The Ministry of Education’s Southeast Asian language program has over the past six years taught more than 700 classes and about 30,000 students, highlighting its success in fostering language skills for those wanting to visit, study or do business in the region, Department of Technological and Vocational Education Director-General Hsieh Li-chun (謝麗君) said on Thursday.
The program was initiated in 2017 to help promote the government’s New Southbound Policy, with 98 classes taught that year, Hsieh said, adding that the figure increased to 143 last year.
The classes cover an extensive range of Southeast Asia languages, including Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Burmese and Vietnamese, and have evolved from teaching only the basics to including professional terminology, he said.
The number of Vietnamese-language students has exceeded those studying all other regional languages, Hsieh said, adding that schools have developed a comprehensive teaching model for Vietnamese.
A sufficiently solid foundation in Vietnamese could make-or-break whether someone qualifies for a job in business, as demand for Vietnamese in the corporate sector is increasing, Hsieh said.
Lessons in basic pronunciation and conversation help students develop their ability to express themselves, and training includes giving speeches or holding “meetings” during meals to increase students’ exposure to the language while providing them with more opportunities to practice, Hsieh said.
Schools have been encouraging international students from the region to volunteer as language exchange partners, Hsieh added.
Knowledge of the region’s languages, coupled with professional knowledge, would provide Taiwanese with a significant advantage, as the importance of Southeast Asia is growing in terms of global economics and the global supply chain, Hsieh said.
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