ZIMBABWEAN academic Professor Herbert Mushangwe — also known by his Chinese name, Li Kaiming — is redefining language learning by pioneering innovative ways of teaching Shona to Chinese speakers, helping to bridge cultural and linguistic divides between Zimbabwe and China.
From his humble beginnings in Chivi, Masvingo, to advanced studies in China, Mushangwe’s academic journey reflects a deep commitment to cross-cultural understanding.
His exposure to diverse languages and societies shaped his decision to specialise in Chinese Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, a path that has since positioned him as a leading voice in comparative and applied linguistics.
At the centre of Mushangwe’s work is the use of technology to transform language learning, particularly pronunciation. One of his notable research projects, De-foreignising a Sound: Computer-assisted Pronunciation Practice in Learning a Foreign Language, explores how voice-recognition software can help learners to overcome pronunciation barriers and build confidence.
He believes language learning is essential in strengthening Sino-Zimbabwean relations, arguing that meaningful co-operation depends on mutual understanding beyond diplomacy and trade.
"Learning a language is part and parcel of Sino-Zimbabwe relations; the goal is to ensure that we have beneficial mutual relations," he said.
In 2015, Mushangwe reached a major milestone with the publication of the Shona-Chinese and Chinese-Shona dictionaries, the first of their kind. The project, which began in 2007 when he started learning Chinese, was inspired by his observation that African students lacked mother-tongue resources that were common among their Asian counterparts.
“I saw Japanese students with their Japanese-Chinese dictionaries, Korean students with their Korean-Chinese dictionaries and it was only me and my other fellow Africans who never had a dictionary of our own. So that was the motivation,” he said.
However, Mushangwe later reassessed the relevance of traditional dictionaries in an increasingly digital world.
“After writing this dictionary, I later realised through experience that these dictionaries are no longer as relevant as they used to be, back then when we didn't have much of this social media, the internet, the technology, the applications and stuff like that. So I went on to write another paper where I was critiquing the Chinese-Shona Dictionary,” he recalled.
Working closely with institutions such as the Confucius Institute, Mushangwe now advocates for modern, digital and learner-centred approaches that place Shona and Chinese side by side, promoting cultural equality and deeper engagement.
“We’re working on projects to modernise learning approaches, making Chinese learning more accessible and engaging. Learning a language is part and parcel of Sino-Zimbabwe relations; the goal is to ensure that we have beneficial mutual relations. Pronunciation helps to build confidence. When we teach Chinese, we develop strategies to help students to cope,” he said.