Radio Taiwan International
Date: 06 May, 2020
By: John Van Trieste

The education ministry has started classes in the Hokkien and Hakka languages for immigrants to Taiwan. The initiative is part of the ministry’s adult education program.

Last year, the ministry’s Mandarin-language program for immigrants attracted more than 10,000 students. However, a survey of immigrants’ needs revealed that many need to master the Hokkien and Hakka languages.

Though long treated as mere dialects of Chinese, banned from schools, and discouraged in public life, they remain the home language of many Taiwanese families. They have also enjoyed promotion in recent years, with both now having dedicated television stations.
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