Is it worthwhile to learn Chinese?
Chinese is a language spoken by over 1.2 billion people over the world. The earliest Chinese written records are Shang dynasty-era oracle bone inscriptions, which can be dated to 1250 BCE. Standard Chinese, based on the Beijing dialect of Mandarin, was adopted in the 1930s and is now an official language of both the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan, one of the four official languages of Singapore, and one of the six official languages of the United Nations. The written form, using the logograms known as Chinese characters, is shared by literate speakers of unintelligible dialects. Since the 1950s, simplified Chinese characters have been promoted for use by the government of the People’s Republic of China, while traditional characters remain in use in Taiwan, Singapore and other countries with a significant amount of Chinese speaking populations such as Malaysia.
Apart from such a rich history, the Chinese has many benefits of learning it. Whether you’re a traveller or a student or an entrepreneur wishing to expand their business, Chinese is the language for you.
So many reasons to browse through Chinese
If you’re a traveller at heart then you’ll be interested in knowing that not only is Chinese spoken in China, but it’s also spoken in Singapore and Taiwan. Chinese-speaking people are living all across the world. If you’re going to learn a foreign language, why not learn one that is spoken by the majority of the world.
If you’re a student then you must know that a study by Smart Study found that 95% of people who took part in their foreign study admitted that studying another language abroad served as a catalyst for increased maturity. Chinese language skills are highly in demand in the corporate sector, so if you’re wishing to apply or work in a good company, Chinese will definitely add a little flavour to your CV.
Chinese culture is amongst the most vibrant and intricately woven cultures in the world. They have a number of customs, traditions, and language characters to learn. When you learn Chinese, not only do you learn the language but experience the culture too. These experiences and language skills will deepen your personal growth. It’s a language that will help you grow personally as well.
Professional aspects!
When we consider a professional or business aspect, then Chinese is a language that will do wonders for expanding your clientele base. It is spoken by at least 20% of the entire population on planet earth. It is the world’s second-largest economy and it surpassed the U.S as the world’s largest trading nation in 2014. Forbes also reports that China represents roughly 35% of the world’s consumer spending on luxury goods. Some of the most sought-after investors are based in China. So, if you’re looking for a language to help boost your business then Chinese is the language for you.
Chinese is notorious for being one of the toughest languages to master. While that notion isn’t completely untrue, that doesn’t mean its impossible to master. It just requires more time, effort and dedication than other languages. But if a language that offers a variety of great benefits requires you to be a little more dedicated, then it does not seem that difficult anymore.
Finally,
One of the most common reasons for language learners to pursue a language is the number of job opportunities it brings along! If it could well mean a pay raise for some, it may mean a promotion for others, or a change of department or even an entirely new job for the rest! More and more employers across the world are beginning to see and appreciate the benefits of having multilingual employees and if you want to get on that bandwagon you’re going to have to push your way past the difficulties, uncertainties and stresses that come with language learning. It’s worth it. Learning a language can make travel easier and more enjoyable if you are able to speak the local lingo. Studies have shown that a new language can actually improve your brain memory, increase your IQ and your ability to rationalise and make more thorough and well-formulated decisions in a number of positive ways. There is even ample evidence to suggest that it can actually reduce the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related issues later in life
So go ahead. Reap the benefits! Stay happy, Stay healthy!