At 33 years old, Percy Akuetteh from Ghana cuts quite a striking figure when he speaks in fluent Mandarin Chinese and even the local dialect when giving lectures or hanging out with his students at the Wenzhou-Kean University in east China's Zhejiang Province.
Akuetteh, whose Chinese name is Ai Pengda, came to Wenzhou Medical University to pursue his studies in clinical medicine in 2010. After his Phd graduation, he decided to stay in the city and became a bioscience teacher at Wenzhou-Kean University.
Akuetteh is now not only fluent in Putonghua, but can also speak the Wenzhou dialect with ease, even though he has only started learning one of the hardest dialects in China three years ago.
"I find the Wenzhou dialect very hard. Many other Chinese dialects I know of are somehow similar to Putonghua. So, I can guess what people are saying. However, the Wenzhou dialect is nothing like Putonghua," said Akuetteh.
Akuetteh's lectures are popular with the students due to his teaching approach.
"When he gives a lecture, he is meticulous and rigorous. But off the class, he is also quite a casual person. He offers very joyful and relaxing company. We find him not only a nice teacher, but also a good friend," said Gao Yunchong, a student of Wenzhou-Kean University.
"He is especially good at using role-play or debate to let students know various opinions from different people and scientists. I think it's a really good opportunity for scholars from different countries to learn and conduct scientific research cooperation with each other. He serves as a bridge for such opportunity," said Yang Yixin, deputy director on academic affairs of Wenzhou-Kean University.
The overseas student-turned-college lecturer is enjoying his life with his Chinese wife and daughter in Wenzhou.
Young Ghanaian enjoy life, work in Wenzhou
