Chinese Language in Belgium
Kelly Van de Paer
Taipei Representative Office in Belgium
2006
Overview
Introduction
pg. 2
Part 1: Primary Education
pg. 3
Part 2: Secondary Education
pg. 4
Part 3: Higher Education
pg. 6
Part 4: Adult Education
Conclusion
Appendix A: Schools offering Chinese language courses
Appendix B: Teaching in Belgium as a Foreigner
1
Introduction
Belgians have been interested in Oriental studies for several centuries already. In fact, the
history of Oriental studies (in the broad sense of the word) in Belgium goes further back than
the history of Belgium itself. Belgium became an officially independent country in 1830, but
during the 16th century oriental languages were already taught at the Catholic University of
Louvain. However, for a long time those languages were limited to the ones with a religious
and philosophical interest (e.g. Latin, Greek, Hebrew …).
At the beginning of the 20th century the Far East became more important as research subject.
Especially professor Etienne Lamotte caused the study of Far Eastern languages like Tibetan,
Classical Chinese, Sanskrit and Pali to make a big leap forwards.
Because of the turbulent events of the 1960’s1, the creation of an Oriental department had to
wait until the 1970’s. In 1974 the program of Oriental studies was expanded to a four year
curriculum. In 1978 the department of Oriental Studies was officially created. One year later
the first Sinology program was established with professor U. Libbrecht at its head.2
Meanwhile, almost three decades later, studying Chinese is more popular than ever. At the
moment both adolescents and adults are jumping to learn Chinese. Studying Chinese seems to
be the hype of the moment. 3 In this paper we will take a closer look at how the Chinese
language fits into the current Belgian education system. First we will take a look at primary
education, then secondary education, followed by higher education and finally adult education.
1
In 1968 the Catholic University of Louvain was divided into two parts: a Dutch-speaking university, the current
KUL in Leuven, and a French-speaking university, the current UCL in Louvain-la-neuve.
Source: http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/algemeen/geschiedenis.htm
2
Source: Sinologie aan de KUL by W. Vande Walle (http://sino.studentenweb.org/gesch_sin.php)
3
See appendix for the list of schools currently offering Chinese language courses
2
Primary Education
Primary education in Belgium takes 6 years, from ages 6 to 12. During these years children
learn basic skills like reading, writing and calculating. Foreign languages aren’t on the agenda
yet. Only in the fifth grade students will start to learn a language other than their mother
tongue. In the Flemish Community this language is French, while in the French Community
this language is Dutch.4 In both cases it concerns a national language. Children will only start
learning a foreign language in secondary education. It is therefore not surprising the Chinese
language isn’t on the curriculum of primary education in Belgium.
However, this doesn’t mean small children aren’t learning Chinese anywhere in Belgium.
More and more parents seem to find it increasingly important for their children to learn about
Asian cultures and languages and therefore take the initiative to find their child a private tutor.
Sinologists often get requests to teach children Chinese. 5 These requests don’t only come
from parents, but sometimes also from schools, organisations and even local governments.
Primary and nursery schools may organize a Chinese language course because several parents
have shown their interest in it. The course is simply an extra-curricular activity funded
through donations or the local government and takes place during the holidays.
A good example is Knokke-Heist where cooperation between the local government, schools
and an organisation specialized in teaching Chinese to children led to a five-day Chinese
introductory course6 for children and a twenty-day language holiday7 to China for children
and parents.
Also more and more private organisations offering several language courses start to focus on
children as well now. The organisation Chopsticks, for example, offers basic Chinese courses
for children aged 8 to 16.8
4
See http://www.restode.cfwb.be/pgres/programmes/index.htm for course schedules in French Community
schools.
See http://pbd.gemeenschapsonderwijs.net/leerplannenbao/lpbaoindex.html for course schedules in Flemish
Community schools
5
Requests are send to sinologists through e.g. the mailinglist sinoserv (http://sinalumni.studentenweb.org/ )
6
See http://inwoners.knokke-heist.be/files/jeugd/Zomer.pdf
7
See http://www.knokke-heist.be/nieuws/1563/default.aspx?_vs=0_N&id=4998
8
See http://www.chopsticks.be/
3
Secondary Education
Like primary education, secondary education in Belgium takes 6 years, from ages 12 to 18.
During secondary education several languages can be studied: Dutch, French, German,
English, Latin and Ancient Greek. So far the Chinese language isn’t on the menu yet. But it
might be in the future.
In both communities voices are rising and requesting Chinese to be put on the curriculum for
secondary education. In the Flemish community the Flemish Liberal-Democrat party (VLD),
in name of parliament-members Patricia Ceysens and Gilbert Van Baelen9, asked Minister of
Education Frank Vandenbroucke to create an optional course Chinese language in secondary
education. VLD sees Chinese as the language of the future because the Asian economy is
flourishing and the Chinese language is becoming increasingly important in scientific research.
