Sino-Greek Collaboration: Bridging Hearts and Minds Through Chinese Language

One day in February 2020, 50-year-old Roula Tsokalidou nervously took her seat at the back of a Chinese language class at the Confucius Institute of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

"I remember everything so clearly," recalled the institute's Greek director. "It was my first step into the world of Chinese. I was so excited!"

She repeated phrases like "What time is it?" in Chinese with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.

Just a few years later, Tsokalidou would deliver her first full academic speech in Chinese. In July 2025, at a conference in Naples, Italy, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the European Association of Chinese Teaching, nearly 200 experts watched her confident presentation.

"I was both thrilled and nervous," she said.

For Tsokalidou, learning Chinese at 50 was not just a personal achievement; it was a testament to dedication, passion and the transformative power of language.

Becoming a beginner again

Tsokalidou describes her journey into Chinese as "a romance born of duty." In late 2018, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki partnered with Shanghai International Studies University to establish Greece's second Confucius Institute. As a linguistics professor, she was asked to lead it.

"How can I do it? I don't speak Chinese. I cannot be the director of an institute promoting Chinese culture and language without speaking the language," she remembers thinking.

University leaders encouraged her: "If you can speak Arabic and English and other languages, you can also learn Chinese." Embracing the challenge, Tsokalidou accepted the role and began learning Chinese from scratch.

When classes were launched in early 2020, she enrolled as a student. "The institute had 109 students. I became the 110th," she laughed. Tsokalidou immersed herself fully, memorizing vocabulary, practicing pronunciation, and exploring the beauty of Chinese characters.

"The deeper I got, the more I fell in love with the language," she said.

Her teacher warned that mastery might take a decade. Five years later, Tsokalidou nodded in agreement. "Chinese is genuinely difficult and requires long-term dedication," she noted.

Today, she speaks comfortably, but her notebooks remain close companions. "I won't leave the house without my Chinese notebook," she said, showing a small, worn book filled with years of diligent study.

Her passion extends beyond textbooks. She listens to Chinese music, writes original poetry, and even talks to herself in Chinese. "A language is like a person. It can influence your life," she reflected. "Chinese is the most precious gift in my life."

The educator: cultivating a Confucius Institute

While mastering Chinese, Tsokalidou also shaped the Confucius Institute. From its inception, she has been both administrator and student, modeling dedication and curiosity.

Under her guidance, the institute has grown into a vibrant hub of language and culture. Students created an original song, "My Day," which won first prize at the 2022 CI Moments Global Short Video Collection. The teaching team published a trilingual beginner's textbook, "Introduction to the World of the Chinese Language" (2022), and later a children's book, "Tell Me a Story from China" (2024).

In 2023, the institute hosted the Greek International Chinese Conference, drawing scholars from over 20 countries and regions. A collaboration with Zhejiang A&F University brought a Chinese tea culture exhibition to Thessaloniki in 2025, letting locals experience tea art firsthand.

For Tsokalidou, these successes hinge on trust and collaboration. She works closely with her partner, Chinese director Wang Shaodi, ensuring teachers feel supported and at home. "They are far from their hometown. I want them to be happy here," she observed.

A particularly heartwarming story involves her first Chinese teacher: In 2020, he taught Tsokalidou; three years later, he became her PhD student. Roles reversed, the experience became a symbol of Sino-Greek exchange.

Philosophy and cultural bridges

Tsokalidou weaves philosophy into teaching. She sees Chinese philosophy's moral practice and Greek philosophy's rational pursuit as complementary paths guiding individuals toward better versions of themselves.

"Be better as you can," she tells students, encouraging them to explore potential through Confucian and Aristotelian principles alike.

Her own achievements reflect this. She delivered a full academic speech in Chinese five years ahead of her 10-year goal and was recently shortlisted for China's Orchid Award, recognizing foreigners dedicated to cultural exchange.

Tsokalidou also observes a growing inerest in Greece in China. "More Greek universities want to collaborate, more Greek people want to travel to China," she noted. "Language is the key to unlocking these meaningful connections."

Her first visit to China in 2023 left a lasting impression. Using the idiom "le bu si shu" (乐不思蜀) – so joyful that one forgets home – she describes her immersion in Chinese culture. "I was truly that happy."

Today, Tsokalidou continues to serve as a cultural bridge, creating opportunities for Greek youth to learn Chinese, study in China, and experience its culture firsthand.

"I wish to use Chinese education as a key to open a 'window to the soul' for more Greek youth," she said "This belief is deeply engraved in my heart and will always be with me."

(The authors are students at the School of Journalism and Communication, Shanghai International Studies University. The article is one of the outcomes of the Backpack Reporting Project supported by the school.)