The Study of Southeast Asian Languages in China: Provincial Location and the University Teaching Goals

Abstract

The study of Southeast Asian languages has received growing attention in China since the official launch of China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” in 2013. In 2018, there were more than a hundred of Southeast Asian language programs in 56 institutions across China. Graduates from these programs, according to the Ministry of Education of China, will play a crucial role in facilitating interactions among governmental branches between China and many Southeast Asian countries. Even though the majority of Southeast Asian language programs have been developed since the 2000s, surprisingly little work has been published to address the current operational development of the Southeast Asian language programs. In which provinces can we find the majority of Southeast Asian language programs? What are the incentives and challenges of developing Southeast Asian language programs in individual Chinese provinces? To better understand the diverse developments of the Southeast Asian language programs, this paper examines how and why provincial locations may affect the institutional intended teaching and learning outcomes of the Southeast Asian language courses in contemporary China.

Keywords

Southeast Asian languages / language programs / Chinese provinces and municipalities / teaching goals

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