未來5年南非政府計劃在500所中小學開漢語課
African countries are now starting to see the increasing value of learning Chinese.
非洲國家現在開始意識到了學習漢語的重要性。Recently, the South African basic education minister announced the government's plans to introduce Chinese as an optional third language in its schools. They hope to have 500 schools offering Chinese over the next five years.
近日，南非基礎教育部長宣佈，政府計劃將漢語作爲學校裏第二外語的選修課。南非政府希望在未來5年500所中小學開設漢語課。China is now South Africa's largest trading partner. The plan to introduce Chinese in schools is already in motion, with two teachers from China having already arrived in the country.
中國當前是南非最大的貿易夥伴。在學校裏開設漢語課的計劃已經在實施當中，來自中國的兩名教師已經到達南非。
Every year, for the next five years, 100 teachers will be trained to teach the Chinese language. In a country where there are 11 official languages, English remains the most common language of instruction in South African schools.
未來5年裏，南非每年將會培訓100名教師學習漢語。在這個官方語言高達11種的國家，英語仍是南非學校裏最普遍的語言。
Naturally then, the announcement of the introduction of Chinese at schools has been met with resistance from some quarters who are still demanding that all children be taught in their mother tongue.
將漢語引入學校，自然地引起了一些區域的抵制。他們堅持認爲所有的孩子應該學習母語。Confucius Institutes are already well-established at five top South African universities to promote the language and culture. Learning Chinese could open job opportunities for South Africans in China, while school leaders could choose to create more programs for Chinese studies at universities, they say.
南非的五所頂尖大學裏已經建立了孔子學院，以推動中國的語言和文化。他們表示，學習漢語將爲南非人在中國提供更多的就業機會，而學校領導也將爲在南非的中國留學生創造更多的項目。The South African government believes the introduction of Chinese in its schools will strengthen economic ties.
南非政府相信，在學校引入漢語將加強兩國的經濟聯繫。It was natural for students at South African universities to study another European language, because of the belief that it would open international doors.
在過去，南非國內大學的學生學習一門歐洲語言是司空見慣的，因爲他們認爲歐洲將敞開國際大門。As the Chinese economy continues to grow and strengthen, the world's most-spoken language is gaining in currency too. South Africa, the third largest economy in Africa, is taking note.
而隨着中國經濟持續增長和增強，漢語這門世界上講的人數最多的語言也開始走上舞臺。南非，這個非洲的第三大經濟體，顯然注意到了這個問題。
