The first training session for Egyptian Chinese language teachers to improve their teaching ability started on Sunday in Cairo.

Egyptian teachers attend the opening ceremony of a training class for local teachers teaching Chinese in Cairo University Confucius Institute, Egypt, Jan. 23, 2011. Some 42 Egyptian teachers teaching Chinese will have lessons by 6 teachers from China during the 3-day classes kicked off on Sunday.

The session, under the supervision of the Chinese Confucius institute, will concentrate on the exchange of experiences in teaching the Chinese language in Egypt and the enhancement of Egyptian teachers' ability to make better use of the textbooks.

The three-day training session will contain language and cultural courses by professors and instructors from famous Chinese universities such as Beijing University and Beijing Foreign Studies University, said Li Shengjun, head of the Confucius Institute at Cairo University.

Nearly 60 Egyptian Chinese language teachers, including 14 professors, from universities including Cairo University, Ain Shams University and Minya University will attend the training courses.

China has established 691 Confucius institutes and classes in around 69 countries until 2010, including nine in the Arab countries.