Thousands of Chinese
language teachers and learners are
gathering at the Sixth National
Chinese Language Conference in Boston,
the US.
The event is
co-organized by the Asia Society,
Colleague board and Confucius Headquarters,
also known as the
HANBAN.
CRI's You Yu
investigates what is drawing many
Americans to learn one of the
most difficult languages in the
world.
Amongst the attendants
is China's Vice Education minister
Hao Ping.
"The national Chinese
Language Conference has been running
annually since 2008. It has played a
significant role in promoting Chinese
language teaching in United States.
All of you seated here tonight
have all worked so passionately in
bringing Chinese to American
students."
Haoping praised the
increasing support from both the US
federal and state government to
Chinese language teaching.
Hanban
is currently educating over 65,000 students
in more than 400 Confucius Institutes
and 500 Confucius classrooms
worldwide.
Madam Xv Lin,
general director of Hanban and chief
executive of Confucius Headquarters is
a key figure in promoting the
Confucius Institutes
internationally.
This is her
sixth time at the
event.
"I have many media
friends, because some people think
confusions institutes are hot potatoes
not only in the US but also
in China. They often ask me
what is my dream? My dream is
very simple. I hope one day the
national language speakers will speak
Chinese."
Right now there're 92
Confucius institutes and 318 Confucius
classrooms in the united sates. Marisa
Salatino is a high school girl
who stated to learn Chinese five
years ago.
"I really like
both the Chinese language and culture.
I think Chinese culture is totally
different from our culture. The United
States is a relatively new country
whilst China is ancient. The contrast
is very fascinating."
The
growing number of students is pushing
up the demand for Chinese teachers.
Gao Shan started working in the
states as an English teacher in 2003.
She finds more and more Americans
want to learn Chinese.
"More
and more Americans want to learn
Chinese and an increasing number of
schools here want to set up
Chinese classes. Teachers with better
training are recruited here or from
china. And the choice of Chinese
text books is also expanding."
