Compared with last year’s 200 candidates, this year's number rocketed to over five hundred and most of them are Dutch. They are from all walks of life, with different purposes of learning. Some want to learn Chinese to do business or travel in China, some learn Chinese just because they love Chinese culture. Moreover, candidates also varied in age: the oldest, Mr. Xu Wenyuan is 83 years old; he took level two, and learning Chinese is his dream of life. The youngest is only 7 years old.
The HSK test also affected the feeling of candidates’ parents, and Chinese teachers from both Dutch secondary schools and Chinese schools. Many Chinese schools organize students to register and participate in the examination collectively. June 20 was a Sunday, but many Chinese school principals and teachers gave up their rest to accompany their students. They hope to check the effect of teaching via HSK test, thus promoting the improvement of teaching methods. Many parents from faraway places like Groningen also came to the test site after several hours’ ride, waiting quietly outside the examination rooms.
The new HSK has won wide acknowledgement of candidates. In their eyes, the new HSK is designed on a practical basis; there are also pictures in level one and level two, which makes the test more interesting. Many candidates took the initiative to ask about the test time of next year and they wish to take the test then.
Confucius Institute The Hague has done a lot to prepare this test: from the mobilizing work at the early stage, publicizing and organizing all Chinese schools, and sorting out candidate's registration information, to contacting and arranging examination rooms, and recruiting and training volunteers for the test. It was our constant effort that guaranteed the test going on smoothly. The 30 volunteers performed the duties conscientiously and strictly in accordance with the procedures for invigilating the test; which also contributed to the success of the test.
The test also received substantial support from Erasmus Gymnasium. The school principle Mr. Shi went to see the candidates and all working staff that day. Mr. Peter, the person in charge of managing classrooms, the Chinese teacher Miss Wang Jingyi and two computer technicians all spared no efforts in coordinating the test.
We hereby sincerely appreciate the strong support from all sides! |
On June 20th, 2010 HSK in the Netherlands was held in Erasmus Gymnasium Rotterdam, 524 candidates from all over the Netherlands took the examination; the number peaked again this year. It is the first time Confucius Institute The Hague has held the new HSk, the written part of is divided into six levels according to varying difficulty. Level one, three and five were arranged in the morning, level two, four and six in the afternoon; there were altogether 12 examination rooms.