language

Promoting Chinese culture

Encouraging connections with China in various fields (educational, institutional, etc.)

Courses & certifications

We offer a range of Chinese language and culture courses for all interested students. The courses are held at the Confucius Institute of ESCE on the Paris La Défense Campus.

All students are welcome !

Chinese courses

Level A1 / Beginners

The goal is to master the basics of spoken and written Chinese: mastering 150 words and basic expressions, pronunciation and intonation, basic sentence structures, and simple reading.

The courses are based on real-life topics with role-playing and skits to facilitate exchanges.

Level A2 / Intermediate

The aim is to consolidate basic knowledge and go further by expressing oneself more fluently, as well as facilitating communication in a professional environment: expanding vocabulary with additional words, mastering the pinyin phonetic transcription system, improving pronunciation and oral expression to be well understood, especially in professional discussions, reading and understanding short and familiar texts from daily life, grasping the main information.

The learning focuses on practical aspects and communication while developing the overall linguistic competence of the learners.

Kung Fu & tai-chi classes

Kung Fu
Le Kung Fu is an ancient martial art, created in China over 2000 years ago to strengthen the body and mind. Known for its speed, flexibility, precision, and power, traditional Kung Fu, which encompasses hundreds of styles, originates from the famous Shaolin Temple and other schools where Buddhist monks practiced it bare-handed or with weapons to defend themselves from bandits and maintain good health.

Although it is a combat art, Kung Fu advocates virtue and peace, not aggression or violence. This has been the common value upheld by martial artists from generation to generation. Today, it has become both a sport and a means of self-defense.

Tai-Chi
Derived from martial arts, Tai-Chi is a physical discipline that is part of the energetic exercises of traditional Chinese medicine. It consists of a series of continuous and circular movements executed slowly and precisely in a predetermined order.

In Tai-Chi, it is essential to learn to slow down. Indeed, it is the extreme slowness of execution that allows one to detect blockages and feel the energy flow. Additionally, the awareness of the slow and precise transfer of body weight from one leg to the other and the alternating movement of arms and legs perfectly embodies the Chinese philosophy based on the dynamic balance of Yin and Yang forces. Many studies report the benefits of practicing Tai-Chi for various ailments.

Painting & calligraphy classes

Chinese calligraphy and painting are very ancient traditional arts that aim, beyond a simple aesthetic pursuit, to reflect the natural harmony of the universe. The course offers to discover the essential materials of this art and to learn how to create a poetic artistic world while exploring the foundations of Chinese culture and aesthetics. Discovering the materials and ink shades, learning rendering and ink control techniques, working on texture, engraving, and ink printing are at the heart of these courses.

HSK & BCT Certifications

The HSK

The HSK, a Chinese language test designed under the authority of the Ministry of Education of China, is the only objective international evaluation of Chinese language proficiency. It includes listening, reading, and writing tests.

It consists of six levels, HSK 6 being the highest level for candidates who can easily understand what they hear or read in Chinese and express their opinions fluently in Chinese, both orally and in writing.

This test aims to become, like the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the international standard for evaluating Chinese language proficiency. It can notably allow students to be directly admitted to a Chinese university with HSK 4. It also allows for obtaining a scholarship in China.

The BCT (Business Chinese Test)

The BCT (Business Chinese Test) aims to assess candidates’ ability to use Chinese in their professional lives. Internationally recognized, the BCT is a reference for companies in recruiting, selecting, organizing, and promoting employees in the practice of business Chinese. The BCT is available at two levels.

How to register ?
Visit the website www.chinesetest.cn and register online.
Pour plus d’information, contacter Professor XIE : lxie-esce@esce.fr

When and where are the next exam sessions ?
The exams take place directly on the Cœur Défense Campus at the Confucius Institute of ESCE.

The next sessions will be held :
- On November 16, 2024, for HSK & BCT
- In April, May, and November 2025 for HSK
- In April and November 2025 for BCT

Find out more about the tests

Official launch of the Institute

On 6 December 2024, ESCE celebrated the launch of its brand new Confucius Institute at a ceremony attended by a number of prestigious personalities. Among them were Mr Lu Shaye, Chinese Ambassador to France, Mr Jacques Kossowski, Mayor of Courbevoie, and Mr Nicolas Idier, Inspector General for Education, Sport and Research.

This event symbolises a key stage in the strengthening of academic and cultural links between China and France. Christophe Boisseau, Chief Executive Officer of ESCE, emphasised the strategic importance of this partnership with the Shandong University of Finance and Economics (SDUFE), which is in line with the School’s international vision and the development of its global exchanges.

The ESCE’s Confucius Institute offers Chinese language courses and certifications, organises cultural events and provides training tailored to companies. Its aim: to promote the Chinese language and culture while strengthening mutual understanding between the two countries.