Mandarin Chinese, If you Please
For me, the word mandarin has always been associated with the word oranges. Taking it further, for me, the word oranges has always been associated with Florida. This is a perfect example of how provincial people can be in their thinking.
The United States has most definitely proven to be provincial in its thinking as well, particularly when it comes to the words, Mandarin Chinese. This is about to change. In fact, small ripples of this imminent change have already been felt in places like Chicago and Philadelphia.
Fortunately, classrooms in America have undergone various changes throughout the years. A newly discovered interest in learning Mandarin Chinese is emerging in the United States today. No longer will schools be looking to teach the typical languages offered, but rather, they will be seeking to teach the languages of the corporate world.
High schools, typically, offer Spanish, French, and German in their language curriculum. Italian and Latin are also offered at a majority of high schools. Spanish remains the most popular. Elementary schools generally offer Spanish or French. Sadly, most other languages are truant from American schools and there are no truant officers available to corral them.
Although Mandarin Chinese, the official spoken language of The Peoples Republic of China, is widely spoken, it is certainly one of the most difficult languages to learn. In addition to that, include the fact that qualified teachers of Mandarin Chinese are few and far between, and the gravity of the situation glares back at you like a wild creatures eyes in the night.
As the ripple widens and new ripples are formed in other cities and states, the demand for qualified teachers of Mandarin Chinese will grow. Native speakers of the language are, by far, the best qualified and would be capable of teaching other subjects, as well, in their native tongue. Students, with a teacher such as this, will reap the benefits of learning the language at a faster pace and a more developed level.
To get around a lack of qualified teachers, several steps can be taken. Teacher exchanges, long-distance learning, teacher training, and alternative teaching certification for individuals who are fluent in the language are all avenues to explore.
Mandarin Chinese, or Standard Mandarin, as it is also known, has no true alphabet. Rather, the language consists of over three thousand base characters that are used to form words. Learning the language means memorizing the language. This is even more reason to begin teaching Mandarin Chinese in the elementary schools when children are most adaptable to learning a second language.
Currently, relatively few schools, at any level, are actively offering Mandarin Chinese instruction to its students. However, educators and government officials are actively searching for ways to incorporate changes that will allow this to happen.
Why the sudden urgency for Americans to learn Mandarin Chinese? Maybe it isnt so sudden. However, as China emerges as a powerful player in the corporate world and global economy, the United States needs to prepare its workforce to compete not only with international skills and knowledge, but also with international languages. (Susan M. Keenan ©2006)