There are many reasons! First, Chinese is the language of Nearly 1/4 of the World’s Population. Speakers of Chinese not only live in China, Taiwan, and Singapore, but also spread throughout Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe, where large Chinese communities congregate. Chinese people today have been playing increasingly important roles worldwide.

Second, learning Chinese is an extraordinary and agreeable experience through which you can immerse yourself in a different culture. Unlike most languages, Chinese has a unique ideographic writing system, which provides visual comprehensibility. The grammatical structure of Chinese is not only logical, but also pragmatic, related to the particular way of Chinese thinking. Knowledge of the written language opens up the culture of one of the world’s oldest civilizations.

Third, traditional Chinese culture, from Confucianism and Chan Buddhism to martial arts and Chinese cuisine, has an enormous influence on East and Southeast Asian nations. Chinese culture has also greatly inspired the western world through Marco Polo, G. W. Leibniz, Max Weber, Franz Kafka, Andre Malraux, Bertolt Brecht, Ezra Pound, and Luis Borges, among others.

Last, but not least, the People’s Republic of China currently boasts the fastest growing economy in the world and is widely regarded as the potentially biggest global market in the twenty-first century. Proficient speakers of Mandarin Chinese will find jobs in various fields such as business, government, international relations, information technology, tourism, education, translation and much, much more. Of all foreign languages at American universities and colleges, Chinese shows the highest proportional increase in enrollment. Los Angeles Chinese Learning Center, on the other hand, provides Chinese class at flexible schedule for working adults at reasonable rates.

Many people learn the chinese language with hopes of being able to work in China in the future, as now there are many opportunities to do so. Some people from Chinese language school learn Chinese for general cultural reasons , others choose private Chinese tutoring services because they are interested in languages. A few students learn Chinese just for challenge, as they believed (but later proven to be wrong) that it is one of the most difficult languages to learn, because Mandarin Chinese is not as difficult as they thought.

Mastering Chinese pronunciation should constitute the very first step toward learning the Chinese language. The Chinese Pinyin is featured by all the Chinese phonetic alphabets and they are used in the pronunciation of Chinese characters. In order to distinguish the different tones, you must pay keen attention to the reading of the Pinyin letters, initials, finals, and all possible combinations.

The golden yardstick for measuring your performance: being capable of reading any Chinese character with the correct tone in Pinyin. Be warned: correct pronunciation from the start matters, and bad habits must be nipped in the bud.

Tip No.1: Note that Chinese is a tonal language.
Pay special attention to the four basic tones of putonghua: the level tone, the rising tone, the falling-rising tone and the falling tone. Funny jokes abound in this respect. One of the most renowned pieces includes the English speakers’ pronunciation of Yao Ming, the prestigious Chinese basketballer in NBA. The funny thing is, instead of the correct pronunciation of the rising tone, both words are mispronounced as the seemingly falling tone meaning “life-threatening”or “fatal”in Chinese, painting Yao an image of a monster.

Tip No.2: take the initiative to practice, whenever and wherever.
Practice makes perfect. The more you practice speaking, the easier it will be for you to learn. If possible, take a Chinese class in the local community, and do the practice drills with your study partner or native speakers of Chinese. Find every means possible to practice anything you’ve learned. One of my friends once traveled in China, she made the best of her trip in the train by conversing with a female Chinese college student. There my friend taught her English while she taught my friend Chinese. That very experience encouraged her to practice Chinese whenever and wherever.

Tips No.3: utilize long distance learning
Long term focus on one way of learning can be a twist, rather boring and exhausting, especially for Chinese learning. However, if multiple means are employed, it’ll be a different case. For example, besides traditional classroom learning, multimedia resources such as e-learning and on-line radio, once fully employed, are rewarding to some extent.

Tip No.4: learn Chinese through singing Chinese songs
Singing songs are absolutely mind soothing distractions and attractions. Songs cover a wide range of difficulty scales and topics, and therefore, can be an ideal means for learners of all levels to improve their Chinese. Some Chinese songs, such as The Chinese Language popularized by S.H.E, even consist of Chinese tongue twisters. Follow the singing process, and great progress will be on the way.

