A Study on the Trend of Changes in the Number of Chinese Learners and Their Chinese Proficiency in Southern Thailand in Recent Years

Abstract

Based on the statistics of Chinese language test (2013-2020) and scholarship (2009-2021) of Confucius Institute at Phuket, Prince of Songkla University in Thailand, this paper analyzes the trend of changes in the number of Chinese learners and their Chinese proficiency in Southern Thailand in recent years, and the conclusions are as follows: The Chinese education in Southern Thailand is booming in recent years, with a huge base of Chinese learners and a wide range of target audience, the level of Chinese proficiency is improving year by year. The Chinese learning time and learning engagement of learners in Southern Thailand are increasing in recent years. Chinese learners with intermediate level are gradually becoming the core force, while the number of advanced level Chinese learners is still small. The YCT test, which has been vigorously promoted in recent years, has objectively boosted the popularization of Chinese education in Southern Thailand among the underage and early childhood, however, the passing rate is too low and the promotion effect is far from expectation, which means the promotion strategy need to be improved.