Thais eager to learn Chinese

Thu Jan 19 15:21:56 UTC 2006

Thais eager to learn Chinese

BANGKOK, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Chinese language courses are gaining popularity
in Thailand, where it is seen as the new dialect of business and diplomacy
in East Asia.

English is still compulsory in public schools, but thousands of schools
are starting classes to teach students Mandarin, the Christian Science
Monitor reported. The goal is to have 30 percent of all high school
students in programs within five years, the newspaper said. Beijing has
promised to train more Thai language teachers, send native speakers to
work in Thai schools, and provide free teaching materials.  Currently,
more than 30 million people worldwide are studying Mandarin, the Chinese
news service Xinhua reported.

China's Education Ministry has opened language centers called Confucius
Institutes in over 20 countries since 2004, including South Korea,
Australia, Singapore, Sweden, and Kenya, Xinhua said.