Chinese scholarship for foreign students

By Wang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-12 10:48

A total of 113 foreigners have been awarded scholarships worth 85,800 yuan ($12,580) to become Chinese language teachers.

The students became the first batch of foreigners to receive the Chinese language teaching scholarship in Beijing on Tuesday.

Between 2009 and 2013, up to 3,000 scholarships will be given to candidates who love Chinese culture and have a decent level of Chinese.

South Korean recipient, Lee Eun-Min, said more and more Korean students are interested in studying in China, but the appreciation of renminbi made it unaffordable for many Korean families.

"The scholarship will give me great support financially, and I can be more concentrated on my study," she said.

Lee is a graduate student in Chinese studies from Pusan University of Foreign Studies.

She has now begun a two-year Chinese language postgraduate course at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).

"After two years of study in China, I think my Chinese will be improved significantly because I am in a Chinese language environment."

She said after graduation she would dedicate herself to teaching Chinese to foreigners.

Zhao Yanqing, the head of the scholarship project from the Office of Chinese Language Council International, told METRO that next year they would be more aggressive in terms of giving out scholarships as a way to promote Chinese language, culture and enhance mutual understanding between China and the world.

This is the first time the Chinese government has launched a large-scale project to leverage the quality of Chinese teaching faculties around the world, according to Zhao.

Each candidate receives 42,900 yuan per year for the two-year program. In return they have to spend at least five years teaching Chinese to foreigners either in China or their home country.

Li Bing, director of office of international student at BFSU, told METRO that this year six out of 10 students applied from BFSU received the scholarship.

They plan to give out 10 more scholarships next year.

In Beijing, eight universities are eligible to give out the scholarships. This includes Peking University, Beijing Normal University, BFSU, Beijing Language and Cultural University, Capital Normal University, Renmin University of China, Communication University of China, and Minzu University of China.

Applicants can directly contact the enrollment offices at the universities.