Overseas visitors will be able to better appreciate the grandeur of the Forbidden City next year when foreign guides speak to them in their own tongue.
The museum announced yesterday that it is seeking 20 expatriates to volunteer as guides before, during and after the Beijing Olympic Games.
"We are the first public museum in China to try to recruit foreign volunteers," said Duan Yong, director of the museum's foreign affairs office, in an interview with China Daily.
The museum, which was the royal palace during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, drew 8.77 million visitors last year, including 1.5 million foreigners.
And the museum is seeking expatriate volunteers whose native languages are English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish or Arabic; and they should have basic Chinese language skills.
Candidates must be interested in Chinese culture and be able to volunteer for at least two hours per week; but it is not necessary that they know much about the Forbidden City, said Duan.
After they are recruited, volunteers will have part-time training courses at the Forbidden City for about three months, and start working in May 2008.
The museum, which began recruiting volunteers in 2004, has 185 Chinese on its roster, including about 20 who can speak English.
But with the number of foreign visitors to the museum rising every year, there is a growing demand for guides who can speak foreign languages.
Asked why the museum is specifically looking for foreigners, Duan explained: "We think that native speakers can explain things more accurately, and make foreign visitors feel at home."
Questions:
1. How many expatriates is the Forbidden City Museum looking for?
2. The Forbidden City was the royal palace during which two dynasties?
3. Name three of the languages the museum wants the expatriates to speak.
4. Why does the museum think it’s a good idea to have expatriates as guides at the Forbidden City?
Answers:
1.20 expatriates.
2.Ming and Qing dynasties.
3.English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Arabic.
4.They think it will help make visitors feel more at home and explain things more accurately to them.
（英语点津 Celene 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.
