Abu Dhabi: Hundreds of Emirati schoolchildren are learning Mandarin rapidly, thanks to their uninhibited approach to trying new things in life, says a Chinese academic.
Some children who are not under pressure to excel in studies may lack the competitive spirit to succeed in a hypercompetitive world, but Emirati children are blessed with an unusual quality to overcome any such disadvantages, she says, adding “they are exceptionally bold in trying new things, especially in speaking a new language like Mandarin.”
The Confucius Institute, which promotes Chinese language worldwide, has a branch in Dubai as well.
Du said Chinese children excel in learning due to tremendous parental and social pressure. Despite their high academic performance, Chinese kids mastering English are too inhibited and shy to speak it in the initial stages of learning.
“They are afraid of making mistakes. However, Emirati children don’t worry about making mistakes, so they pick up the language very fast,” she said.
Compared to Chinese children, Emirati youngsters are less competitive, given that they are citizens of a resource-rich nation. But Chinese teachers are trying to take advantage of their other qualities. “They are also very tech-savvy and use electronic gadgets very well. Therefore, we use a lot of digital tools in teaching,” said Du, a UAE resident of two years.
Growing relations
Mandarin is expected to become the third most important language after Arabic and English in the UAE in the future, thanks to a UAE government initiative, she said.
As Gulf News reported earlier, the initiative to teach Chinese in 100 UAE schools is underway, on the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The first batch of 20 Chinese teachers have already started teaching in 11 schools.
Du said she was part of the selection process to pick Chinese teachers for the UAE and getting constant feedback from them about their teaching experience.
Mandarin learning is relevant in the wake of growing political and commercial ties between the UAE and China — it is now the UAE’s largest trading partner. “These Emirati students who learn Mandarin will take these relations forward.” she said.
An Emirati pupil studying Chinese at Confucius Institute at Zayed University told Gulf News that learning around 3,000 characters was a difficult task when he started a year ago. “Now, I can comfortably speak the language and I am trying to improve my proficiency in reading,” said Sultan Salem Al Mazroui, 16, a grade 12 pupil at Adnoc School in Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi.
“Although people say it’s the toughest language in the world, this experience taught me that we can handle anything if we put our minds to it,” he said.
Al Mazroui visited China twice as part of his language training and was impressed by the country’s technological advancements. “They use the latest technology in everything, especially in public transport,” said Al Mazroui, who attends weekend classes at the institute.
A Chinese lecturer told Gulf News that he was surprised to see that Emirati students knew many things about Chinese culture. “They ask me about Kung Fu, Chinese moon cakes and the mid-autumn festival,” said Guanyang Zhang (right), 32, who arrived in the UAE just a week ago.
Student wins competition to visit China
26 Emirati pupils participate in Chinese Bridge Proficiency Competition for foreign high school students
Abu Dhabi: A UAE school pupil will visit China next year after winning the Chinese Bridge Proficiency Competition for foreign high school students, organised by the Confucius Institute at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Khalid Hamid Al Hanaee of Hamdan Bin Zayed School will travel to China as the UAE’s student representative, to participate in the final international competition.
Abdul Malek Al Hakem and Hussain Al Hammadi, also from Hamdan Bin Zayed School, won second place and Wafa Rohan Khaleghian, Hareb Al Zahr, and Ruqaya Al Hassani from the same school won third place in the competition attended by 26 Emirati students from 13 public schools that teach Mandarin as part of the curriculum.
Speaking on the occasion, Lin Yaduo, deputy head of the mission at the Chinese Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said: “Mastering the Chinese language is the key to discerning China’s rapid development train. It is the world’s second largest economy and has the world’s largest industrial, trade and foreign exchange reserves,” he said.
Fatma Al Bastaki, director of Hamdan Bin Zayed School, said two pupils from her school who won the competition last year had an opportunity to visit Kunming city in China and compete with students from 105 other countries across the world.
