A European Informational Website
learn more
Westerners did not take up the study of the Chinese language until the 16th century. However, after 2000, more and more Westerners are learning the language, owing to commercial and cultural reasons. In 2005, 117,660 foreigners, including Westerners, take the Chinese Proficiency Test, an increase of 26.52% from 2004.[1] From 2000 to 2004, the number of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland taking Advanced Level exams in Chinese increased by 57%.[2] An independent school in the UK made Chinese one of their compulsory subjects for study in 2006.[3]