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By Matthew Worley
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 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 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 language 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 find
themselves speaking 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 r¨¦sum¨¦ but takes less time than getting a second degree or learning
other skills.
This article can be found at http://whylearnchinese.1MonthChinese.com
More articles are available at http://articles.1MonthChinese.com
About the AuthorMatt Worley is the principal of the 1-Month Mandarin™ program at the Chinese Language Institute of Beijing, a private Chinese language school in China. He holds an MBA and a Masters of Accounting Science and is self-taught in Chinese. 1-Month Mandarin™ is specially designed to help young professionals learn Chinese quickly by prioritizing learning and utilizing computer-assisted language learning.
This article may be republished so long as links are active and attribution is given. Please use this link for attribution http://www.1MonthChinese.com
