Chinese is notoriously one of the world's most difficult languages, but Beijing authorities are now trying to make it a little easier with a special Web site for foreign learners.
Sponsored by the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, www.linese.com was launched over the weekend, offering online training, volunteer help and search services, Xinhua News Agency said.
Interest in learning Chinese, especially the main national standard known as Putonghua, is exploding, presumably aided by the rapidly growing economic importance of China.
"The Web site features multimedia technologies including online interactive courses, virtual communities, blogs and podcasts," said Zheng Zhongxiu, leader of the team which prepared the Web site. So far, it is in Chinese and English only, but authorities are preparing additional versions in Korean and Japanese.
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