By Our Reporter
The third season of Hello Chinese, a television programme promoting Chinese-language learning and cultural exchange across Africa, has concluded after 40 consecutive weeks on air, reinforcing efforts to deepen China-Africa relations through people-to-people exchanges.
Jointly produced by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China’s Ministry of Education and StarTimes, the programme aligns with the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, using language education, cultural storytelling and personal experiences to foster mutual understanding between Chinese and African communities.
The third season comprised 160 episodes, with a total running time exceeding 1,600 minutes. Its content combined practical Chinese-language lessons with documentaries, interviews and cultural features exploring the experiences of people whose lives have been shaped by Chinese-language learning and China-Africa engagement.
The programme adopted immersive, real-life teaching scenarios to help viewers learn practical vocabulary and everyday expressions, catering to learners at different proficiency levels and encouraging them to apply their knowledge in daily life.
It also explored the growth of Chinese-language education across Africa by visiting Confucius Institutes and showcasing their teaching approaches, locally adapted curricula and cultural activities.
Featured events included the Chinese Bridge competition and International Chinese Language Day, highlighting the expanding role of Chinese-language education in African communities.
Beyond classroom learning, Hello Chinese S3 featured interviews with guests from different sectors in China and Africa, offering insights into their professional and personal experiences. Documentary-style storytelling also profiled 20 Chinese and African individuals whose connections with the Chinese language have influenced their lives, illustrating how language can foster relationships across cultural boundaries.
Expanded Digital Reach
StarTimes expanded the programme’s accessibility through television and digital platforms, enabling audiences to engage with its content beyond scheduled broadcasts.
The season aired on three channels: ST Sino Drama, ST Guide E and ST Zone. Viewers could also access episodes on demand through a dedicated section on the StarTimes ON mobile application, while short videos were distributed through Facebook and TikTok.
The multi-platform approach was designed to reach audiences across different viewing habits, allowing learners to revisit lessons and access cultural features at their convenience.
The programme’s earlier seasons had reached more than 160 million television households, with cumulative coverage exceeding 800 million viewers, according to the programme’s reported figures. Mobile viewership for the first two seasons surpassed 30 million views.
These figures reflect the potential of television and digital platforms to support language learning and cultural engagement across geographically diverse audiences.
Language at the Centre of China-Africa Relations
The conclusion of the third season comes as China and African countries place renewed emphasis on people-to-people exchanges in 2026.
Through language instruction, cultural showcases and personal stories, Hello Chinese seeks to make Chinese language and culture more accessible to African audiences while creating opportunities for dialogue and mutual learning.
The programme’s approach reflects the broader role of language education in international relations, where communication can help communities understand one another’s traditions, experiences and perspectives.
As China-Africa exchanges continue, the programme is expected to build on its existing audience and digital presence to reach more learners and promote sustained cultural engagement.
By combining practical lessons with real-life experiences, Hello Chinese has positioned language learning as more than an educational exercise, presenting it as a means of building connections and strengthening friendship between China and Africa.