Chinese as a second language?: The controversial decision that angers many Russian university students

Currently, 27% of the scientific articles studied in the Moscow University of Physics and Technology (MFTI, for its acronym in Russian) are written in Chinese. By 2030, the percentage could rise to 50% thanks to a new directive provided by management to make Chinese the mandatory second foreign language.

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This decision, which makes Chinese a compulsory subject within the curriculum, has provoked the rejection of a large part of the students, who have protested and started collecting signatures to have the decision annulled.

The students of the MFTI, considered one of the best higher education centers in physics and technology in Russia, fear that this decision will exclude the teaching of other languages ​​such as Spanish, French or German.

The directive seems to be aligned with the position of the Russian Government since it began the invasion of Ukraine, with the military operation ordered by Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022.

A position in which the Eurasian giant turned to see China as its main potential trading partner, replacing its European peers who mostly condemn the war waged by Moscow and have imposed sanctions on it.

This rapprochement was reflected in the visit made by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia last week, in which both he and Putin agreed to further promote their strategic relations.

Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a three-day official visit to Russia, during which he met with his counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss issues such as the war in Ukraine and bilateral cooperation. (PAVEL BYRKIN/)

SEED PLANTED LONG AGO

The relationship between the Chinese and Russians, however, has been simmering for several years.

As early as 2015, the Global Times newspaper reported on the initiative in some Moscow schools to teach Chinese from primary school, highlighting that most children preferred it over other languages, such as French.

In April of that same year, then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev encouraged an audience full of young people to study Chinese because it would give them “completely new life prospects”, during a presentation at the Gubkin University of Gas and Oil.

In April 2015, then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev encouraged university students to study the Chinese language because of the opportunities it could offer them.

By 2017, the Russian government had already included the Chinese language in the curriculum for high school students and soon after implemented a national Mandarin Chinese school exam.

Currently, 17,000 Russian students prefer to take their final foreign language exam in Chinese over English, according to data from the Rosobrnadzor school authority.

On the other hand, the Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport was the first in the country to implement signs in Chinese within its signage.

Sheremetyevo International Airport was the first in the country to implement signs in Chinese. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP /)

A little over a week ago, a chronicle from the AFP agency highlighted how the students of Kirill Burobin, a Chinese teacher in Moscow, had tripled since the invasion of Ukraine began. “Russians are opting for Chinese because Beijing has become our main partner for decades to come.”, highlighted Burobin.

And this was not only the case with Burobin’s classes. According to data from the main Russian digital advertising platform, Avito, those interested in signing up for a Chinese class increased by 138% between 2021 and 2022.

According to the same medium, this would also be reflected in the labor market. According to Natalia Danina, executive of the main human resources company in Russia, HeadHunter, the number of jobs that require knowledge of the Chinese language have increased by 44% since 2021, adding a total of 11,000 vacancies in the present.

Source: Elcomercio