(Beijing) In China; an increasing number of students are
interested to learn Urdu; the national language of Pakistan; said
Prof Zhou Yuan on Sunday. Prof Zhou is the head of Urdu Department at the
School of Asian and African Studies in Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).
The enrollment of a new batch of the Chinese students in the Urdu Department of
BFSU in the current academic year that began in September reflects the fact
that the Urdu language is becoming popular in China.
‘This batch of 16
students, currently studying in Urdu Department of BFSU; came in September this
year. We have a new batch in every fourth year;’ Zhou Yuan said. Besides
teaching language to the students; the Urdu department also organizes
competitions of Urdu calligraphy; speech and cultural activities to improve
skills as well as make the students more aware about Pakistan; its culture and
people. ‘Such activities not only enhance interest of Urdu learning among our
students but improve their language skills;’ Zhou Yuan; who has adopted a
Pakistani name ‘Nasreen’; told APP. She
proudly shared that these students were especially invited by Pakistan Embassy
in Beijing to attend the birth anniversary of Allama Dr. Muhammad Iqbal where
they recited poetry of the great poet. The new batch also participated in a
calligraphy competition after only two months of studying in the university;
she added. About the rolled out students, she said that the Urdu Department was
set up in BFSU in 2007 and so far, 51 students have completed their four-year
degree and got jobs in the foreign service; educational institutions and in
companies; etc. Some students of the third batch were sent to Pakistani
universities for six months during the third year of their studies to get a
better chance to improve their speaking and writing skills, she said. The
increased interest in learning Urdu means that more students from around China
are interested to learn the national language of Pakistan, the all weather
friend and strategic cooperative partner of China, Zhou Yuan opined. The
history of Urdu teaching in China started with establishment of first Urdu
Department at Peking University in 1951. Later, universities in the Chinese
cities of Xian; Guangzhou and Kunming also set up Urdu departments. To meet the
significant demand; several universities in Shanghai; Tianjin; Urumqi and Inner
Mongolia are considering to setting up Urdu departments. The reasons for
learning Urdu vary. Some students have been romanced by Pakistan’s culture,
food and landscape; others by the beauty of the language itself. In addition; a
large number see learning Urdu as a practical means of eventually working with
companies undertaking projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC) framework in Pakistan.
0 Comments