未来5年南非政府计划在500所中小学开汉语课
African countries are now starting to see the increasing value of learning Chinese.
非洲国家现在开始意识到了学习汉语的重要性。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，南非基础教育部长宣布，政府计划将汉语作为学校里第二外语的选修课。南非政府希望在未来5年500所中小学开设汉语课。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.
中国当前是南非最大的贸易伙伴。在学校里开设汉语课的计划已经在实施当中，来自中国的两名教师已经到达南非。
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.
未来5年里，南非每年将会培训100名教师学习汉语。在这个官方语言高达11种的国家，英语仍是南非学校里最普遍的语言。
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.
将汉语引入学校，自然地引起了一些区域的抵制。他们坚持认为所有的孩子应该学习母语。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.
南非的五所顶尖大学里已经建立了孔子学院，以推动中国的语言和文化。他们表示，学习汉语将为南非人在中国提供更多的就业机会，而学校领导也将为在南非的中国留学生创造更多的项目。The South African government believes the introduction of Chinese in its schools will strengthen economic ties.
南非政府相信，在学校引入汉语将加强两国的经济联系。It was natural for students at South African universities to study another European language, because of the belief that it would open international doors.
在过去，南非国内大学的学生学习一门欧洲语言是司空见惯的，因为他们认为欧洲将敞开国际大门。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.
而随着中国经济持续增长和增强，汉语这门世界上讲的人数最多的语言也开始走上舞台。南非，这个非洲的第三大经济体，显然注意到了这个问题。
