Published 29 November 2024
Young people in West Dunbartonshire will learn Mandarin as part of a Chinese Exchange programme being delivered in schools.
In partnership with the University of Strathclyde and the Confucius Institute for Scotland's Schools, pupils at St. Peter the Apostle High School in Clydebank will be the first to benefit from the programme.
Along with introducing young people to an additional language, Chinese exchange teachers will provide cultural insights and pupils will experience new cultures and additional foreign language skills.
Once the programme is rolled out to secondary schools, there are plans to expand the offer to primary schools to join a project-based learning initiative focusing on China and Chinese New Year as well as lessons in Mandarin with rich cultural input.
Councillor Clare Steel, Convener of Educational Services, said: “This is an exciting partnership that will teach our children and young people Mandarin which is the most spoken language in the world, so this partnership will play a crucial role in giving pupils the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in an increasingly global economy. By offering opportunities like these to our young people, we can ensure they expand their knowledge and understanding of different cultures and improve their language proficiency.”
Councillor John Millar, Vice Convener of Educational Services, said: “This is a great opportunity for our young people who will not only get to learn an additional language, they will also be taught about different cultures. It is important for our young people to have the necessary skills and knowledge to compete in the global world.”