The Overseas Compatriots Affairs Commission (OCAC) unveiled yesterday the country’s first online Mandarin learning tool, which aims to provide a more comprehensive service for students and teachers of OCAC-affiliated Chinese schools worldwide.
The Web site, which contains teaching and learning resources for learning Mandarin, Hakka and Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese), will showcase the high-quality education offered in Taiwan, OCAC chairwoman Chang Fu-mei (張富美) said at the launching ceremony.
“Chinese-language learning is a rapidly growing trend worldwide and has become a very big market. Taiwan should take advantage of its high-tech sector by combining it with its top notch Chinese teaching talent,” she said.
The digital learning tool at www.huayuworld.org is the result of two years of collaboration between the OCAC and the National Science Council (NSC).
The four major components of the Web site include community, school, yellow pages and products.
The site, Chang said, offers first-rate Chinese language teaching material, allowing students to interact with highly trained teachers on the Internet.
It also offers the latest information for individuals preparing to take the Chinese-language proficiency test, she said.
Teachers from various schools teaching Chinese worldwide can use the platform to trade teaching tips and other material.
Students are also encouraged to discuss their learning experiences in an online forum.
The OCAC and NSC also created an online learning center called Global Chinese Language and Cultural Center, which includes information on language learning and culture in Taiwan.
The OCAC has also launched the Overseas Huayu Digital Learning centers in 13 locations around the world, including Thailand, Japan, South Africa, Brazil, Australia, Canada and the US.
The centers are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that allow students to learn Chinese in a high-tech setting and with the assistance of qualified teachers.
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