CAMBODIA: Chinese Language Courses Popular

PHNOM PENH - While English remains the most popular foreign language among students in Cambodia, Chinese, Japanese and Korean are fast catching up as young Khmers increasingly view them as a gateway to better jobs in the country’s growing industrial and tourism sectors.

Both the Japanese and Korean languages have become essential to the tourism industry in Cambodia, which has seen an explosion in visitors arriving from East Asia. 

But it is Chinese that has made the biggest inroad in Cambodia, with Prime Minister Hun Sen set to sign a sub-decree that will put the language on the national curriculum at university level, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Education Chea Se told the Post on June 9.

The Chinese government requested last year that Chinese-language courses be offered in universities and the Cambodian government was happy to oblige, according to Chhay, who added that instruction will start in about one year, allowing students to work towards Cambodia’s first education ministry-approved Chinese-language qualification. 

Until that time, however, a number of fully licensed language institutes are filling the gap for budding linguists. The biggest Chinese school in Cambodia is the Duan Hoa Chinese School, which has two branches in Phnom Penh and over 7,000 students.

“Often, students are trying to learn Chinese so they can join the family business or find work in a private company – especially working in factories or in the tourism industry as many Chinese investors are coming to Cambodian now,” administration manager Kim Hean said. 

“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.  

Of the 2,000 pupils at Chhung Cheng, another Chinese language school, 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.

Deputy Director Chan 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. (Source: The Phnom Penh Post, June 12, 2008)