Thousands embrace Mandarin in Chile schools

SANTIAGO - Since learning Mandarin was formally introduced in Chile 12 years ago, more than 10,000 students have discovered the Chinese language, local daily El Mercurio reported on June 28.

Mandarin is taught at 16 city-run schools in five regions of the country these days, half of them in the southern region of Biobio, due to "a regional initiative to get closer to China", says Karina Pina from the Education Ministry.

Apart from learning a language that many believe will be in increasing demand as China becomes a leading global power, studying Chinese has the added benefit of increasing students' cognitive and artistic skills in other areas, says Pina.