For Sera Ieli, an operations assistant at Port Mua-i-Walu Wharf 1 in Suva, learning basic Chinese language was a bonus.

Ms Ieli said as a result of the 10-week Chinese Language Beginners Level course, she is confident to carry out her role effectively.

“Communication with our Chinese customers has now improved thanks to the Chinese Language course that was undertaken,” she said.

She was among 14 other officers that graduated last week.

Ms Ieli’s daily work involves sorting out berth application, raising invoices and dealing with customers who are mostly Chinese.

Port Mua-i-Walu  1 accommodates foreign and local fishing vessels whose crew are mainly Chinese nationals.

“The course was very helpful and helps in our daily work,” Ms Ieli who was the top student at the Chinese Language Beginners Level course said.

“Before communication used to be a problem because they don’t understand English and we don’t understand Chinese. Ever since the course began, we were able to learn new words.

“These are the words that we use daily and it is really helpful to us,” Ms Ieli said.

Another graduate, Port Mua-i-Walu Wharf 1 operations officer, Marika Koroi, who has been based at the local wharf for over 10 years, he said work is now easy after the course.

“Communication has always been a challenge. For the over ten years, it really hard to understand them when we carry out our work, but glad that has changed and we must thank the Fiji Ports Corporation Limited management for this initiative,” Mr Koroi said.