爱尔兰高中生可以选修汉语，并在2022年在高考中选考汉语

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12月4日周一，爱尔兰教育与技能部部长理查德·布鲁顿公布了爱尔兰政府2017-2026外语教学战略，该战略计划在十年内让爱尔兰的教育体系成为欧洲第一，其中的一大重要举措就是将汉语纳入爱尔兰高中教育。
On Monday, 4 December, the Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, T.D. launched the Irish government’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017-2026. The Strategy aims to make Ireland’s education system the best in Europe within a decade, and the teaching of Chinese in our high schools is a major part of it.

目前全球局势日新月异，欧洲局势也在不断变化，爱尔兰要为即将面临的挑战做好充分准备。在英国退欧后，爱尔兰将会成为欧元区和欧盟内最大的英语国家。
In an ever changing global environment, Ireland is preparing for the challenges that lie ahead. Ireland is also preparing for a changed European environment. Once the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, Ireland will be the largest English speaking country in both the Eurozone and the EU.

这些挑战也带来了机遇。学校教授爱尔兰语意味着学生从小就能学习双语。爱尔兰将自己定位为一个屹立在全球经济中心的小而开放的经济体，这个定位也让我们的处境比较特殊。现在的新战略使我们得以最大化利用资源，并确保国家教育培训体系足以应对不断变化的全球环境。
These challenges also provide opportunities. The teaching of the Irish language in our schools means our children are exposed to bilingualism from a young age. Our position as a small, open economy at the centre of the global economy, also puts us in a unique position. This strategy will allow us to maximise our assets and ensure that our education and training service is well equipped to respond to a changing global environment.

将汉语列为爱尔兰高考选考项目是这个战略的重要组成部分。从2020年起，爱尔兰的高中生可以选修汉语，并在2022年在高考中选考汉语。
The introduction of the Chinese language as an option for the leaving certificate [Ireland’s Gao Kao equivalent] is a major part of the Strategy. Chinese will be taught at leaving certificate level from 2020 and examined in 2022.

“如果我们要在2026年前将爱尔兰的教育培训服务打造为欧洲第一，那就必须优先发展外语教学。英国退欧加上非英语国家全球地位的上升，意味着像我们这样的英语国家必须注重外语教育才能在当今世界保持领先地位。
‘If we want to have the best education and training service in Europe by 2026, we must make the teaching and learning of foreign languages a key priority. Brexit and the increasing importance of non-English speaking countries globally, mean that English-speaking countries such as our own, will need to put a new found importance on foreign languages in order to excel in the modern world.

除了经济因素外，外语教学也具有重大的社会文化意义。学习外语是了解并拥抱外国文化的最佳方式之一。”
“As well as the obvious economic advantages, the teaching and learning of foreign languages also has significant cultural and social importance. There are few more effective ways to understand and embrace another culture than by learning their language.'