Education ties between China and Arab countries have extended beyond Chinese language learning, experts said, with Mandarin education now integrated with industrial development and mutual understanding.
The popularity of the Chinese language has been rising among Arabs in recent years, with an increasing number of young people being able to write Chinese characters and speak Chinese fluently.
More Arab countries have incorporated Chinese lessons in schools, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia having included Chinese in their national education systems.
All of Saudi Arabia’s public and private secondary schools started twice-weekly Mandarin lessons in August. The Saudi education department has introduced a series of incentives to encourage Chinese language learning, such as offering study tours to China as a reward for taking part in Mandarin courses.
Khawla Ahmed, a student from the University of Bahrain, said the university offers two Chinese classes for students. “I have noticed an increase in people who are interested in the Chinese language and culture,” she said.
The international business student participated in an exchange program in China last month. “It was a great experience, which made me want to know more about China,” she said, adding that she was considering returning to China for further study after graduation.
Omar Ahmed Mahmoud has been learning Chinese for more than three years. Interested in economics and trade, he plans to sell Chinese products including clothes, furniture and children’s toys to people in his hometown of Cairo, the capital of Egypt.
He majored in Chinese language at a university in Cairo and was a postgraduate student of Chinese at Beijing Language and Culture University. He said he hopes his fluency in Chinese will be helpful in his career.
Liu Xinlu, dean of the School of Arabic Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said seeking business opportunities is one of the major reasons Arabs want to learn Chinese, as trade between China and Arab countries has grown steadily over the years.
However, while education ties between China and Arab countries remain grounded in the Chinese language, they have extended beyond it in recent years, he said.
“Nowadays, many Arabs learn the Chinese language not just for translation work or traditional business, but seek to participate in numerous modern and emerging industries such as renewable energy,” Liu said.
In June last year, a Confucius Institute jointly established by Shenzhen University and Prince Sultan University opened in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, aiming to deepen cooperation between the two universities in various fields.
Shenzhen University excels in science and engineering subjects such as big data and artificial intelligence.
Education ties previously focused mainly on language universities such as BFSU and BLCU, as well as Confucius Institutes teaching the language, Liu said. “These universities attracted Arab students expecting to learn Mandarin in China,” he said.
But language education is now being integrated with national plans in Arab countries such as Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to increase economic diversification and develop cutting-edge technology, he said.
“Students may learn the language first, and pursue further education in other STEM subjects that China is good at,” Liu said, using the acronym for science, technology, engineering and math.
Through language learning, young people from Arab countries gradually become intrigued by Chinese civilization, philosophy and the country’s path of modernization, he said.
Talent exchange programs have been helping young people from China and Arab countries understand their common values.
Liu said that during the upcoming summer vacation, BFSU will invite young Sinologists to attend courses on campus about issues including modern Chinese culture and China’s development experience. Young doctoral candidates or lecturers from China would also take part in discussions, he said.
Alanood Al Ali, a student at United Arab Emirates University, said she finally realized her dream of visiting China after learning Chinese for a year at a Confucius Institute.
“We are able to gain a comprehensive and multifaceted understanding of China by studying Chinese and participating in the exchange program,” Alanood said in Beijing last month at the opening ceremony of the Chinese Bridge spring camp for students from Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
“The experience will not only enrich us personally but will also strengthen relations between our countries, particularly fostering exchanges among young students.”
Source : China Daily
Saudi Arabia begins Chinese-language classes at schools
Chinese-language instruction has begun at the country’s schools to equip young people with valuable linguistic skills and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the Asian nation’s culture.
The language is being taught to primary and middle school students.
According to reports, 175 educators are teaching Mandarin in Saudi Arabia, aligning with an education agreement signed by the two countries last year.
The ministry has stated that young Saudi Arabia students will improve their chances to find jobs or pursue studies at prestigious Chinese universities.
Hanan Alharbi, a Saudi mother from Riyadh, said she was “very positive” about the ministry’s decision because it was an “important step toward promoting global culture and providing students with new and useful language skills, especially since the teachers are Chinese.”
The decision is in line with China’s growing importance in the global economy and the thriving trade and economic ties between the two nations.
The Kingdom’s Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan recently highlighted the government’s significant investment in the sector in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.
Source : Arab News
Saudi Arabia welcomes first batch of Mandarin teachers from China
Mandarin teachers from China arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday to a warm welcome.
According to Gulf News, the teachers landed at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, in the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia.
They were greeted with Saudi coffee, a much-loved national beverage, and flowers.
The teachers are set to begin teaching Mandarin in public schools this academic year as part of a Saudi government initiative.
Around 175 Chinese language teachers will begin teaching in Saudi primary and middle schools, marking the first wave of Mandarin teachers in the kingdom.
The teachers completed their pre-service training at Tianjin Normal University.
The Saudi Education Ministry and the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation under China’s Education Ministry co-organised the training with the university.
This initiative is part of an agreement made between the two countries last year to enhance cooperation in Chinese language education.
In 2020, Saudi education authorities began teaching Mandarin in eight high schools as part of efforts to strengthen ties between the two nations.
Saudi Arabia announced plans to expand Chinese language education following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s official visit to the kingdom in late 2022, during which he met with King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Source : NST
Chinese language added to Iranian school curriculum
Iran will add Chinese language courses to its school curriculums from early 2024, Hamshahri Online news website reported Wednesday, citing Education Minister Yousef Nouri.
From the beginning of the Iranian year 1403, or March 21, 2024, “we will add several languages, including German and Chinese, as optional” language courses to the school programs, Nouri was quoted as saying.
Students’ needs should be taken into consideration and the officials should take steps in this regard, he added.
Chinese language courses are now only offered in Iranian universities.
DBKL’s ops to remove Chinese signboards sparks debate online
A RECENT Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) operation to remove Chinese signboards along Jalan Imbi in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, has sparked heated debates online about the regulation and claims of double standards in enforcement.
During the operation on Saturday (Oct 14), DBKL issued a 14-day notice to five premises to take down their signboards for not displaying the message in Bahasa Malaysia.
“Even though the rule has been in place for a long time, there are still some premises who pretend to forget them.
“Through a viral video on social media, DBKL took action to refresh their memory about this rule,” the City Hall said in its Facebook post, adding that the signboards were a breach of the Small Signboards (FT) 1982 Bylaws.
The local authority also said it would continue to monitor other premises and ensure they comply with the bylaw.
Netizens, however, appeared to be divided in their sentiments, with some expressing support and others voicing disapproval of the operation.
On X, user @prismRON97 questioned why action wasn’t taken against retail outlets and premises owned by international companies for not using Bahasa Malaysia in their signboards.
Echoing a similar sentiment, user @bluebus72 asked DBKL if it would take similar action against eateries using other languages.
“Please take action against them too, don’t practice double standards.”
@LOLsusaho, meanwhile, took issue with the tone in the DBKL post, claiming it sounded like it was written by a cybertrooper.
However, Reddit user Accomplished-Cap8773 said this was a known rule and should not be an issue with @VincentT28 agreeing, saying the operation was not racially motivated.
DBKL has disabled the comments on the post on its Facebook page.
Source : The Star
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