Why Study Chinese?
What you might already know
- China is one of the world’s oldest and richest continuous cultures, over 5000 years old.
- China is the most populous nation in the world, with 1.28 billion people.
- One fifth of the planet speaks Chinese. Mandarin Chinese is the mother tongue of over 873 million people, making it the most widely spoken first language in the world.
- In addition to the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, Mandarin Chinese is also spoken in the important and influential Chinese communities of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, and Mongolia.
- China is the second largest economy in the world.
- China is one of largest trading partners of the United States.
- Many US companies do business in China and have long-term investments there.
Things to consider
The study of the Chinese language opens the way to different important fields such as Chinese politics, economy, history or archaeology. But to study Chinese finally means to study a culture, a people. At the heart of Chinese civilization is its rich heritage of novels, short stories, poetry, drama, and, more recently, film. They reflect the values, the struggles, the sensibility, the joys and the sorrows of this great people and often offer insights even into the most intimate feelings of people in the past or into high-level Beijing politics at he present that cannot be found anywhere else. These works help you understand what is behind the language, what makes it powerful, and how it actually functions in Chinese society. To be at ease and effective in a Chinese environment learning the language is half the battle, but knowing about the culture behind the language is the other.
Some surprising facts
Chinese has a relatively uncomplicated grammar. Unlike French, German or English, Chinese has no verb conjugation (no need to memorize verb tenses!) and no noun declension (e.g., gender and number distinctions). For example, while someone learning English has to learn different verb forms like “see/saw/seen,” all you need to do in Chinese is just to remember one word: kan. While in English you have to distinguish between “cat” and “cats,” in Chinese there is only one form: mao. (Chinese conveys these distinctions of tense and number in other ways, of course.)
The basic word order of Chinese is subject — verb — object, exactly as in English. A large number of the key terms of Mandarin Chinese (such as the terms for state, health, science, party, inflation, and even literature) have been formed as translations of English concepts. You are entering a different culture, but the content of many of the modern key concepts is familiar.
Remember these two facts:
- Currently Mandarin Chinese is spoken by over 1 billion people around the world, about one fifth of the global population;
- Each year more and more students around the world whose mother tongue is not Mandarin are studying it with enthusiasm and success. If they all can learn it, so can you!
The study of Chinese literature and culture will help you bridge the cultural gap, better understand your Chinese counterparts, and create a platform of knowledge and understanding with them that is crucial for effective communication.
Chinese is important for your career!
- International businesses prefer to hire people who speak more than one language. China has become a huge market, and business leaders are looking for people who can speak Chinese and operate successfully in a Chinese cultural context.
- Knowing Chinese may give you an edge when competing for an important position.
- China will play a major role in world affairs in the future. As China now has opened up to the West, there are opportunities for employment in all areas.
- China is a wonderful country in which to teach English while developing your language and cultural skills. The experience is great, and it’s something you will never forget.
- Teach in China A program offered through the Council on International Education Exchange.
- China Employment Center at China Online.
- Greater China Job Listings from Wang & Li Asia Resources.
- Job Information Journal: China ESL Cafe’s journal of various job experiences in China, including places you should avoid when looking for employment.
Study Abroad
At Boston University we offer a Shanghai Study Abroad Language and Culture Program and an Internship Program. Our programs are at Fudan University, which is ranked as the number three university in China. Students have the opportunity to spend a summer, semester, or year studying Chinese, taking elective courses in English, and even having an internship in the vibrant city of Shanghai. No prior knowledge of Chinese language is required to study abroad in Shanghai, but students will be required to study Chinese while in the program. Students in the Language and Culture program study two semesters’ worth of Chinese in one term. In the Internship Program, students can choose to study Chinese at the normal semester pace or at an intensive pace.
Chinese Events
Each year students and faculty organize a celebration of the Chinese New Year with food and student performances. More than a hundred students participate. There also is a student competition and prize for the best Chinese-English translation, the best short story and the best essay or poem written in Chinese. We also invite guest speakers to talk about China-related topics. The lively Chinese-language club is one of the more active student organizations on campus.
