How do you study Chinese why do you study Chinese?

Answer 1

China currently has the second largest economy in the world. To take advantage of this huge economic shift and opportunities, learning to speak Chinese is a great way to give your children an advantage in the increasingly competitive business world. Between equal foreign competitors courting a Chinese company, who will the company choose to associate with: a Chinese-speaking foreigner or a foreigner with a translator?

China has become the factory of the world and is moving up the technology food chain. China is a huge export market for the US. 1/5th of the world's population lives in China. Overseas Chinese dominate the economies of many countries in Asia, and speaking Mandarin gives you an edge in doing business with them. Over 16,000 US companies sell products in China. Trade is not only from China to the US, but also the other way. The world is becoming a global economy. Learning Chinese gives you the opportunity to take advantage of this change. It's a great ice breaker when working with people from China if you can say a few words in Chinese. This helps especially when dealing with business people on the other side of the world via conference call.

Chinese has become very useful in government. The Austrian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. The US Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geitner studied Chinese and attended Beijing University. The former Utah Governor, now Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman is fluent in Chinese (he learned it as a missionary in Taiwan and has an adopted child from China).

Chinese culture is over 5000 years old. By learning the Chinese Language, you will learn another culture. Learning a language gives you a better understanding through the grammar and even how the words are derived of the culture behind them. There is a lot of Chinese Poetry that lose some meaning when translated.

Learning another language gives you another viewpoint. When a child uses a word, this word also triggers associations in the brain, brought about by the other languages the child knows. Maybe this is why it seems people who know languages seem smarter. The numerous mental associations playing in their brain, opens new ideas. It also helps as people age. I once had a fun talk with a programmer explaining how learning a new computer language helped keep his mind fresh. At the very least, it will help you when ordering Chinese food.

Learning Chinese will give a student a competitive advantage. Chinese is the fastest growing Foreign Language being taught in US schools. Students can get higher grades in when they take Chinese subjects in school because they started early at home.

Mandarin Chinese is the most taught foreign language after English in Japan. If the Japanese are learning it, shouldn't people in the US? Mandarin Chinese is the most used language on the internet. Family and Community - If you have relatives who don't speak English, but only Chinese, it's so great to be able to speak with them in Chinese. If you also live within a Chinese community, it's nice to be able to relate to neighbors and friends speaking their language. There are big Chinese communities all over the world. Whether for business or to establish personal ties, knowing the language is not only useful, but endears you to people you want to connect to.

Answer 2

I study Chinese by practicing speaking, listening, reading, and writing regularly. I study Chinese because I find the language and culture fascinating, and I believe it will open up opportunities for personal growth and career advancement.