Many locals try to improve language skills

João Laurentino Neves

With a rapidly growing economy, more residents are aware that they have to remain competitive by engaging in advanced studies. Many have thus chosen to improve their linguistic knowledge, picking up a “second language” of which they have already learned the basis, or even learning up a new one altogether.
In Macau, English is the default second language for many schools, and graduates of local secondary schools are guaranteed to at least possess basic English communication skills. Therefore, many will look to other languages for post-graduate studies.
The Times has spoken to the directors of the Portuguese Institute of the Orient (IPOR) and the Alliance Française in Macau to assess whether there is an increasing interest in learning Portuguese or French. Both directors said that they have witnessed a surge in the number of people who want to study those languages.
João Laurentino Neves, the director of IPOR, told the Times that there are more than 4,300 students taking different Portuguese language courses offered by the Institute. “The basic motivation for people to come and learn Portuguese is that they find it useful for their daily work,” the director said.
Mr Neves also pointed out that some IPOR students want to pick up a new language because they think it will enhance their career paths and create future travel opportunities. “This is mostly for young people. They feel that if they learn a new language, it is not because they can use it at work already. They feel that [learning Portuguese] is an excellent option they have been given. And as Macau is now pretty much working as a platform [for communication] between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, people feel that, somehow, there is an opportunity in there – that [Portuguese] is the language for the future.” Mr Neves added that it is encouraging for IPOR to see young people, such as secondary school students, deciding to study Portuguese because they see it as the second language they should know besides English.
The director also suggested that there are students who want to learn Portuguese because of changes in their current workplaces that require them to use the language.
In terms of the performance and attitude of the students, Neves said that he “has a lot of respect for people” who study in IPOR, especially for those who attend classes after work. “People coming to us at that time of the day after a day’s work, it requires a lot of courage,” he said. “They come here because they really want to. [Students] put their effort into it… We have people here [in IPOR] that are giving us some of their precious time, and they do it with enthusiasm because they really want to learn Portuguese.” Neves believes that this gives IPOR a major responsibility, which not only requires the Institute to teach people the language, but to render them competent.
Commenting on the revival and growing popularity of the Portuguese language in Macau, director Neves thinks that a major factor behind the phenomenon is the Chinese central government’s decision to put the Portuguese language and the Portuguese-speaking countries on the political agenda, as well as Macau’s historical and geographical conditions. Although he observed that the Portuguese learning in Macau is mostly linked to practical uses for it, the director said that it is still a good phenomenon. “I don’t see any problem if the main motive for people to learn Portuguese at this moment is for business and commerce and corporate use,” he said.
Currently, the intensive course offered by IPOR is covered by the Continuing Education Scheme of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ). The director said that the Institute and the authorities have discussed the possibility of including all their general courses within its coverage. However, the scheme has specific requirements of the duration of the courses that it supports, and the length of IPOR’s general courses is longer than the limit stipulated by the scheme. Neves said that they will continue to discuss the issue with the Bureau.

Xavier Garnier

Apart from Portuguese and English, French is another foreign language that is popular among Macau residents. Since its establishment in 1987, the Alliance Française of Macau (AF Macau) has been the major French language education provider in town. And according to Xavier Garnier, the AF Macau director, the number of people learning French in Macau has been increasing in recent years. “In the recent years, [the number of students in AF] does increase actually. In 2014, I think we have more than 800 students and last year (2013) it was more than 700,” he said. Garnier attributed the increase in student numbers to the fact that some of the French courses at AF had been covered by the DSEJ Continuing Education Scheme as of around two years ago.
The director also suggested that people want to learn French for various reasons. Some of them want to travel to France while others learn for pleasure. There is also a rising number of students in AF Macau who are from the mainland and want to study in France in the future.
In light of the increasing interest in travelling to France, AF Macau has rolled out a package to allow students to study in the AF in France for two weeks, in cities such as Nice or Vichy.
Garnier said that it is not true that people only study French for pleasure. “For most of the students, they have a goal, either to study in France or to travel there. It can be for personal reasons as well. They might want to communicate with French people. For example, they may have a French friend or partner. So, they are not only studying French for fun,” he said.
Speaking about the benefits of learning French, the AF director said that French is an international language and is still spoken in many countries. Thus, the language is not only useful in France but also in Francophone countries, such as Canada and those in Africa.
In terms of the performance of the students in AF, Garnier said that since the Macau students who want to learn French are usually those who can speak a decent level of English, it is easier for them to learn French. “In the beginning [of a course], the teacher may use some English or Chinese. But very soon, maybe in three months, the teachers would be able to conduct the class in French,” he said.
Moreover, he said that people are not only trying to learn the French language; they also want to know more about the culture. “We organized concerts of French singers and it was really successful. Many people came. We also organized exhibitions, masterclasses and workshops. So it’s not only about language. People coming here are also interested in the culture,” he said. Garnier added that AF Macau also wants to emphasize French culture, and to promote it through language education. “Macau has a European atmosphere. So I think that in the AF Macau, it’s a good place to feel the European culture,” he said.