REASONS WHY LEARNING CHINESE IS IMPORTANT
CHINESE IS THE MOST SPOKEN LANGUAGE IN THE WORLD
Yes, this is the first and the most important reason why you should study Mandarin. If you’re going to learn another language, why not make it the language that’s the most spoken in the world? More than 1.2 billion people speak Chinese.
Not only is Chinese spoken in China, but it’s also spoken in Singapore and Taiwan. Chinese-speaking people live worldwide, and if you’re a professional, it’s more than likely that one of your clients, suppliers, or colleagues will speak Mandarin.
SPEAKING OF CAREERS, LEARNING MANDARIN WILL HELP YOU GAIN MATURITY
There’s always room for growth, especially as we move into a new calendar year.
A study by Smart Study found that 95% of people who took part in their study admitted that studying another language abroad served as a catalyst for increased maturity.
This means that those people who questioned why they should learn Mandarin eventually traveled to China, studied at a Mandarin language school, and gained a new level of maturity because of the increased knowledge.
IT LOOKS GOOD ON YOUR CV
Chinese language skills are scarce in some companies, even for companies that do a lot of business. With Mandarin being needed in business, knowing the language will make you an attractive employee.
If you know Mandarin, the company you’re applying for will see you as a valuable person. After you’re hired, why not suggest holding some sessions with your co-workers to help them learn the Mandarin language too. Everyone can benefit from learning even the basics.
CHINA’S ECONOMY IS GROWING
Are you wondering how China’s economy has anything to do with why you should study Mandarin?
The country is experiencing overwhelming growth, which means the economy is expanding, and China’s popularity is booming. Not only does China have one of the most important economies in the world, but interest in the language and culture is growing.
With China’s growth comes the push to know the language. Companies and individuals require professionals who understand Mandarin Chinese.
The Chinese language is the official language in six countries, and it’s one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
The growth that China is experiencing is expected to continue. So, stop wondering why you should learn Mandarin… and study it instead!
CHINESE HELPS PERSONAL GROWTH
The Chinese language may seem daunting. The non-lettered alphabet and the different tones, but we promise you it’s not as daunting as it seems.
Teachers at Keats School know that you’re questioning why learning Mandarin is important. We will spend the needed time with you as students to make sure you understand the language, the practice, and why this language will benefit your future before moving ahead in the course.
The Chinese culture is amongst the most eye-opening and intricately woven cultures in the world. We have many customs, traditions, and language characters to learn. When you learn Mandarin, not only do you learn the language, but you learn the Chinese way of life too. It may be surprising to you how different life can be. These experiences and language skills will deepen your personal growth.
BRAIN EXERCISE
Did you know that learning Chinese utilizes areas of the brain that other languages do not? Studies have been done on this, which means learning Chinese takes intensive brainpower.
English speakers use the left temporal lobe. Mandarin speakers use both! In addition to using both sides of your temporal lobe, bilingual people are better at prioritizing and multitasking than monolingual people.
If you want to increase your brain power and keep your brain on the ball, it’s time to learn Mandarin at Keats School
CHINESE LANGUAGE REPRESENTS CHINESE CULTURE AND CHINESE TRADITIONS
Many people are very fascinated by the profound Chinese culture and Chinese history. However, by learning Chinese, you can easily get to know Chinese culture. All different grammar structures represent the logic that Chinese people use to think.
All phrases or expressions show the way how Chinese people handle relationships. Therefore, if you want to work in China, knowing Chinese could easily erase the cultural shock and make your stay in China smooth.
If you want to live in China, you will know how this society is formed through the magic Chinese language and characters and enjoy the happiness that the Chinese language brings to you through a quickly developing country.
Reading Chinese Literature
The dialects are not mutually intelligible but the written language is shared between them all. Although you do not need to learn to read Chinese characters to speak the language, by doing so you open the door to an enormously diverse and rich literature. In fact, the earliest record of writing was in Chinese characters although very different in form from modern characters (of which there are many thousand).
Useful in Business
Another thing about learning Chinese as a second language is that it is very useful in business. If you are doing business with Chinese people and you are unable to understand Chinese, then it would be impossible for you to understand the deal without translators. If you can understand and converse in Chinese, there would be significant chance to make this deal successful.
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