2016年CRI Bangladesh sees Mandarin-Chinese fever

 

Seven years ago, China Radio International helped establish an on-air Confucius Classroom in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka.

At the very beginning, it was able to serve just 25 students.

Today, demand for Chinese language and cultural learning in Bangladesh now demands a classroom that seats 60.

Classes offered in Dhaka include primary, intermediate and advanced Chinese language learning for the 180 students currently registered.

One of those learning Chinese is Shila, who says it was necessity which originally drew her into the program.

"I'm working in a Chinese company. I feel I need to learn Chinese because my Chinese colleagues and also my boss can't speak English. Communication problem. I'm planning to work long-term with Chinese people, because I like working in a Chinese company and working with Chinese people, because they are talented, interesting. They are famously strong in the world. So I want to build relationship with Chinese people for a long time. And next time I want to do business with Chinese people. I'm trying my best to learn Chinese language."

Xie Nan is the coordinator¹ of the Confucius Classroom in Dhaka.

He says the courses not only teach the students Mandarin², but also help provide practical experience for them as well.

"This year we're sending eight of our students to study in China. They are all from poor families. One of them is extremely diligent³ and bright. Having learned Chinese for only a year, his abilities easly surpass most of the students who have learned their language skills in China. The eight students heading to China have won a full scholarship to further their studies."

Aside from offering language courses, the Confucius Classroom in Dhaka is also the only certified⁴ institution which provides training for Chinese martial⁵ arts, better known as Kung Fu.

Zhou Yuwen is a Kung Fu coach sent by the Chinese government to Bangladesh three years ago.

She says her time in Bangladesh has been a wonderful experience.

"Why have I been happy and content in Bangladesh through these years? It's basically because the local people are friendly to Chinese people and respect us as teachers. I know I have a responsibility here, which is to provide teaching and communication skills to allow people in Bangladesh to better understand Chinese Kung Fu culture."

While modern ties between China and Bangladesh only date back to 1970's, historical links between China and the region that is today's Bangladesh date back to the Tang Dynasty.

In the early 7th century famed Chinese monk⁶ Xuanzang visited the Bangladesh region during his travels, which later became the inspiration for the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West."

For CRI, this is Zhao Jianfu.

1 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

2 Mandarin   

n.中国官话，国语，满清官吏；adj.华丽辞藻的

参考例句：

• Just over one billion people speak Mandarin as their native tongue.大约有十亿以上的人口以华语为母语。
• Mandarin will be the new official language of the European Union.普通话会变成欧盟新的官方语言。

3 diligent   

adj.勤勉的，勤奋的

参考例句：

• He is the more diligent of the two boys.他是这两个男孩中较用功的一个。
• She is diligent and keeps herself busy all the time.她真勤快，一会儿也不闲着。

4 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

5 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

6 monk   

n.和尚，僧侣，修道士

参考例句：

• The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
• Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。