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You may be thinking “Why should I learn Chinese in 2023?”
Let us answer that question for you. While it’s the middle of March, we don’t see a problem with starting a New Year’s Resolution for next year revolving around Mandarin language learning.
Continue reading this article to find out the reasons why we believe learning the Chinese language should be on your to-do list for this year.
Why learn Mandarin? It gives you the opportunity (or excuse) to travel to China and learn the language like a local. At Keats School in Kunming, China, we see hundreds of students travel to our school a year. 40% of those students are returning for another year of study.
They enjoy learning Mandarin at Keats because it lets them live like a local. When they’re not inside a classroom, they’re diving deep into the Chinese culture and enjoying their time in a new city.
Why should you learn the Chinese language? Because it’s the most spoken language in the world.
It’s now estimated one out of every six people speak Chinese.
By learning Chinese, you will communicate with more people in a work setting and in your personal life.
The Mandarin language is tonal. Not sure what that means? Well, when you’re speaking Mandarin, there are 4 tones you can use. A word can mean different things based on the tone you use.
What’s also interesting is that Mandarin wakes up both sides of your brain. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Mandarin speakers use both sides of their brains. People who speak tonal languages (like Mandarin) use both hemispheres of the brain, rather than just the left, known as the primary neurological region for processing speech.
Multilingual employees are at a premium in the marketplace. You’re an appealing candidate for business and career opportunities when your C.V. says you know not only English but Mandarin as well.
When hired, your ability to speak Mandarin will show your personal and professional value within the company. If you’re able to build rapport and negotiate with suppliers, manufacturers, and/or customers in China, you are enhancing the company on a global scale.
Research shows that Mandarin, Polish and Spanish are the best languages for professionals to study. However, only one percent of adults that can hold a conversation in a second language speak Mandarin.
This means that when you reference that you’re fluent in Mandarin on your C.V, potential employers will see you as an attractive candidate, particularly in the retail and manufacturing industries.
While you may think you should learn Mandarin for professional benefits, another reason is that it will open your mind up to creativity.
At Keats School, we have Chinese culture classes. In these classes, you’ll learn the beautiful, artistic culture that China has. You can also take part in a Chinese calligraphy class.
The written words in Mandarin are actually iconographic characters, which require a steady hand. Chinese symbols and characters are created by using strokes rather than painting.
While so many people are scared to learn Mandarin because it seems like a hard language to learn, we promise you that it’s possible.
Why study Mandarin? Because at Keats, we have eight different study abroad classes to better suit your needs. We will sit and listen to your hopes for studying the Mandarin language, then we will create a custom program for you if you choose intensive one-on-one.
If you decide to study Mandarin in China at Keats, you will be given the best study abroad experience. It’s an experience you’re not going to get at home through a phone app.
We hope these 6 reasons why you should learn Mandarin have helped you make up your mind. You won’t regret learning the Mandarin language.
If you’re ready to apply to Keats today, simply fill out our online application form. If you have any more questions in regards to intensive one-on-one, contact us today. We’d be happy to help answer your questions.
I’ve been at Keats school and Kunming now for one month doing the one-on-one Chinese lessons with two different teachers. I really enjoy it. Both of my teachers are very friendly and patient. They really helped me to improve my Chinese, both of my reading and speaking. I really enjoy studying Chinese in Kunming as well. This city is really beautiful and the weather is nice, the air is clean. It’s one of the best cities in China to study Chinese.
Kunming is a fantastic city. The weather here is great. The school is excellent. The instructors are very helpful, very friendly. I strongly recommend that anybody who is looking for a Chinese language school in China come here to study. Kunming and Keats school are much better than any other place.
My teachers are all excellent. They trained the teachers so professionally. I feel like I learn very quickly with my teacher. They are very serious about their students and I know every teacher is like this. I would highly recommend that you come to Keats if you are looking for the best Chinese school in China.
I really enjoy coming here because it is like kind of a home for me. It is a great environment to learn Mandarin Chinese in China and meet great people from all over the world. Everyone here is extremely friendly. Kunming has a really nice climate. It is a very good mix of the modern city and also a lot of historic Chinese culture. Probably got the cleanest air in China and possibly the cleanest water too. I invite you to come to study Chinese in Kunming.
Before I came to Keats School, I had no confidence in my Chinese proficiency. I did not have the confidence to speak Mandarin Chinese and chat with Chinese people. However, after 4 months of study at Keats, I become more and more confident in speaking Chinese now. Studying Chinese in China at Keats School has been the best decision I have ever made. There are many games in the class, and my teacher’s teaching methods are also very interesting. My experience at Keats School has changed my view of China and Chinese people.
I come to Kunming because I think the environment in Kunming is better and I heard that Keats School is better. I like the small group Chinese class because my classmates study hard and our teachers are very good. I like the teaching method of Keats because I like the activities at Keats. I think Yunnan is a particularly beautiful Chinese province.
This is my second time coming. Last year, I also came for about 12 weeks. This time I came for 13 weeks of a summer program in China. The reason why I particularly want to come to this school was because of the one-on-one classes. I was able to increase my level and learn Chinese more quickly than in group classes. If I have a chance again to come next year, I certainly will.
My name is Sarah Fish. I am 81. I knew very little Chinese when I arrived. How was I going to survive 2 weeks of intensive Chinese course? I have to laugh when I think of that now. What a positive experience this has been! I really wish we could be here a little longer. The teachers are extremely encouraging, evaluating first how much someone knows, and then starting from there.