The university consortia include the Al Akhawayn University of Morocco, the Beijing Foreign Studies University and Peking University of China, the Tecnologico de Monterrey University of Mexico, the University of Ghana and the Macquarie University of Australia.

CNN: 'Scholar Ship' ready to set sail

"Studying language is a gradual thing, " advises Chen Shu, a professor of English at the Beijing Foreign Studies University.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia