新西蘭政府資助學校推廣亞洲語言課程

The New Zealand government announced an extension of Asian language programs in Schools last Tuesday to meet the growing demand.

新西蘭政府於上週二宣佈，將在學校擴展亞洲語言教學項目以滿足日益增長的需求。

Education Minister Hekia Parata said the government would fund new or expanded Asian language programs at 63 schools across the country.

該國教育部長海基亞·帕拉塔稱，政府將在全國63所學校投資新建或擴展亞洲語言教學項目。

Overall, 203 primary and secondary schools across New Zealand were receiving support for Mandarin, Japanese or Korean language programs.

目前，新西蘭全國共有203所中小學接受資助，用於開展中文、日文和韓文的語言教學項目。

"The benefits that students get from these programs will help them thrive in a global economy," Parata said in a statement.

帕拉塔在一則聲明中表示，學生從這些項目中獲得的益處將有助於他們在經濟全球化過程中茁壯成長。

Schools were working together to share resources and teaching skills, and many were establishing links with language and cultural organizations helping them to get the most out of the program.

這些學校會互相分享教學資源與方法，許多學校也和語言與文化組織建立聯繫，以增強教學效果。

"We also know that primary and secondary schools are working together to offer students the opportunity to learn languages earlier, and continue their learning right through to end of secondary school," she said.

帕拉塔說：“我們也知道新西蘭的中小學正互相合作，讓學生有機會能更早開始學習亞洲語言，並持續學習至中學畢業。”

A survey by the Asia New Zealand Foundation in March showed New Zealanders were feeling more connected to and positive about Asia despite rising concerns over the effect of Asian investment on areas such as house prices.

亞洲新西蘭基金會今年3月發佈的一項調查結果顯示，儘管對於亞洲人在國內增加投資所引發的如房價上漲等問題表示擔憂，但新西蘭人對亞洲的觀感也越來越正面，聯繫也越來越強。

However, 63 percent of people said they knew little or nothing about Asia, and 82 percent felt it was important for New Zealand to develop economic and cultural ties with the region.

不過，63%的受訪者表示，他們對亞洲一無所知或瞭解甚少。有多達82%認爲，與亞洲發展經濟與文化聯繫，對新西蘭來說是重要的。

It also found 51 percent of people reported having at least a fair amount to do with Asian peoples and cultures - up from 30 percent in 1998.

調查也發現，有51%的新西蘭人表示與亞洲人或亞洲文化有一定程度上的接觸，較1998年調查時的30%有了顯著的增加。