Saudi Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL) Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan launched the Arabic Language Month program in Beijing and Shanghai.
Organized by the academy between March 28 and April 26, the program consists of a series of scientific programs and activities organized in collaboration with several educational institutions to develop Arabic language teaching curricula, improve the performance of teachers, and make it more widely spread.
The program also includes visits and meetings with Chinese universities that offer academic programs in Arabic, and with associations and centers interested in teaching and spreading the Arabic language in China, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Thursday.
KSGAAL Secretary-General Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi said the academy works actively to promote the Arabic language, including through this program that will raise the academy profile and strive to teach Arabic foreign speakers, and train teachers and improve their teaching competencies.
The academy, in cooperation with Beijing Language and Culture University, is scheduled to hold a scientific competition targeting Arabic language learners, for three categories: recitation, storytelling, and Arabic calligraphy.
The program lasts for four weeks, three in Beijing and one in Shanghai, and as part of it, a scientific symposium and two discussion panels will be held, scientific visits will be conducted, as will four training courses for teachers, aimed at developing language proficiency skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing), all focusing on employing active strategies in teaching Arabic as a second language.
The Arabic Language Month in China program is part of the "Scientific Programs on Arabic Language Teaching" project supervised by the KSGAAL. Several editions of the program have been implemented in several countries, such as India, Brazil, Uzbekistan, and Indonesia. The academy continues to offer this program as part of its international work at linguistic and cultural levels.
Also on Thursday, the Saudi Ministry of Culture announced the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award for Cultural Cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China at the King Abdulaziz Public Library branch in Beijing.
The award will foster creative cooperation and further the cultural dialogue between Saudi Arabia and China by introducing the achievements of the two countries to the academic, cultural, media, literary, and artistic communities.
It recognizes the contribution of Chinese and Saudi researchers, artists, linguists, and translators, and offers a grant to winners to support their work. It is bound to enhance collaboration and shared creative production as well.
Following the announcement, Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr and Peking University President Gong Qihuang met to emphasize the university’s pivotal role in furthering cultural collaboration between Saudi Arabia and China.
Prince Bader said: “The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Cultural Cooperation Award is a fundamental pillar for building cultural bridges and boosting ties between China and Saudi Arabia through the arts, literature, and academic research.”
“I am delighted to announce the commencement of the awards, which will celebrate the cultural heritage of our two countries and pave the way for ongoing partnership, encouraging a deeper appreciation and understanding,” he added.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Cultural Cooperation Award consists of four main categories: Cultural research and studies, including intellectual, literary, historical, artistic, and social research; artistic and creative works, including literature, visual and musical arts, short films, and technical or scientific creativity; Translations between the two languages, Including ISBN-identified works in the fields of culture, history, literature, and the arts; and the cultural personality of the year, given to one individual from each country who has made an outstanding contribution to culture through creativity, knowledge, and leadership.
Additional categories -- Young Researcher, Young Creator, and Young Translator -- are designed to encourage young Saudi and Chinese people to engage in cross-cultural communication.
Nominations are accepted from Saudi and Chinese individuals and government, private, and non-profit institutions. They can be submitted by completing the nomination form, which will be available on the award website.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Cultural Cooperation Award will culminate in an annual ceremony celebrating the two nations' shared cultural talent and the winners in each category.
