PHNOM PENH, June 13 (Xinhua) -- While English remains the most popular foreign language among students in Cambodia, Chinese is fast catching up as young Khmers increasingly view it as a gateway to better jobs in the country's growing industrial and tourism sectors, according to the June 13-26 edition of the English-language bi-weekly the Phnom Penh Post.
The biggest Chinese school in Cambodia is the Duan Hoa Chinese School, which has two branches in Phnom Penh and over 7,000 students, the newspaper said.
The school has been open since 1992 and caters mainly to Chinese students, although some Cambodians and Vietnamese also study there, said administration manager Kim Hean.
"Often, students are trying to learn Chinese so they can join the families business or find work in a private company, especially working in factories or in the tourism industry as many Chinese investors are coming to Cambodia now," Kim Hean was quoted as saying.
China has emerged as one of Cambodia's largest investment partners, and is heavily involved not only in the garment sector, but construction and other industries.
"I learn Chinese because I saw how many Chinese companies and factories there are in Cambodia and I want to be able to work at these places," said Chea Sokbouy, who is now studying in Grade 11 at Duan Hoa.
Another Chinese language school, the Chhung Cheng Chinese School, is popular with Chinese-Khmer families, said the deputy director of the school, ChanTirin.
Of the 2,000 pupils at Chhung Cheng, most come from Chinese or Chinese-Khmer families who, while continuing to study in Cambodian state-run schools, realize the value in today's society of speaking two languages.
Tirin said that preserving the Chinese language in Cambodia was an important motivation for many students, but securing a high-paying job also remained a driving force for learning Chinese.
Besides, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen set to sign a sub-decree that will put the Chinese language on the national curriculum at university level, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Education Chea Se said.
The biggest Chinese school in Cambodia is the Duan Hoa Chinese School, which has two branches in Phnom Penh and over 7,000 students, the newspaper said.
The school has been open since 1992 and caters mainly to Chinese students, although some Cambodians and Vietnamese also study there, said administration manager Kim Hean.
"Often, students are trying to learn Chinese so they can join the families business or find work in a private company, especially working in factories or in the tourism industry as many Chinese investors are coming to Cambodia now," Kim Hean was quoted as saying.
China has emerged as one of Cambodia's largest investment partners, and is heavily involved not only in the garment sector, but construction and other industries.
"I learn Chinese because I saw how many Chinese companies and factories there are in Cambodia and I want to be able to work at these places," said Chea Sokbouy, who is now studying in Grade 11 at Duan Hoa.
Another Chinese language school, the Chhung Cheng Chinese School, is popular with Chinese-Khmer families, said the deputy director of the school, ChanTirin.
Of the 2,000 pupils at Chhung Cheng, most come from Chinese or Chinese-Khmer families who, while continuing to study in Cambodian state-run schools, realize the value in today's society of speaking two languages.
Tirin said that preserving the Chinese language in Cambodia was an important motivation for many students, but securing a high-paying job also remained a driving force for learning Chinese.
Besides, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen set to sign a sub-decree that will put the Chinese language on the national curriculum at university level, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Education Chea Se said.
7 comments:
Man what is up with that? I think Chinese is going to influence Cambodia alot than the USA. Look at this news, when is the USA throwing their interest in Cambodia except the Oil (Chevron) company? Come on USA, if you stay further than Chinese you will risking of loosing Cambodia to China again..Please throw big inveastments in Cambodia. Hurry before it is too late!!!!!!!!!!!
chinese, english, french, russian, khmer; know all languages. it's good for personal development as well as find loves, jobs, etc... god bless cambodia.
All...OK តែបន្ទាប់ពីភារសារខ្មែរសិន កុំភ្លេច!!!
I think it is better to be under the Chinese than be under the Vietnamese expansionist. But putting a sub decree for the national curriculum at the university is a bit too much. USA would not help Cambodia if no oil or other things that do not benefit them.
Chinese languages not only in Cambodia, it is in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Burma, Jordan, Siria, some Middle east countries, some in Africa nations and some in south America nations too.
It is for good business, and I think everyone should learn.
Everyone should learn...but not at the expense of your own language. As someone said above, putting a a sub decree on Khmer compared to Chinese, especially in Cambodia is pretty absurd. Let's learn to put priorities first.
We can reform our languages too. We need to use latin alphabets like Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.
I don't mind if we change to Chinese, so China is our brother.
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