Why Learn Chinese? Top 10 Reasons
Like most Westerners, just a few years ago you
might not have been thinking very much about China.
However, these days China is all over the news.
You, like more and more people, may be wondering,
“Should I be
learning
Chinese?” The answer is a resounding "Yes". Or
you may wonder “Why learn Chinese?” The following
top 10 reasons to learn Chinese explain why
learning to speak Chinese is a smart business and
career move.
1. Because the world is changing
You've heard it before. Globalization. Outsourcing.
Opening of free trade. The US, while still
important, must now share the stage with other
countries, primarily China. With China's admittance
to the WTO, a large trade balance in its favor, and
its booming economy, the need to interact with
China is apparent.
2. Because everyone else is doing it
OK, so not everyone else is learning Chinese. But
did you know that Chinese is the fastest-growing
language studied in the US? Enrollment in college
Chinese language courses is at an all-time high.
Recently a bipartisan bill was introduced in
Congress to provide Chinese language classes even
for high school students. Other countries are even
more advanced in this regard.
3. To stay competitive
In a few short years, these myriads of workers
fresh out of college will be hitting the work force
with Chinese speaking skills. By learning Chinese
now, you set yourself apart as a proactive person.
Not only will you position yourself to compete with
the new entrants, you can also take advantage of
increased opportunities that arise as trade with
China grows.
4. Global supply chains
But your company has its factories in the US, you
say. But will it always have? What about the
subcomponents or raw materials? Even US-based
manufacturing firms are discovering that to
maintain competitive cost structures, they often
must deal with global supply chains and sourcing.
Of course, the largest provider of the
subcomponents and raw materials is China.
5. Manufacturing
China has 1.3 billion people, a workforce that is
good at labor-intensive jobs, and lower costs.
Enough said. But these factories often have foreign
management, consultants, accountants, etc. And
these factories also have to deal with the other
end of the global supply chain. By learning to
speak Chinese, you can help provide the links
between these factories and American companies.
6. Because the Chinese market is the largest
consumer market in the world
It's not just about manufacturing and outsourcing
any more. Today, Western companies are looking at
the Chinese economy as potentially the most
profitable market in the world. According to the
Department of Commerce, more than 16,000 American
companies sell products in China. The China of
today is not the China of yesterday. In China,
urban teenagers are seen walking with an MP3 player
in one hand and a cell phone in the other, just as
in America. The Chinese are hungry for consumer
goods -- foreign goods to boot. Western companies
need professionals with Chinese speaking skills to
build links with Chinese companies, form
partnerships with Chinese companies, and market,
brand, and sell products to the Chinese.
7. Because your career may depend on it
So we already know that a) outsourcing to China is
growing and b) there are already many young
professionals in the pipeline learning Chinese.
Suppose you are a manager having to make the
unfortunate decision about whose job to cut: what
are you going to do? Are you going to cut the
person with the keys to potentially the most
lucrative market in the world, the one who showed
foresight and proactivity by going to learn how to
speak Chinese to begin with? No, I don't think so.
That person is too valuable.
Learning
Chinese can only help your career and give you
more options.
8. Because 1.2 billion people speak Chinese
That's right, 1.2 billion! Talk about having access
to a greater social and professional network! Can
you think of one other activity that could possibly
open up more doors than learning Chinese?
9. Beijing 2008 Olympics
The Turin Olympics just closed. The next day
headlines touted China's preparation for 2008.
China’s government realizes (as do most of the
people in the know) that this is the “coming-of-age
party” for China. Beijing 2008 is not only symbolic
of China's emergence onto the world stage of
economic power but also pragmatic, as it helps
Beijing showcase its flourishing economy and to
deepen ties with Western companies. By learning
Chinese, you can be ready for this historic event
and take part in it.
10. Because it’s not as hard as you think
That's right. Learning to speak Chinese is not as
hard as you think. Unfortunately, many Chinese
schools in China and Chinese learning materials
have given students the opposite impression.
However, modern technology can aid in the learning
process dramatically. Furthermore, most
professionals will find that learning to speak
Chinese will be enough without learning to write
Chinese characters (which is what really takes up
the most time). In the modern age, the computer can
help you type anyway. At our Chinese school, we
follow an approach that focuses only on the most
necessary communications and practical
applications. The Chinese language has a
surprisingly straightforward set of rules regarding
speaking and grammar. With the correct approach
people can learn to speak Chinese within a short
period of time. So by learning Chinese you can take
part in an activity that has huge benefits for your
career and your résumé but takes less time than
getting a second degree or learning other
skills.
