Chinese Language Spreading in South Africa

2015-06-01  Source: Chinaculture.org

Liesl Kotze, left, one of the first prize winners, performs crosstalk during the competition.

The South African heat of the 14th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students was staged in Durban on Saturday with two contenders emerging triumphant.

They will join pairs of winners from 23 other international heats to contest the final in China’s Hunan province next month.

Though most competitors have never been to China, they have a fondness for the language as well as culture, and yearn to visit the country. Nina, a student from Rhodes University, is eager to know the key to the success of China’s economy, so she works hard on Chinese and reads more books about the country.

According to the South African Department of Basic Education, primary and middle schools will offer Chinese as a second foreign language from next year.

Jian Aifu, head of the Confucius Institute at the University of Stellenbosch, said the decision meets the relationship between China and South Africa as well as the social needs of South Africa.

Jamie Cripwell, the other first prize winner, makes a speech in Chinese.

Ahmed Bawa, chancellor of Durban University of Technology, said there are now more chances for people to use Chinese in daily life.

Because more people in South Africa have begun to learn Chinese, the shortage of teachers has become more obvious. Zhang Jun, head of the Confucius Institute at Rhodes University, said the sustainable way is to train local Chinese teachers.

Except for language study, there should be more courses on Chinese literature, culture and poems in South African universities, according to Alban Bourque, head of the Confucius Institute at the University of Johannesburg, People who learn Chinese while studying different majors should have different textbooks, such as business Chinese as well as tourism Chinese.

Third prize winner Leanne Robinson makes a speech.

Chinese Consul General in Durban Wang Jianzhou with first prize winners Jamie Cripwell and Liesl Kotze.

Second prize winner Hadebe Nokuthula practices Tai Chi.