Why Kids Need to Learn Chinese 学习中文的重要性

Should I be thinking about teaching my kids Chinese? This is a question asked by many parents. If you consider the following facts, you will find it’s not difficult to find the answer.

It is a trend that people speak more than one language in the future. Other than one’s own mother language, it’s necessary to pick up a second language for better communication with the world. And learning Chinese is never a bad choice!

Most people around the world learn more than one language, and over one billion people speak Mandarin. (Only about 480 million people speak English.) Besides being one of the world's most common languages, Mandarin is quickly becoming the world's most popular second language. According to Wiki, an estimated 40 million people were studying Chinese as a second language around the world at the end of 2008. Learning Chinese at a younger age is better not only because toddlers master language faster than adults, but because it can help students better compete at school. Kids who master Chinese tend to find other academic subjects become easier, because by comparison Chinese is a more challenging subject. It’s not uncommon for students who have been studying Chinese to get into honors and advanced-level classes.

Besides, learning Chinese also opens a door for your kids. China is flourishing, offering many business opportunities for someone who speaks the language. Kids who learn Chinese today are setting themselves up to take advantage of these opportunities in the future.

Learning Chinese early can influence a child’s entire academic career, and being fluent by the time they’re applying to universities can really distinguish a teen from their competition.

The benefits of kids learning Chinese are many, but there should be sufficient overall thinking before setting off your kids to learn Chinese, such as kids’ interest in the language, future development, time, etc.