China Expands Language Institutes at US Colleges

When I found this article, it is of interest to me because the title shows exactly what it is about. Usually titles for the articles are just a few words but this isn’t. As I am an international student, I was curious about how the Chinese are expanding their language and cultural programs and also where they are located.

American boy with the Chinese flag painted on his face

Now in America, there are 60 Confucius Institutes, these are language institutes which are funded by the government of China. These are largely placed near state universities and also there are 396 Confucius Institutes globally in 87 countries. The reason the Chinese government started this program is that they want to change their country’s image. In the Confucius Institutes, people are learning Chinese language and their culture. The first Confucius Institute was established in Seoul, Korea, in 2004. The first U.S center was started at the University of Maryland and the Chinese government has plans to establish 500 more by 2010. There are some universities that do not want to have Confucius Institutes near by them because they are concerned about their politics. The University of Pennsylvania wants to use their own teachers who they have trained.

I think the way that the Chinese people are expanding their culture is smart because they placed the Confucius Institutes near by state university instead of placed near by small universities so they can have more students and also this program helps to save money in universities because the teachers are supported by the Chinese government. I am surprised that their government is paying all the money for everything. For me, it seems to their economy is growing so quickly and because of that they could make the language Institute successful.