Why Study Chinese?
China has one of the oldest and richest cultures in the world. Mandarin Chinese is the language with the greatest number of native speakers in the world. In the People’s Republic of China alone Mandarin Chinese is the mother tongue of over 873 million people, and approximately another 400 million people speak Chinese outside of China. Chinese is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
China is the world’s most rapidly developing country and the second largest economy of the world, which means it will play a major role in world affairs in the future. It is also one of the largest trading partners of the United States. Proficiency in Chinese will be a great advantage in the job market and for career advancement due to the growing global importance of Chinese products and services. Many students and professionals around the world are studying Chinese, which also means learning about Chinese culture and world view. earning the language is an essential tool in preparing oneself for careers in political science, international affairs, international business, economy, business, international law, and others.