http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8297557.stm
Learn Chinese for free... in Liberia 
By Jonathan Paye-Layleh
BBC News, Monrovia
|
China is often criticised for taking from Africa but giving
little back. Not so in Liberia, where Chinese officials are moving into
quite new territory - language lessons.At the front of a
makeshift classroom in Monrovia's main sports stadium, Chinese teacher
Li Peng runs through the pleasantries all language students are
compelled to master. Good morning, good evening, please, thank you. Seated
on plastic chairs in front of him are about a dozen Liberians - most of
them young and keen to visit China, perhaps even study there.
 |
The Chinese are more open to us than the Americans are
John Cooper
Language student
|
At first the students are hesitant and even a little embarrassed. Forming the sounds of a new language is never easy. But the teachers are determined. "Learning Chinese may prove difficult but if they work hard they will make it," says Mr Li. During
one lesson he tells the class: "If you all want to go to China -
because China is a beautiful place - you have to learn Chinese."
China vs America
As in much of Africa, China is heavily engaged in post-war Liberia,
rebuilding roads with funding from the World Bank, managing hotels and restaurants, trading in medicines and other businesses.
Chinese mineral firm China Union became the largest investor in
Liberia when it signed a $2.6bn deal to go into iron-ore mining earlier this year. There is even a Chinese-language radio station
broadcasting across the country for the increasing number of migrant workers and expatriates. The growing trade ties explain why the Chinese embassy and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have decided to put on free two-hour classes in the afternoon, five days a week. Although attendances for the first few classes were sparse because of torrential rain in Monrovia, the students who did turn up were serious about the task. John Cooper, 57, from Monrovia, says the lessons reflect Liberia's changing political allegiances. "Traditionally Liberians are closer to the Americans than we are to the Chinese, but the irony is that the Chinese are more open to us than the Americans are," he says. "If the Chinese stay here with us for about 25 years, it will be good for us." A middle-aged woman attending the lessons agrees that the classes are important for the country. "In Liberia we speak only English and instead of learning French, we play with French - it is just too bad for a nation," she says. For others, like 40-year-old Tubman Nyennety, the motivation for doing the class is driven by personal ambition. "We need to learn Chinese because you never tell when you will have the opportunity to travel to China," he says. Another student, Musu Woodfor, recalls the difficulties she faced when she fled
the civil war to Liberia's French-speaking neighbours. "We learn French, so why not Chinese? The language barrier was a problem when we travelled as a result of the war."
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8297557.stm
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