Huang Ping, an applicant for a program to teach Chinese in primary and secondary schools overseas, performs tai chi at her interview December 20, 2009. [China Daily]

Hundreds of college graduates Sunday attended interviews to be volunteer teachers of Chinese in Thailand, the Philippines and other Asian countries.

As many as 380 people turned out at the Minzu University of China for the recruitment drive organized by the Beijing Center of the Promotion of Chinese Overseas. This brings the total to almost 700 youths over the past two weekends.

Recruiters say they'll pick 300 people from Beijing to join between 1,000 and 1,500 people nationwide to teach Chinese in neighboring countries, starting next May, to meet the ever-increasing demand for Chinese teachers in foreign countries.

An official of the volunteer center of the Office of the Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), told METRO that Chinese teachers are in great demand because learning Chinese is now part of compulsory education in many primary schools in Asian countries such as Thailand.

"I heard from some education officials in the Thai government that they can't start Chinese teaching without Chinese teachers and volunteers," she said. Chinese teachers can be found in almost all the elementary schools in Thailand, according to her.

An official with the Beijing International Center for Chinese Language, said those who passed the interview would go through a five-month training period organized by Hanban. Successful candidates would then become volunteers and teach Chinese to primary and middle school students in Thailand, Philippines and other neighboring countries.

Each volunteer would receive US$800 in subsidies, with accommodation and medical insurance covered by the recipient school. Volunteers who perform well will be recommended to continue their graduate studies of teaching Chinese at universities when they return, she said.

The official added that the basic requirement for candidates is that they have to have a bachelor's degree, pass a Chinese-level test and a College English Band Four exam. Candidates were tested on Chinese grammar, pronunciation, blackboard writing and English.

Those with skills such as singing Chinese songs or dancing were preferred, she said.

Huang Ping, 24, a graduate from Yunnan University that majors in teaching Chinese as a foreign language, was one of the candidates. She said being a volunteer in a foreign country would not only improve her communicative skills and English but also expand her international experience.

"I feel that teaching foreigners Chinese is like spreading Chinese culture to foreign countries. It is a great job," she said.

"I've sent out 40 CVs recently but only got a couple of responses. The job market has been severely hit by the financial crisis, but I really hope I can get this chance."

Li Qianqian, 26, currently teaches Chinese in Thailand. She said Chinese teachers are very welcomed by Thai students.

"My students are very friendly. They are very enthusiastic about learning Chinese. Apart from the hot weather, I have nothing to complain about," she said.

The Chinese government has recently taken a series of intensified measures to expand the influence of the Chinese language worldwide.

There are 282 Confucius Institute branches worldwide in 88 countries and regions. More than 250 organizations and institutions are in the process of applying to set up institutes.

Between 2009 and 2013, up to 3,000 scholarships will be given to foreign candidates to study teaching Chinese as a foreign language around China, according to Hanban.

(China Daily December 21, 2009)