Chinese Language Gains Worldwide Popularity
Chinese language becomes the highlight of the 27th Expolangues in Paris

The 27th Expolangues fair, held at the Porte de Versailles in Paris from 14th to 17th, January, invited the European Union (EU) as guest of honor for the first time, but Chinese language was the highlight at the fair. The Hanban delegation attended the fair. Along with the delegation, representatives from seven Chinese publishing houses engaged in the Chinese language and culture, including the Commercial Press, also participated in the event. The space for Chinese exhibits covered 400 sqm, attracting many visitors with its diverse exhibits and shows.

Colorful Activities at Chinese Exhibition

The Expolangues, co-sponsored by the L'Etudiant media group and Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, is a leading language fair in Europe and the world. The 2008 fair is already its 27th event. Ithas been serving as the largest platform for the learning and teaching of world languges. Visitors have access to a range of books and teaching materials, as well as information on schools and travel services at the fair. The 27th event attracted more than 200 exhibitors with over 60 languages from more than 20 countries and nearly 100,000 visitors. The French weekly news magazine L'Express said in a report that amidst the global financial crisis, there is no cultural crisis and that Chinese language is even more highlighted against the current background.

The Chinese exhibition at the exhibition includes:

The section for Confucius Institutes presented 10 Confucius Institutes in France and the Confucius Classroom at Nouvelles d’Europe. Four teachers from the Confucius Institutes gave four Chinese language classes during the fair. At the “Chinese Culture Corridor” section, pictures reflecting daily life of ordinary Chinese people were displayed.

A 6 sqm screen in the center of the Chinese Exhibition introduced the latest information about Chinese learning and related Chinese cultural activities. In the interactive section, visitors enjoyed wonderful Chinese cultural performances. Confucius Institutes conducted traditional Chinese cultural activities there, such as the tea ceremony, making Chinese dumplings, playing traditional Chinese musical instruments as well as performing martial arts, calligraphy, traditional Chinese paintings and paper cutting. They also demonstrated how Chinese classes are conducted. The quiz with prizes attracted many visitors who seemed to love their Chinese-style gifts.

The Confucius Institutes also gave four lectures on Chinese learning at the fair. The lecturers, which include famous French sinologists, linguists, local government officials and executives from multi-national companies, talked about the relationship between Chinese language and employment, Chinese language and the overcoming of the financial crisis, and Chinese language and culture. Through the lectures, attendees acquired deep feeling about the important role that Chinese language will be playing in the world economy and the unique charm of Chinese language and culture.