CRI听力：China's Education System（二）

Y-Welcome back to Listeners’ Garden on China Radio International. I am Yunfeng.

Z_And I am Zhong Qiu. So now let’s talk about China’s educational system. In China, the education is divided into three categories: basic education, higher education, and adult education. Chinese law stipulates that each child should acquire nine years of formal education called basic education.

Y_Basic education also includes pre-school education, primary education and regular secondary education. Secondary education is divided into academic secondary schooling and technical secondary education or vocational education.

Z_Academic secondary education is delivered by academic lower and upper middle schools. Lower middle school graduates wishing to continue their education take a locally administered entrance exam. Then they will have the option either of continuing in an academic upper middle school or entering a vocational secondary school.
 
Y_Vocational schools offer programmes ranging from two to four years and train medium-level skilled workers, farmers, and managerial and technical personnel.

Z_Yes, if one chooses to continue their study, they enter higher education. Higher education at the undergraduate level includes two-and three-year junior colleges sometimes also called short-cycle colleges, four-year colleges, and universities offering programs in both academic and vocational subjects. Many colleges and universities also offer graduate programs leading to the master’s or Ph.D. degree.

Y_Now let’s take a brief look at the Education Management and Administration System in China.

China has set up an education system with government as the major investor and social partners as co-investors. In the current stage, local government is playing a key role in basic education, while central and provincial government are dominant in higher education. In occupational and adult education, social partners including industrial organizations, businesses and public institutions are playing a more and more important role.

Z_The Ministry of Education is the supreme education administration body in China, which is responsible for carrying out related laws, regulations, guidelines and policies of the central government;

Y_With regard to the education budget, financial allocation is still the major source, while multiple fund channels have been opened up. At present, funds needed by schools directly controlled by the central government come from the central financial pool; schools controlled by local governments are supported by local finance; schools sponsored by township and villageship governments and by public institutions are mainly financed by the sponsor institutions and subsidized by local governments.

Z_Since 1978 when China inaugurated the opening and reform initiative, China saw a healthy development in studying abroad and increasing number of foreigners studying in China.

Y_In the more than two decades since 1979, China sent some 320,000 students to more than 100 countries and regions. It also hosted 340,000 students from more than 160 countries and regions.

Z_ I bet many of the foreign students in China are learning Chinese here. Yunfeng, I know that you graduated from Beijing Language and Culture University, which is a university specifically for teaching foreigners Chinese.

Y_That is very true. You know in our University, the Chinese students are the foreign ones because there are so many foreign students from around the world. Statistically speaking, when I was at school, there were 4,000 foreign students but just 1,000 Chinese. They are all learning Chinese. You know it is not an unusual thing that you hear foreigners speak perfect Chinese on campus.

Z_So you must have a lot of opportunities to practise English with them.

Y_Hehe, I made a lot of foreign friends indeed. But you know my university is not the only one. I know that universities like Beida and Tsinghua are also teaching foreigners Chinese.

Z_Sure. I found this piece of notice on the Tsinghua website:

"The Chinese Language Program serves to promote the Chinese language throughout the world and to help other countries acquire a better understanding of China. Any foreigner, overseas Chinese, or compatriot from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan who would like to learn Chinese at Tsinghua University and who meets the qualifications is welcome to apply for the program."
 
Y_Yes. So Chinese universities are open to all foreign students. And in order to accurately assess the Chinese proficiency level of new students, there usually is a placement exam before the start of the term. Students will be assigned to the appropriate class level based on the results of the exam.

Z-And since there are two semesters in one academic year in Chinese universities. Applicants who plan to start studying at the spring semester must submit their application usually before January and those who plan to start studying in the autumn semester must submit their application before July.

Y_Well, about the tuition fees. Long-term students will have to pay tuition fee at the time of registration. For Tsinghua university, it is around 10,500 yuan or 1,370 US dollars per semester, which is quite reasonable. I know universities charge a range of prices, from 10, 000 yuan or 1,300 US dollars to 25, 000 yuan or 3,260 US dollars.
 
Z_Well Yunfeng, that's information for foreigners who want to study Chinese in China. How about those who want to study but they cannot make it in China. Can they study Chinese overseas?
 
Y_Of course. I bet there are many good universities around the world, which are providing Chinese courses. And now there is are a new project called the Confucius Institutes, which is promoting Chinese learning around the world.

Z_ Yes, The "Confucius Institute" Project is aimed at promoting friendly relationships with other countries and boosting understanding of the Chinese language and culture among world Chinese learners, as well as providing good learning conditions for them.

Y_ By the way, Confucius was a famous thinker, educator and philosopher in Chinese history. His doctrine has had a very important influence throughout the world. To name this institute after him shows the longevity and profundity of Chinese language and culture.

Z-The "Confucius Institute Headquarters" is established in Beijing. Its branches will be set up abroad, with a Chinese name Confucius University. Now there are already 155 Confucius Institutes around the world including those in the United States, Russia, Japan, Egypt and Kenya.

Y_So our dear listeners, if you like to study Chinese but you are not able to come to China. You may find the Confucius Institute in your country.

Z_Ok, after so much introduction, how about we take a break and play a song as we have promised earlier to our German listener Helmut. The song is called jasmine. This song is so popular that every Chinese can sing at least one or two lines of lyrics.