Why learn Chinese now? There are a million answers to this question. I guess everyone has their own motivation for learning a language. It is not even necessary to have a motivation - many people get a huge kick out of speaking and understanding something that used to be crazy gibberish. I confess - I'm one of those people. 2010 is the Chinese Year of the Tiger, and a great time to start learning this fantastic language. Without further ado, here are some top reasons to learn Chinese now.
1. Business
Go to your newsstand. Open up an issue of Time, The Economist, or Newsweek. How many articles are there about China? The People's Republic is a growing world power, and companies around the world are rushing to do business with China. Whether you're a University student looking to get a hot job, a seasoned businessman looking for new opportunity or someone looking for a career change - if you learn Chinese now you'll be ahead of the pack.
I don't know how many people speak fluent Chinese and English in Asia, but the job market for them is huge. Writing, Translation, Journalism, Radio, Travel and the highest paying English Teaching positions are all fields that are wide open to Chinese speakers.
2. Love
If one in five people in the world are Chinese, it's possible that your soul mate is chatting in Mandarin right now. I'm joking really - but dating and Chinese language learning go together like dumplings and ginger. More and more westerners who arrive in Asia for all kinds of reasons find themselves falling in love with Chinese people, and learning the language as a result.
Dating a Chinese speaker gives you the motivation to learn the language, and a constant opportunity to practice. Not to mention a walking, talking dictionary. People learn Chinese like lightening when they are in a relationship with a native speaker. If you learn Chinese now you'll have the foundation necessary to begin conversations that will help you make friends and improve.
3. Travel
Traveling in Asia is a mind opening experience. Many people dream of walking on the great wall (I know I do), and walking through bustling markets. It's not cliche. It's right at your fingertips and there's no way to travel better than speaking the language. You can bargain for things, ask directions, and eventually even swap stories with people in Chinese. It makes the difference between seeing a place as an outsider, and experiencing it.
It's not just China either. Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia all have Chinese populations. You can learn Chinese now without traveling very far at all. Try spending some time learning Chinese and then take a trip to your local Chinatown. I can almost guarantee that you'll see it with new eyes.
4. Literature
Ah - my favorite. Learning Chinese allows you to connect with a literary tradition that is older than you would imagine. My first Chinese teacher in University waxed poetic about the visual aspects of Chinese poetry. She said "you can see in the characters a stream of images that are separate from the words themselves".
We've all read Haikus and short Chinese poems that are beautiful, but to experience them in the language they were written is to open your eyes to a new and wonderful form that you won't be able to explain to others.
5. Pop Culture
There are more than a billion Chinese people on earth, and yet the western world knows almost nothing about their contemporary culture. The closest most of us get is "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon". Imagine experiencing Chinese movies, music, and television firsthand.
In fact, this is a great way to expand your Chinese knowledge once you master a decent level of fluency. I'm not there yet, but I'm working towards it. Watching television or movies in Chinese will rocket you to fluency if you can understand about 50-75% of what is spoken initially, and also give you a window into true Chinese culture that is closed to people who don't speak the language. It's a distant goal, but if you start to learn Chinese now you can reach that goal sooner than you'd think.
So there you go - It might be beating a dead horse to give you reasons to learn Chinese now. After all, that's why you're reading this! However, contemplating the rewards for all the work you do can help you stay on track and meet your language goals. When all the characters start looking the same, just think of how your skills will empower you when you finally get to that next level. Learn Chinese now and get a head start on achieving your goals.
Justin White will spend this year of the Tiger 2010 in Jhubei, Taiwan, making every attempt to chat in Chinese.
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