While Israel concentrates on English, with options for French, Yiddish and, of course, Arabic, a new trend of learning a surprising language – Mandarin – is developing in the Arab world. ChatGPT helped us explain why this happens:
In an attempt to strengthen ties with China and take advantage of the economic opportunities it offers, Arab countries are making strides in integrating Mandarin into their education systems. This move symbolizes the growing recognition of China as a global player and emphasizes the importance of the Chinese market.
Saudi Arabia, China's largest trading partner in the Middle East, recently mandated public and private high schools offering Mandarin classes twice a week for one semester each year. The move makes Saudi Arabia the first in the region to make learning Mandarin mandatory. The move is consistent with the interests of both countries in strengthening economic ties, particularly through the 21st Century Silk Road Initiative ("Belt and Road").
The UAE initiated the inclusion of Mandarin into the school curriculum back in 2017, making it an elective subject from kindergarten to secondary school. More than 150 state-run secondary schools in the UAE have offered Mandarin lessons, and these classes are planned to reach 200 schools by 2030. This proactive approach is driven by the UAE's significant Chinese population and its position as China's second-largest trading partner in the Middle East.
Iran also plans to introduce Mandarin as an elective subject, and Egypt launched a pilot project in October last year to offer Mandarin as an elective subject in government middle schools. These moves highlight the growing attraction and importance of Mandarin language education in the region.
The Confucius Institutes, established by Beijing for cultural outreach and Mandarin language teaching, have played a central role in this educational change. The first Confucius Institute in an Arab Gulf monarchy was established in Abu Dhabi in 2010, and the number of such institutes in the Middle East and North Africa has since grown to 23 in 13 countries, including two in Israel – the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University. These institutes have contributed significantly to the advancement of Mandarin learning in the region.
However, the journey to establish Mandarin-language programs faces challenges: deficiencies in the public education systems of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, coupled with budget constraints, limit the effectiveness of language teaching, making Mandarin, which is already challenging to learn, less appealing to students than Western languages such as English and French.
Despite these challenges, the long-term convergence of interests and visions between Arab states and China remains a driving force for Mandarin learning. As China's commercial presence in the Gulf continues to grow, Mandarin could become a valuable skill in the labor market.
On the other hand, there is also a growing interest in Arabic among Chinese citizens. Arabic has become a compulsory part of the curriculum in many Chinese schools, and is now taught at many universities and institutes throughout China. This trend coincides with the growing economic and political status of the Gulf states, making Arabic a highly sought-after language for Chinese citizens involved in financing, commercial activities, overseas investments, and diversifying their options.
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us