2020年CRI China craze on the rise in Panama

 

During the first visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Panama this week, another wave of "fever" on Chinese culture has swept across the Central American country.

People in Panama have taken an increasing interest in the Chinese language and Chinese culture following the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and high-level exchange visits by their top officials.

The number of people applying to study at the Confucius Institute at the University of Panama has surged. It currently has more than 400 students, and has 6 classrooms located outside of the campus.

Wu Junhui from the Confucius Institute said that dozens of applicants¹ who have registered for a course will have to wait until next year to be enrolled², as there aren't enough places to accommodate all of them this time around.

"The enthusiasm of the Panamanian people for learning Chinese reached a climax³ after China and Panama established diplomatic ties. To meet this rising demand, the Confucius Institute has opened teaching sites at two national universities, a tourism college, and also at a well-known local hotel chain."

Even more organizations across Panama are pushing to establish local Confucius Institute classrooms for Chinese teaching, including at the Panama City Tocumen International Airport and the Ministry⁴ of Foreign Affairs.

And the police school in Panama is hoping that the Confucius Institute can provide its students with training in Chinese martial⁵ arts.

Li Junfen, who was among the first batch⁶ of Chinese teachers sent to Panama in 2006, said she can feel the country's rising enthusiasm for Chinese language learning.

"Since the founding of the Confucius Institute, and the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two counties, students have become more active when it comes to learning Chinese. They believe it's really useful, whether it's for employment, or travel in China, or for personal development. Personally, I think there's been a huge change in this respect."

Many students in Li's class have expressed their love for the Chinese language, and for Chinese culture.

"Chinese is a very interesting language. I love studying different kinds of things. Through the language, a bridge can be built between the two cultures of China and Panama. Chinese culture is very rich; it's full of wonders and it has lots of things worth learning in Panama. "

Besides language learning, students at the Confucius Institute have also taken part in various cultural exchange activities in Panama City that helped to welcome President Xi Jinping's visit to the country.

1 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

2 enrolled   

adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起

参考例句：

• They have been studying hard from the moment they enrolled. 从入学时起，他们就一直努力学习。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He enrolled with an employment agency for a teaching position. 他在职业介绍所登了记以谋求一个教师的职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 climax   

n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点

参考例句：

• The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。
• His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

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 batch   

n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量

参考例句：

• The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
• I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。