Saudi Arabia OKs use of Mandarin language textbooks

Chinese language textbooks developed by a company in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, have been certified by the Ministry of Education of Saudi Arabia, marking the first set of foreign textbooks approved by that country.

The Smart Chinese textbooks, developed by the Wisdom House International Culture Communication Group Co, are meant for primary and high school students, the company said.

In line with the Standard for Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education, the company spent four years developing the books, which are specially designed for use in Arab countries, it said.

The books were created based on the experiences of Mandarin teachers working in Saudi Arabia. They combine traditional Chinese and Arabic cultures and customs, creating an innovative style of expression and presentation adapted to the reading methods and habits of Arab people, according to the company.

The textbooks focus on practical usage and promote interaction between teachers and students, with topics closely related to students' daily lives, it said.

The books are also equipped with digital teaching materials and classroom games to make it more interactive and appealing to students, it said.

Saudi Arabia has included Mandarin in its educational system, set up majors related to the language in nine universities and trained more than 300 local Chinese-language teachers, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The company believes that Chinese language education will have a broad market in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. To that end, it has signed cooperation agreements with multiple schools and institutions in Saudi Arabia, it said.

The company also set up an HSK test center in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia in October. Nine students took the on-site HSK test on Oct 16, and more than 60 students have signed up for the next test, it added.