From VOA Learning English, this is the Education Report. Tens of thousands of Africans are studying in China. The country provides students with financial assistance of education to develop skills that Africa needs most. And the system helps the Chinese make friends in Africa. Violet Bwalya of Zambia is among the increasing number of Africans who are receiving financial help to study in China. She registered at Tongji University in Shanghai in September, 2013. The school is among the top universities in the country. Ms.Bwalya had to make changes as a Zambian student in China. For example, the university's restaurant serves only Chinese food. But she likes to cook foods from her country at home. Ms.Bwalya said that she did not know she would see so many people like herself in China. She said the number of Africans greatly surprised her. The young woman said she is excited by the level of development in China. She noted the many roads and tall buildings. She said Zambia does not have many tall buildings. Violet Bwalya will study Mandarin during her year in China. Then she will go to another school to study medicine. Those classes will be taught in Mandarin. Some Africans say language barriers affect the quality of a Chinese education. A man from Uganda studies in English in Wuhan, central China. But he says his professors cannot answer his questions because they do not speak English. And he says he does not know much Chinese. Chinese officials say more than 35000 Africans were studying in China at the end of last year. For VOA Learning English, I'm Alex Villarreal.