UK schools set to push study of Mandarin
From： Issue Time：2010-2-6 22:36:58 Views：118
While foreign language classes are generally down in the UK, Mandarin classes are on the rise – and being encouraged by the government.
In a January government press release, Schools Secretary Ed Balls explained the UK Department for Children, Schools and Families’ commitment to continue to expand the availability of Mandarin language classes:
"In this new decade our ties with emerging economies like China will become even more important and it’s vital that young people are equipped with the skills which they need, and British businesses need too, in order to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
That’s why we want all secondary pupils to have the opportunity to learn up and coming languages like Mandarin if they choose, either at their own school or a nearby school or college.
A growing number of schools are now teaching Mandarin and in the coming years I think we will see this subject sitting alongside French, Spanish and German as one of the most popular languages for young people to learn.” Mandarin study is increasing in many parts of the world, but it remains a highly difficult language to master.
Betty Carlson