Mandarin Chinese is now a short course at the North West University Potchefstroom campus open to all students as well as the public.
According to Prof Wannie Carstens, director of the school of languages, Mandarin is the biggest language in the world. Approximately 14.4% of the world’s population are native speakers of Mandarin according to the Accredit Language World Service.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xjAyQ1R5xQ&feature=youtu.be
Prof Carstens made it clear that he wants to open the eastern world to all students, not only students who studies languages, but “this language is important to all students, especially those who are studying in the field of tourism and business”.
Su-Chuan or Sonia, her Western name the students and faculty of the school calls her, is a Taiwanese language specialist who is going to be the lecturer in this new short language course.
Sonia will be teaching Mandarin Chinese for beginners as well as some of the culture surrounding the language. According to Prof Carstens the South African government wants to implement Mandarin in schools, and that’s why he feels that students should be given the same opportunity as well. The school wants to implement Mandarin as a course for students by 2018, the next step is to develop modules and study material.
The Taiwanese government is making it possible for Sonia to be here and pays her according to Carstens.
The next short course will start closer to the end of the year. Those interested in the Mandarin short courses, can contact Desire Steyn at desire.steyn@nwu.ac.za.
