Local Learner Wins Free Mandarin Course at Cardiff University

Cardiff University’s Confucius Institute is celebrating the success of competition winner Monika Hennemann, who recently completed a free course in Mandarin Chinese.

Monika, who won her place through a prize draw, said the experience has been hugely rewarding:

“I really enjoyed the course – it was a fantastic introduction to Mandarin and Chinese culture. The tutors made learning fun and approachable, and I feel proud of the progress I’ve made. I would encourage anyone who has ever thought about learning a new language to sign up – Cardiff University’s courses are a great way to start.”

Wining the prize draw was a wonderful surprise. It finally gave me no excuse not to refresh my Mandarin–something that had been on my list for a while.  It  was especially stimulating to study in a class with a wide range of classmates, and with an enthusiastic, energetic and knowledgeable native speaker of the language. Everything that I learned (and my teacher’s travel tips!) came in very handy during my 1-month trip to China just after the course.  I was proud that taxi drivers could understand at least a little of what I was saying.  My favourite moment was when the cute daughter of a street merchant decided to help me with my pronunciation! Although I’m  a musician, the tones in Mandarin still remain a challenge for me, but I’m looking forward to tackling these once more in future courses.”  

Learning a new language not only builds communication skills but also boosts cultural awareness, creativity, and career opportunities. Mandarin, spoken by over a billion people worldwide, is increasingly valued in business, education, and international exchange.

Professor Guoxiang Xia, Academic Director of the Cardiff Confucius Institute, added:

“We are delighted to see Monika enjoy further steps in Mandarin. Language learning opens doors to new opportunities and helps build bridges between cultures. We hope her story will inspire others in the community to begin their own language journey with us.”

Cardiff University offers a wide range of part-time courses for adults at all levels, including beginner to advanced Mandarin. The majority of courses start in the last week of September so now is the perfect time to enrol!