Besides, other European countries, like France, are already teaching Chinese in their
secondary schools, so Belgium shouldn’t be left behind.
Thus far, Minister Vandenbroucke hasn’t granted their wish. During a parliamentary debate in
June, 2005, the minister said he doesn’t see the economic necessity to teach Chinese in
compulsory education because the internationalisation of the Asian business world has made
sure Asians learn how to speak English. He does however recognize the cultural importance
of Chinese. The minister also finds there are already enough opportunities to learn Chinese in
our education landscape. Through higher education, adult education and private initiatives
everyone can learn Chinese if they want to.10
In the French community it was parliament-member Alain Destexhe who pointed out the
importance of learning Chinese since it is the most spoken language in the world. He proposes
to have minimum one Chinese course per province on secondary level, or at least one in
Brussels and one in Walloon. For primary education, Mr. Destexhe urges the government to
finance and support all initiatives made by schools in this domain.11 Unfortunately for Mr.
Detexhe his pleas haven’t brought any results so far.
However, the debate on whether or not our children should study Chinese is still very much
alive. The latest poll suggests that even 80 percent of the population is pro Chinese at
school. 12 Professionals however have a more divided opinion. While quite a few of the
businessmen attending the trade mission led by minister-president Leterme to China last year,
9
See Het Nieuwsblad 20 July 2006.
You can find an overview of the debate at http://www.gatz.be/documents/chinees%20vandenbroucke.htm
11
See La Province 26 December 2005
12
Poll held by Nieuwsblad at the beginning of July 2006
10
4
came back shouting all students should start learning Chinese13, others think it is just a frenzy
that will die down soon enough. Boudewijn Bouckaert, chairman of think-thank Nova Civitas,
for example, considers teaching Chinese in secondary education an obvious sign of overkill.
According to Bouckaert Chinese is such a difficult language even the slightest mistake can
cause a dramatic change in meaning. It is better to use English than to cause damage with bad
Chinese. Besides, Bouckaert finds Asians are very willing to learn English and don’t expect
us to learn Chinese.14
13
14
http://www.weblex.irisnet.be/data/Crb/Bqr/2005-06/00014/images.pdf
De Standaard May 24, 2006
5
Higher Education
In Belgium we have two universities offering a four-year program including Chinese
language. As I mentioned in my introduction, the Catholic University of Leuven (KUL)
started its Sinology program during the seventies and has up to now the only program solely
devoted to Chinese language, culture and other aspects. The second program is the ‘Master of
Oriental Languages and Cultures’ program taught at the University of Ghent (UGent). As the
title suggests the program offers a variety of languages, of which Chinese is an option.
Both programs have become immensely popular the last year. While it was normal to have
only a small number of students enrolled, KUL has now 169 students studying Chinese, and
UGent 156. These are numbers never seen before and, while the hype continues, might still
increase.
Besides the two programs mentioned above, colleges offering programs for translators and
interpreters are putting Chinese on their curriculum more and more, while universities are
tending to start or expand their own Chinese language courses through affiliated language
centres or institutes.15 The University of Liège, for example, is home to a new Confucius
Institute. Founded in 2005, it offers several intensive Chinese language courses since
February 1st, 2006.16
As follow up to the increasing number of students studying Chinese in tertiary education,
VLD wants to create the Peking-project to stimulate this hype. In analogy with the Erasmusproject, which allows students to study at European universities, the Peking-project would
allow students to study at Asian universities in order to expand their knowledge and
capacities.17
Adult Education
Belgium has quite an elaborate network of schools offering adult education. Courses for
adults usually take place in language centres affiliated to a university or secondary school.
15
See Appendix A for a list of Chinese language courses in Belgium.
For more information on their courses see http://www.ulg.ac.be/enseignement/confucius/
17
See www.vld.be for more news on the Peking-project
16
6
Conclusion
Appendix A : Schools offering Chinese language courses
University
Department
or
Language
Centre
Catholic University of
Leuven
Sinology
Number Remarks and website address
of
students
studying
Chinese
(20052006)
169
http://sinology.arts.kuleuven.ac.be/
CLT
(Centrum
voor
Levende
Talen)
Sinology
241
http://www.clt.be/home/indexen.htm
6 levels
156
http://www.southandeastasia.ugent.be/
University of Liège
Confucius
Institute
/
http://www.ulg.ac.be/enseignement/conf
ucius/
Catholic University of
Louvain-la-Neuve
Institut de
100
Langues
Vivantes
Department Number
of
students
studying
Chinese
Language
45
Courses
Higher
50
Institute for
Translators
and
Interpreters
University of Ghent
Colleges of higher
education
Groep T Leuven
Hogeschool Antwerpen
Cooperation between :
-Haute Ecole Léonard de
Vinci
-Haute Ecole de
Bruxelles
http://www.groept.be/T/talen/index.htm
http://www.hivt.be/home.htm
http://www.ilmh.be
Master in translation English-Chinese.
