Is teaching Chinese in US schools a waste of time?

[renard_ruse]

Recent article from The Economist suggest that westerners shouldn't waste their time trying to learn Mandarin Chinese:

http://www.economist.com/node/10180807

 

[KRCummings]

Recent article from The Economist suggest that westerners shouldn't waste their time trying to learn Mandarin Chinese:

http://www.economist.com/node/10180807

Recent?

US Schools?

This is epic even for you.

 

[unregistered]

 

[renard_ruse]

The current fad among some upper middle class parents to make their children study Chinese sounds alot like previous language fads like Russian in the 60s or Japanese in the 80s.

You never know when a particular language could come in handy. There was once at work we had to actually call our supplier in Shanghai and the phone menu was all in Chinese. Fortunately there was a Chinese speaker in the room who stepped in and pressed the right button. Other then that, though, we work with them all the time via e-mail and its always in English.

I see no problem with ever learning any language, but for the difficultly level of Chinese, I'm not sure it would make the effort worthwhile unless you actually plan to live in China. Even then I've known people who lived there for business and didn't speak the language and seem to have done fine.

I don't have a particular opinion myself, just discussing from practicality (cost vs. benefit ratio).

 

[renard_ruse]

I think any foreign language should be an elective. Math and science are what are really important if you already speak English.

Plus, how much of a language can you really learn in school?

 

[renard_ruse]

Recent?

US Schools?

This is epic even for you.

Ok, its not recent. My mistake. I readily admit any significant error in fact.

What do you mean "epic even for you"?

 

[renard_ruse]

Recent?

US Schools?

This is epic even for you.

I didn't say the article was questioning if its a waste specifically in US schools. The subject of the thread is not based specifically on the linked article.

 

[blobfish]

It is a waste, because Chinese won't become the "universal language" for a long time.

 

[renard_ruse]

It is a waste, because Chinese won't become the "universal language" for a long time.

Its a waste if it replaces more important subjects like math and science. If its an elective, certainly no problem. You get what, like two or three electives in high school, right? If your school is big enough and wants to offer it, why not? But don't make students take it and don't assume it they will learn more than a few words and phrases.

 

[blobfish]

Its a waste if it replaces more important subjects like math and science. If its an elective, certainly no problem. You get what, like two or three electives in high school, right? If your school is big enough and wants to offer it, why not? But don't make students take it and don't assume it they will learn more than a few words and phrases.

Yeah, it's fine if elective, though still probably a waste of time.

 

[nayia]

Good language courses offer much more than just language. It's a closeup of culture and fosters global awareness in a different way than a social studies course. In a language course you learn idioms, read literature, study geography, and get to know how people in a different culture interact with each other and with the world. I don't think learning a foreign language is a waste of time at all, and the more different the culture is than yours the more useful you will find it.

 

[blobfish]

Good language courses offer much more than just language. It's a closeup of culture and fosters global awareness in a different way than a social studies course. In a language course you learn idioms, read literature, study geography, and get to know how people in a different culture interact with each other and with the world. I don't think learning a foreign language is a waste of time at all, and the more different the culture is than yours the more useful you will find it.

That sounds more like an interesting hobby than a useful skill.

 

[nayia]

I would say relating to people who are different than you and open-mindedness/ awareness of ways people can be different and similar are useful skills.

Just going to say... I'm an ABC (American-born Chinese) and studied French in school. I'm also a teacher (science, though interpersonal skills are among many things I hope my students take away from my classes).

 

[Very_Bad_Man]

Retard_ruse just hit a grand slam for the stupid team.

 

[blobfish]

Retard_ruse just hit a grand slam for the stupid team.

Agreed, but that is a lame zinger.

 

[Very_Bad_Man]

Agreed, but that is a lame zinger.

It's 745 am.

I'm not full awake.

I need hair of the dog.

 

[blobfish]

It's 745 am.

I'm not full awake.

I need hair of the dog.

It's 11:50 PM. Is your clock borken?

 

[Very_Bad_Man]

It's 11:50 PM. Is your clock borken?

not everybody lives where you live big dummy.

 

[renard_ruse]

Retard_ruse just hit a grand slam for the stupid team.

Very_Dumb_Boy knows alot about hitting for the stupid team.

 

[warrior queen]

Actually, learning Chinese isn't really necessary.
Current figures show that around 300 million Chinese people are learning English.
Apparently, it is highly desirable to learn English and math, as it opens the doors to the best careers.
( I got this info from a journalist friend who has worked in China for almosr 20 years.)

 

[Byron In Exile]

Actually, learning Chinese isn't really necessary.
Current figures show that around 300 million Chinese people are learning English.
Apparently, it is highly desirable to learn English and math, as it opens the doors to the best careers.
( I got this info from a journalist friend who has worked in China for almosr 20 years.)

There's no question: Chinese who learn english are ten times more likely to succeed in life.

And, what do you think is most important to them?

Chinese, Mandarin & Cantonese, are the languages of poor people going nowhere.

 

[run_silent]

I just spent a week in Miami, FL. I need to learn Spanish. English is a second language there. I truly do think I need to learn Spanish because it is inevitably that I will need it to be able to talk to everyone in this country. I'm not complaining, just saying.

 

[Byron In Exile]

I just spent a week in Miami, FL. I need to learn Spanish. English is a second language there. I truly do think I need to learn Spanish because it is inevitably that I will need it to be able to talk to everyone in this country. I'm not complaining, just saying.

Spanish is an Indo-European language.

In fact, its close sisters are Italian, French, Portuguese, and Romanian, to name the main ones.

Those all were Latin once, but, after the collapse of the Roman Empire, those regions, cut off from each other for centuries, changed the language, each in their own way.

You're making an intelligent choice.

A decision to learn Chinese today is like deciding to learn Klingon. (And the Chinese probably already know Klingon, so that might be the better option.)

 

[Johnny_Ray_Wilson]

There's no question: Chinese who learn english are ten times more likely to succeed in life.

And, what do you think is most important to them?

Chinese, Mandarin & Cantonese, are the languages of poor people going nowhere.

From my experience, the Chinese seem to master our english language skills much better than we do.