One Inch Punch » Blog Archive » Top Ten Reasons why you should Learn Chinese
Perhaps one of your resolutions this year (or maybe last year) is to learn a new language.
Learning Chinese can be cool. But its not easy. Is learning Chinese worth the time, effort and expense? With over 1.3 billion Chinese-speaking people in China alone (that’s a fifth of the world’s total population of 6.5 billion World!), the figures say it is.
I’ve recently started to learn (properly, as in writing as well!), but my motivations might be different to anyone else’s. How can learning Chinese really benefit you? Perhaps the following can get you thinking:
Top Ten Reasons why you should Learn Chinese
Technorati Tags: Cantonese, China, learning Chinese, Mandarin, simplified, traditional
1. Personal Interest
If you’re simply interested in learning more about the culture, this is the most powerful motivator. Language and culture are linked, and learning Chinese as a language will inevitably help to understand the cultural heritage of China and perhaps many chinese sub-cultures around the world.
2. Tourism
As a travel destination, China has opened up to foreign visitors more recently than it has been in the past. Learning Chinese will give a definite advantage in exploring China, much as it would be to visit other foreign places.
3. Business and Career Opportunities
Whether you want to take up a position in a global company with offices in the Far-East, or to trade directly with the Chinese (bearing in mind the need for cultural understanding as well - see point 1), you chances with increase with learning the language. In fact, due to China’s rapid rise, people who want to progress in any industry can’t go wrong with learning Chinese to give yourself a competitive edge
4. CV / Prestige
If you know a western language, its pretty cool to have a contrasting language under your belt. Mandarin is also notoriously one of the most difficult languages to learn. (However, this is debatable, but for some, the perception is that it is difficult, especially since its writing system is completely different to the western alphabet.) Saying you’ve mastered it (potentially!) can give you an enormous sense of achievement and garner admiration from those around you. Because it will take years of hard graft, not everyone would be as committed, and that just makes it more the impressive. Even more so, if its not your mother tongue.
5. Social
If real-deal Chinese people are your thing, then you can break the ice with your fluent Mandarin. Bring on the Ziyi Zhang’s (or Jay Chou’s) of the world!
6. Chinese Martial Arts / Sport
If you’re learning a Chinese martial art or want to, learning the basics of either Cantonese or mandarin can help with understanding and knowing what some of the techniques are called and what they’re about.
7. Calligraphy
Learning to write Chinese is impressive - its a platform to move onto Chinese calligraphy later, if that floats your boat.
8. Chinese Heritage
If you’re a non-Chinese speaking Chinese person, you can finally tell all those “distant” relatives, that insist that a Chinese person should be able to speak Chinese, where to go. On a polite note, you can have meaningful conversations with your older generation family.
9. History
Spoken Chinese has many dialects but the written language is the same for all (although this is split between traditional and simplified versions). Learning to read Chinese therefore opens the door to a huge variety of literature from a diverse and rich culture.
10. The Olympics
The 2008 Olympics will be held in Beijing. Coupled with the widely publicised growth of China, all things Chinese will probably blow-up, and knowing the language can get you one step ahead of your competitors, colleagues and friends.
Orginally sourced from One Inch Punch
Just a recent update to those who find this on a google search.... and don't read the rest of my blog...
I am currently out in china set out with some of the goals above, learning Chinese by doing.... ....Spending a good Year in total immersion.
But I thank all contributions from American Chinese and Learn - Chinese
so far on my comments in the alternative ways to learn Chinese... Please check out their links in my comments box.
Please seek my other link here that I've written as well for those looking for ways not needing travel to China to learn.
http://lifeinthefareast.blogspot.com/2007/04/learning-chinese-with-tech-online.html
Last Update : July 2007
NEW to 2008 a monthly Language Exchange meetup I run... it's a language exchange meetup, where you turn up, discuss a topic in chinese / english and practice with other learners / native speakers. This is all in Central London, please view below link.
http://www.meetup.com/LondonMando/
2 comments:
How Long Time you need to spend in Learning Chinese ?
This question was often asked by many Chinese beginners. Generally I cannot answer you in one sentence. According to our experience, I have to ask you the following questions at first.
1, What is your purpose of learning Chinese? For Interests, business, exam, job position, etc
For different purpose, you will spend different time percentage on Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing.
2, How long time will you spend for studying Chinese in one week?
Go to Read whole article
Sourced by I Love Chinese on Hello! Mandarin
There are some free Chinese lessons designed by CCTV (China Central TV) on Learn Chinese. You can try
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