3 Reasons to Start Learning Mandarin

More than 1.2 billion people speak Mandarin in the world. It is mostly spoken in Singapore, Taiwan and China. With Mandarin, you will be able to study and work abroad in China, the dominant economy of the world. With the shifting of the global economic stage, Mandarin will potentially play a crucial role in shaping the future of companies. In fact, Chinese language education has been officially incorporated into the national education systems of over 70 countries since the demand for Chinese language skills is growing, notably in Southeast Asia and Africa.

However, Chinese language skills are still considered scarce in some companies in Singapore or in English-speaking countries. With Mandarin becoming essential in conducting business, knowing the language will definitely make you an attractive hire to employers. Read on to find out more reasons to kickstart your journey to learning Mandarin now.

1. It Looks Good on Your Resume

With China’s growing economy, companies need Mandarin-speaking employees to help them tap into the Chinese market. As the need for Mandarin-speaking candidate increases, the more valuable they become as well. Having Mandarin-speaking skills on your resume might just give you the edge you need over your competitors.

If you already hold a position at a Multinational Company, why not broaden your horizons by taking up a new language to become effectively bilingual? What’s more, bilingual employees are integral to a company’s diverse culture since they are viewed as having better communication and problem-solving skills as a result of having learnt a second language while still maintaining command in their native language. Other career benefits include being able to work in China since there is still a great demand for international employees there. If you have already mastered the basics of conversational Mandarin, you might want to upskill by taking up Business Chinese classes to learn how to use Mandarin effectively for business purposes.

2. Discover the Chinese Culture

If you are an expat living in Singapore, learning Mandarin can definitely help you assimilate better during your time here. Chinese are the majority race in Singapore, it definitely pays to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese people in the country while learning their language. Furthermore, Chinese history is famous for its impact globally, with many people globally appreciating the remnants of its arts and culture spanning thousands of years across dynasties. With Mandarin skills, you will be able to delve deeper into the cultural riches of Chinese history by exploring Chinese novels, poetry, film and music. It can also allow you to experience China in an authentic way when you visit the country.

3.  It is Easy to Learn

While Mandarin can seem daunting to learn with over 50 000 characters in total, it is actually easy to pick up the language in a short period of time with the right resources and help. In fact, a Chinese educated individual would know only about 8000 characters and you would only need to know 2000 to 3000 characters to be able to read a Chinese newspaper with ease.

Here at the School of Language International (SLI), we guide Mandarin beginners to learn the language through conversations and interactions facilitated in classes. Classes are also conducted in small groups to ensure that each learner gets sufficient attention and guidance from our teachers. Not to mention, our classes are also taught by native Mandarin speakers who are able to correct and teach the language accurately.

Find out more about our Chinese courses available for adults in Singapore now.