Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANGKOK6290
2006-10-13 08:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THE "CHINESE" AMERICAN CORNER
how-toVZCZCXRO8159 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHBK #6290 2860823 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 130823Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2301 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3075 RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0415 RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 3582 RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0062 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 0335 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 8715 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RULSDMK/NSA US WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 006290
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV OPRC TH CH
SUBJECT: THE "CHINESE" AMERICAN CORNER
REF: A. BANGKOK 6085
B. BANGKOK 6204
C. BANGKOK 4480
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, Reasons 1.4 (B, D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 006290
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV OPRC TH CH
SUBJECT: THE "CHINESE" AMERICAN CORNER
REF: A. BANGKOK 6085
B. BANGKOK 6204
C. BANGKOK 4480
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, Reasons 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) Emboffs visited the newly-renovated American Corner
(AC) at Khon Kaen University as part of a broader reporting
trip to Thailand's northeastern region (Reftel A, B).
During a luncheon held after meeting with the school
officials, university student volunteers at the AC approached
Poloff wondering whether Poloff spoke Mandarin Chinese (Note:
Poloff is ethnically-Chinese. End note.) and proceeded to
practice their Mandarin with Poloff for the duration of the
visit. All three student volunteers majored in English, and
minored in Chinese. Unsolicited, one student commented that
she preferred Chinese over English because it is "more
artistic." The other students stated that their interest in
Chinese was fueled by the prospect of employment after they
graduate.
2. (C) The students commented that while there are a number
of good, native-speaking English teachers at their school,
there is currently only one Chinese teacher from China. When
a school official overheard this comment, she interjected
excitedly that the Chinese teacher shortage would be improved
shortly because Khon Kaen University is currently negotiating
with a university in China (unnamed) to set up a "Confucius
Center" at the University to teach both Chinese language and
culture.
3. (C) COMMENT. While the reasons for Chinese-language
learning have been echoed elsewhere (Reftel C),it is
nevertheless ironic that Chinese was being spoken (and
China's economic affluence discussed) at an American Corner
function. Although Chinese is by no means "replacing" the
importance of English -- and by analogy China "replacing"
America -- it is quickly catching up in its level of
importance in the eyes of the Thai people. End comment.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV OPRC TH CH
SUBJECT: THE "CHINESE" AMERICAN CORNER
REF: A. BANGKOK 6085
B. BANGKOK 6204
C. BANGKOK 4480
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, Reasons 1.4 (B, D)
1. (C) Emboffs visited the newly-renovated American Corner
(AC) at Khon Kaen University as part of a broader reporting
trip to Thailand's northeastern region (Reftel A, B).
During a luncheon held after meeting with the school
officials, university student volunteers at the AC approached
Poloff wondering whether Poloff spoke Mandarin Chinese (Note:
Poloff is ethnically-Chinese. End note.) and proceeded to
practice their Mandarin with Poloff for the duration of the
visit. All three student volunteers majored in English, and
minored in Chinese. Unsolicited, one student commented that
she preferred Chinese over English because it is "more
artistic." The other students stated that their interest in
Chinese was fueled by the prospect of employment after they
graduate.
2. (C) The students commented that while there are a number
of good, native-speaking English teachers at their school,
there is currently only one Chinese teacher from China. When
a school official overheard this comment, she interjected
excitedly that the Chinese teacher shortage would be improved
shortly because Khon Kaen University is currently negotiating
with a university in China (unnamed) to set up a "Confucius
Center" at the University to teach both Chinese language and
culture.
3. (C) COMMENT. While the reasons for Chinese-language
learning have been echoed elsewhere (Reftel C),it is
nevertheless ironic that Chinese was being spoken (and
China's economic affluence discussed) at an American Corner
function. Although Chinese is by no means "replacing" the
importance of English -- and by analogy China "replacing"
America -- it is quickly catching up in its level of
importance in the eyes of the Thai people. End comment.
BOYCE