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SCMP Reporter

An increasing number of people in the territory are learning German.

  The language is taught at some tertiary institutes, inlcuding the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Baptist University.

  Students can also learn German at the Goethe Institut and private language centres.

  Currently there are about 750 people studying German at Goethe Institut.

  Li Yexuan, a German instructor at the University of Hong Kong, said the number of students taking German classes had risen.

  About six years ago, when East and West Germany were unified, the number of people studying German in Hong Kong rose sharply.

  'Hong Kong people are very quick in responding to world changes,' said Mr Li.

  'The unification of Germany means the setting up of a bigger country and, of course, a larger market. Having adopted a closed-door policy for about 40 years, Eastern Europe hungered for materials, technology and capital.

  'Hong Kong traders and businessmen would not miss such a golden chance to extend their business, and knowing German is definitely an advantage,' he said.

  German is the most widely spoken foreign language in some parts of Europe, including Switzerland, Holland and Russia.

  Mr Li said the opening of Eastern Europe also boosted tourism. 'People want to see the Berlin Wall or sunset in Prague.'   Learning German is not easy.

  Mr Li has taught the language in Hong Kong for 16 years.

  He was born in China and studied German at Beijing University.

  He started to teach at Goethe Institut in 1980 and four years later joined HKU.

  Mr Li said Hong Kong students suffered from lack of practice.

  'There are limited chances for them to write, speak and listen to German,' he said.

  Ho Ka-man is a secondary school teacher who studied German for three years at HKU.

  'I learned German because I've always wanted to visit Europe. I am interested in European art and languages,' she said.

  In 1995, Miss Ho went to Germany and took language classes for four weeks.

  'The Germany I saw was not exactly what I expected. There was less entertainment and fewer people. Sometimes I was bored,' she said.

  'But I learned about other cultures. I studied at a language institute where students came mainly from Eastern Europe, Japan and Hong Kong and I met a lot of people.

  'We also had a serious attitude to learning German. After all, we came all the way from Hong Kong to the other side of the world to learn a language.'   Miss Ho has stopped learning German but may take German classes again when time allows.

  She would definitely go to Europe again.

  'Practice is the key to learning a foreign language. Now that I have stopped learning German, I have almost forgotten the language,' she said.

  'I think it also applies to English. One has to speak the language in order to master it.' Sandra is a contributor to Young Post 



Territory shows increasing interest in German