Evening classes Chinese also possible.
Institut
Libre Marie
Haps
Higher
Institute for
Translators
http://www.ilv.ucl.ac.be/
4 levels (elementary, intermediate,
advanced, specialized)
Remarks and website address
124
http://www.heb.be/isti/
Master in translation English-Chinese.
7
-Haute Ecole Francisco
Ferrer
Institut
Cooremans
Katholieke Hogeschool
Mechelen
Other: Centres for
Adult Education, …
Evening
courses
http://www.brunette.brucity.be/ferrer/ind
ex.html
Master in translation English-Chinese.
45
http://www.khm.be
CVO Zelzate
Number Remarks and website address
of
students
studying
Chinese
69
http://www.gltt.be
2 levels (elementary, intermediate)
146
http://www.scvo-talen.be/
2 levels (elementary, intermediate)
68
http://www.hitek.be
3 levels (elementary, intermediate,
advanced)
80
http://www.cvoroeselare.be
1 level (elementary)
15
http://www.cvo-godelieve.be
2 levels (elementary, intermediate)
33
http://www.ivobrugge.be
1 level (elementary)
/
http://www.leerwatjewil.be
1 level (elementary)
42
http://www.janitor.be
1 level (elementary)
/
http://www.uwcvo.be/
1 level (elementary)
12
http://www.isbo-sl.be
CVO VTI Aalst
6
LBC Sint-Niklaas
24
PCVO Gent
150
CVO DTL Herentals
73
CVO Deurne
32
CVO Mechelen
30
CVO Turnhout
29
PCVO Moderne Talen
79
GLTT Brussels
SCVO Talen Antwerpen
CVO Hitek vzw
CVO Roeselare
CVO St.Godelieve
Brugge
IVO Brugge
CVO Aalst/Opwijk
CVO Janitor St. Niklaas
CVO Lokeren
http://www.cvovti-aalst.be/
1 level (elementary)
http://www.lbc9100.be/index.html
1 level (elementary)
http://www.pcvo-gent.net
3 levels (elementary, intermediate,
advanced)
http://www.dtl.be
1 level (elementary)
http://www.cvodeurne.be
1 level (elementary)
http://www.cvomechelen.be/
1 level (elementary)
http://www.cvoturnhout1.be/
3 levels (elementary, intermediate,
advanced)
http://www.pcmt.be
8
Hasselt
CVO Leuven
‘t Dakhuus Brasschaat
1 level (elementary)
http://www.cvoleuven.be
3 levels (elementary, intermediate,
advanced)
http://www.dakhuus.org
Travel courses (start summer 2006)
http://www.talenthuis.be
Personalized program taught individually
or in small groups.
http://schoolweb.argo.be/cvo/kempen/Ge
elcursus.htm
2 level (elementary, intermediate)
Talen(t)huis
22
CVO Kempen
54
CVO Merchtem
St.-Donatus
53
http://www.o-m.be/
2 levels (elementary, intermediate)
CLL Bruxelles
45
Vereniging België-China
230
Institut des Langues
Modernes
Liège
31
http://www.cll.be
Evening courses for beginners +
personalized private courses
http://www.belchin.be
Provide courses for both children and
adults
http://www.institutdeslanguesmodernes.c
om/
2 levels (beginner and intermediate)
NOTE: This list might not be complete since new courses are started on a regular basis.
9
Appendix B: Teaching in Belgium as a foreigner
I. Requirements
Anyone that wants to start teaching in primary or secondary education will have to fulfil
certain requirements in order to be hired by a school. Concretely these requirements concern:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Nationality
Civil and Political Rights
Language
Teaching Capabilities
Medical Fitness
a) Nationality
If your country of origin belongs to the European Union (EU) or the European Free Trade
Association (EVA), you fulfil the nationality requirement automatically.
If you are an official Belgian resident, than proof of moral behaviour suffices to fulfil the
nationality requirement.
If you are an official resident of another EU or EVA country, than you have to provide proof
of equivalency.
If you have still another nationality, you need to have a labour card. Moreover you can only
be hired after exemption of the nationality requirement. The school will request this
exemption for you at the Ministry of Education.
b) Civil and Political Rights
You can prove your civil and political rights by providing a certificate of moral behaviour.
