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The centre "Rafael Salinas' of Malaga is the first in Spain to offer Chinese classes for the unemployed.
Born out of a local need for Chinese translators the centre Director, Jose Luis Feito, took the decision to launch the new course but aimed specifically at those people who are currently out of work. “At the end of last Summer we advertised on the centre notice board, at the local employment centre and by word of mouth and we had over 100 applicants” he said.
“Because of the size of the facility available the number of students had to be limited to 15 but even at this early stage quite a number of them have already found employment”.
The course will be held over a period of six months and students will attend classes for five hours a day. Instructor, Charles Chen, a graduate in Hispanic Studies, explains that first step we need to take "is to break down the barrier, lose the fear and uncertainty of the language because Chinese is not so complicated, it is closely related to everyday life ".
Charles is a lover of the poetry of Antonio Machado and he encourages his classes to join in with Chinese songs at the end of the day. "It's to relax at the end of the class," he explains.
Maria Bejar is one of the students. She worked at a tax consultancy in Ceuta and is looking for new career opportunity. I want to start my own business and China may be a good customer. "My idea is to learn Chinese here at the college. I know I won’t be perfect but I hope to have enough that will allow me to continue at the School of Languages.
For her husband, Jose Luis Bravo, who also is a student, "Classes are quite entertaining. The former employee of a shipping company added that "We must study very hard and not only in the classroom. We must also spend many hours at home." But the effort is worthwhile. "Who thought that when I started in October I would soon begin to understand and write in Chinese. My progress is nothing short of amazing."
Another student Oscar Rondón, worked in a shop in Alicante until he lost his job. "I now read the notices in the local Chinese shops and try to talk to the assistants" he explains. He agreed with the other students that the teacher is one of the keys to the success of the course. "He has the technique so that we never get bored."
The ambition of Maria Vega, highlighted by Charles Chen as the top student, is getting back her job at the airport, where she previously worked. “Now that it will expand there will be serious job opportunities" she explains. Maria, who has much experience serving the public, speaks English, German and Arabic and has now added Chinese.
“At the end of the course, students will have attained a medium level, but they must continue to practice" said Professor Chen. “or they will quickly lose the knowledge that they have gained”.
For Professor Chen, who has now spent six years teaching the language in Spain, the fact that the Chinese language is gaining in popularity in the country is a source of pride, noting that his country "is already the second largest in the world".
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