1. From Education in Chinese to Chinese Language Teaching in Thailand Zhang Xizhen
Two Concepts
First Emerging and Falling down of Education in Chinese ( )
Second emerging and Falling down of Education in Chinese( )
Chinese Language Teaching after 1980’s

2. I. Two Concepts
“Education in Chinese”（中文教育） and “Chinese teaching”（汉语教学，中文教学）
Education in Chinese before 1980s
Chinese teaching after 1980s
Education in Chinese
Students: children of Overseas Chinese in Thailand
Classroom language: Chinese
Goal of the education: to set up China’s identity in students’ minds as a Chinese
School: Private Chinese schools

3. Chinese Language Teaching
Students: children of Chinese Thais in Thailand
Classroom language: Thai language
Goal of the education: learning Chinese as one of foreign language
School: common public schools and private schools
Different meaning in nature
“Education in Chinese”：learn native language
“Chinese teaching”: learn foreign language
Demarcation line: 1970s

4. First Emerging and Falling down of Education in Chinese (1918-1944)
Emerging of education in Chinese
Emerging
1918: private school regulation
1921: 30 schools
1928: 188 schools
1932: 200 schools
1938: about 300 schools
Reasons
Increasing of second generation of overseas Chinese
Associations of Overseas Chinese built many schools
Oversea Chinese businessmen financed education
Rama VI encouraged Chinese education
The government of Republic of China provided training of teachers

5. Falling down From 1938 to 1944: 240 schools were reduced to 2 Reason
Most school were closed
Reason
Piboom took over power by military coup
He pushed Thai nationalism
Suppressed Overseas Chinese
Chinese newspapers and schools were closed
Education in Chinese was moved to underground
Leaning groups ( students less than 7) at home

6. III. Second emerging and Falling down of Education in Chinese(1945-1988)
Emerging again
From 1945 to 1946:
Schools: up to 500
Students: 17500
By 1948: students: 60000
Education in Chinese was expanded to Middle school
Reasons
Piboom was replaced by The Free Thai government in 1944 that changed anti-Chinese policy
China became a victory power after the World War II which encouraged Chinese
China’s government provided support and aid (1946)

7. Falling down again Reasons 1948: 462 schools 1972: 162 schools
1978: Chinese teaching was limited in first four years in primary schools and 5 hours a day
All Chinese schools were changed into ones like public schools
No more education in Chinese
Reasons
Piboom came to power again in 1947 and resumed his Thai nationalism
Confrontation between Thailand and China
Parents’ interests turned from Chinese to English with globalization

8. IV. Chinese Language Teaching after 1980’s
Transformation period (1970s and 1980s)
Education in Chinese was changed into Chinese language teaching
Early emerging of Chinese language teaching ( )
Emerging
1978: Prince Songkla University: first bachelor degree in Chinese language
1996: Chulalongkorn University set up master progam in Chinese
2006: 71 universities offer Chinese teaching programs

9. Reasons Government’s adjustment of policy under pressure from public
Former Primer Minister appealed
1992: new proposal on Chinese teaching was approved by the parliament
Chinese was treated a foreign language to teach like English in all universities
Chinese language teaching can be expended to grade 5 and 6
Hours of teaching are increased.
Chinese teaching is encouraged in all schools
1998: Chinese was listed as one of foreign languages required for university admission exams

10. Unprecedented period of Chinese teaching(2006-present)
Manifestation
2011: about 2000 schools offered Chinese course and learning Chinese
2018: second foreign language, about learning
Reasons
Chinese influence was rising strongly with economic growing rapidly
China’s government’s support and aid
Confucius institutes and class were widely set up( 15，18 )
Chinese volunteers (2000）
Thai governments supports and aids
More important is royal family, especially Princess Sirindhorn

11. Thank you