You can get this from the local authorities. Ask for model 2.
Do keep in mind you will not receive this certificate immediately. The police will first check
your background. Moreover the chief of police is required to give motivated advice. This
measure became active in 2002 to optimally protect the children a teacher comes into contact
with daily.
Should your certificate mention a prior conviction, this doesn’t automatically mean you will
not be allowed to become a teacher. Being convicted to a prison sentence of more than four
months does mean you have lost your civil and political rights.
Remark: A certificate of moral behaviour can not be older than one year to remain valid.
c) Language
A teacher has to prove his proficiency of the teaching language, Dutch for the Flemish
Community or French for the French-speaking Community. If you have a diploma in Dutch or
French, you automatically fulfil the language requirement. If not, it is sufficient to pass a
language exam on the ‘thorough knowledge’ of Dutch or French.
10
A language teacher also has to provide the required degree to teach the language he
specialized in.
If you don’t fulfil the language requirement at the moment, but the school can not find another
candidate, the school authorities can request a language diversion for you. This way you
might be able to start teaching. It is however a temporary solution. The language diversion
can only be requested up to three times for one school year.
d) Teaching Capabilities
You also have to prove whether you are capable of being a teacher by providing a copy of
your diploma. For each specific teaching job the Community governments determined a
capability proof. This proof includes a basic degree (e.g. master degree) and possibly proof of
pedagogical capabilities (e.g. teacher training) and/or experience.
To teach with a foreign diploma, there are specific rules:
If you are a resident of the European Union and you followed a training of minimum 3 years
in higher education at a recognised European education institution, than you can let your
diploma be professionally recognized following the European Guideline.
In other cases you can have your diploma declared an academic equivalent of a Belgian
diploma.
e) Medical Fitness
You can prove your medical fitness by getting a certificate from your physician. To teach in
subsidized education, your health may not endanger the health of the students. In community
education you can not have any diseases or handicaps that make it impossible for you to teach.
The certificate can not be older than one year.
II. Salary and Benefits
Determining a teacher’s salary is rather complicated, but there are some basic principles.
The following factors are important to determine how much you earn exactly:
- Your job title
- Are you a temporary teacher or permanently appointed?
- Your administrative condition: Are you active or put on non-active?
- Your degree(s)
- Do you work fulltime or part-time?
- Is this your main profession, or your secondary profession?
- Your years of experience
- Civil status and family composition
- Extra activities e.g. supervision during lunch break, …
Besides your monthly salary, a teacher is entitled to certain benefits. For some benefits
however, you will need to fulfil certain conditions. The possible benefits are:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Holiday Bonus
End of the Year Bonus
Costs for travel between Work and Home
Hearth and Status Compensation
Maternity Bonus
11
f) Child Care Benefit
g) Union Bonus
h) Extra fee or compensation for special certificates or degrees
a) Holiday Bonus
If you worked in education the last year and exercised a principal function, you will receive a
holiday bonus. The bonus comprises a fixed amount and a variable amount. The variable
amount depends on the time you worked the last year.
b) End of the Year Bonus
If your wages are paid by the government and you exercise a principal function you will get
an end of the year bonus. This bonus also comprises a fixed amount and a variable amount.
The variable amount depends on the time you worked last year and the position you filled.
c) Costs for travel between Work and Home
If you come to work by public transportation or by bicycle, your costs can be reimbursed.
Expenses for public transportation are fully paid by your employer. If you come to school by
bicycle, you receive 0.15 euros for each kilometre.
d) Hearth and Status Compensation
Any teachers with a modest income can request an extra compensation. Depending on your
income and family situation you can get a hearth or status compensation.
To get hearth compensation you need to be married or living together, or be a single parent
with at least one child for which you receive child care benefits. Besides, your annual wages
can not be higher than a certain limit.
If you can not get hearth compensation, you might still be able to get status compensation if
your annual wages are lower than the limit set. This compensation is smaller than the hearth
compensation.
e) Maternity Bonus
If you are going to be a mother or a father, than you can get a maternity bonus.
f) Child Care Benefit
Once your child is born, you can get child care benefits. This starts the first month after birth
and ends when the child leaves the house or turns 25.
g) Union Bonus
If you are a member of a trade union, your employer repays you part of your membership
through a union bonus. You are required to be with the union for at least one year.
h) Extra fee or compensation for special certificates or degrees
12
In some cases a teacher can get an extra fee based on a certain certificate or diploma (e.g.
degree of higher pedagogical studies, bachelor or master in psychology,…) he has.
To get this fee or compensation, you should send a copy of the certificate or diploma to the
Ministry of Education.
Source: http://www.ond.vlaanderen.be and http://www.enseignement.be
13