French Language in Hong Kong

Informer   Sat Dec 05, 2009 4:29 am GMT
French Language in Hong Kong

Native French speakers in Hong Kong number about 8,000, of which approximately 6,000 are French citizens. An estimated 50,000 people occasionally practice French, while 2% of Hong Kong’s total population of 7 million have studied the language.

Cantonese is the dominant and one of the two official languages (Cantonese & English) of Hong Kong. English is firmly established and is the language of business & communication due to the colonial history of Hong Kong. There has been a steady increase of the importance given to the Mandarin language since the retrocession in 1997.

Nevertheless, French language is an important determinant factor in the Hong Kong Education: French is one of the two foreign languages (Mandarin & French) that could be taken in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education (HKCEE). In 2006, 214 pupils chose French as their foreign language. The pupils can also choose French or German in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE - equivalent of French Baccalaureate).

http://www.consulfrance-hongkong.org/spip.php?article592
User   Sat Dec 05, 2009 7:07 am GMT
Well, French is in free fall in all the World.

We can see that in USA and European Union where less people study French at schools.

In countries like China, the tendencies come later. So, French will be very soon in decline in this country too.
Surfer   Sun Dec 06, 2009 4:24 am GMT
Well, Spanish is in sinking rapidly in all the World.

We can see that in USA and European Union where more and more people study Spanish at secondary schools but after graduation, they forget the language and never able to speak a simple sentence in Spanish. They just use it because it's the best stepping stone for easy graduation.

In countries like China, the tendencies come later. So, Spanish will be very soon in oblivion in this country too.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Xie   Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:46 am GMT
French and German are just similar in popularity. Few people know them to make it of any use.
Shuimo   Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:25 am GMT
Informer Sat Dec 05, 2009 4:29 am GMT
French Language in Hong Kong

Native French speakers in Hong Kong number about 8,000, of which approximately 6,000 are French citizens. An estimated 50,000 people occasionally practice French, while 2% of Hong Kong’s total population of 7 million have studied the language.

Cantonese is the dominant and one of the two official languages (Cantonese & English) of Hong Kong. English is firmly established and is the language of business & communication due to the colonial history of Hong Kong. There has been a steady increase of the importance given to the Mandarin language since the retrocession in 1997.

Nevertheless, French language is an important determinant factor in the Hong Kong Education: French is one of the two foreign languages (Mandarin & French) that could be taken in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education (HKCEE). In 2006, 214 pupils chose French as their foreign language. The pupils can also choose French or German in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE - equivalent of French Baccalaureate).

http://www.consulfrance-hongkong.org/spip.php?article592
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Shit!
Why Mandarin foreign in HK?