Tip No.5: practice with the help of oral Chinese softwares
Taking advantage of the latest multimedia technology and combing words, sounds, pictures, animations and music, softwares of oral Chinese learning enable learners to speak on and off studying. It provides a pleasant and cozy environment for the learners to study Chinese in an interesting and completely new style

Tip No.6: learn Chinese consonants and vowels with the help of English pronunciation
For the mastering of Chinese consonants and vowels, English words with the same sound can be associated with the corresponding Chinese initials, and facilitate learning and memorising in an easier way. For instance, b – as the “b” in “book”; p – as the “p” in “pool”; m – as the “m” in “moon”.

Tip No.7: never ever underestimate the help of a dictionary.
Get a good compact dictionary and make sure it has the phonetic spelling of the words. Whether you are learning all by yourself or in groups, dictionaries are the most dedicated teachers. Take it with you wherever you go. Remember, you are carrying learning opportunities with you.

Tip No.8: blurt out and show off loud
Make sure that a cassette is available, listen to and repeat after the tape. Read out loud while learning, blurt out loud while practicing, and show off loud what you’ve learned. Passion paves the way for more efficient learning, especially true for pinyin study. Adopting a passionate attitude allows a full and all-round participation in learning which yields a rewarding learning outcome.

Tip No.9: learn to speak step by step, one word at a time
The one thing that is sad about rooted mispronunciation is that learners make repeated mistakes without realizing them. Thus, learners have to be highly conscious of the value of the “one bird in hand” rather than “two birds in the bush”. Take it easy, make it correct and then move on. Never repeat mispronunciations.

Tip No.10: Find joy in learning Chinese pinyin.
Interest is the best teacher. Great athletes and accomplished musicians love what they do and then achieve who they are. Likewise, only when Chinese pinyin learning appeals to you can you make long term substantial improvement. You might have to spend numerous hours studying and practicing. Many people give up halfway. Go through the frustrating initial phase if you are find joy in learning the Chinese pinyin.

Michael Song is a professional Chinese translator working for VERY TRANSLATION which provides Chinese translation services. Here is a free Chinese translation tool:
Free Chinese Name Translation.

By Steve Wang

Very often people will have their own reasons for learning a new or foreign language, but some languages have extra added benefits or advantages in the World today. Mandarin Chinese is one of these.

There are many reasons why Chinese is one of the most important second languages that can be learned by people of any country–but here are just 10.

1) Almost one quarter of the World’s population speaks Chinese.

This in itself may not be an overwhelming reason to learn the language but when you consider that there are over 1.3 billion people in China itself, not to mention the millions elsewhere in Singapore, Taiwan, South East Asia, America and Europe that also speak Chinese, it is obvious that the language is spreading and growing around the World. Being able to speak the language then, will obviously open up billions of new friends, customers or possible partners than you had before.

2) China has had the fastest growing major economy in the World for the past quarter of a century.

From a business perspective, China is the place to do business. Their economy has been growing steadily (up until very recently) at just under 10% per year. This puts China on a course to being one of the biggest economic powerhouses on the World stage within a few years and very probably the biggest economy in the World. Just like people learned English to break into the US trade, Chinese will soon become one of the major business languages in the World. Why wait?

3) One of the US’s top trading partners

Imports and exports flow like water between China and the US. It is mainly US imports that have driven the Chinese economy so strongly over the past few decades and yet the newly found wealth is allowing the Chinese middle classes to indulge in western luxuries. This open trade between the two countries has made many businesses very successful. Learning Chinese will give any business an advantage over the competition within this market.

4) Definite Edge in Competing for JobsLearning any language is an advantage when looking for a job. Employers like bilingual people. As well as showing dedication, it also gives them an extra language available within the workforce. Chinese is probably the biggest advantage of them all. Any business that are involved in overseas trade or communication will prize Chinese speaking applicants above all else. As stated above, Chinese-US and Chinese-European trade is huge and companies are crying out for people who can speak to the locals. Learn Chinese now and multiply your job prospects.

5) Excellent option for College Application.

Chinese Mandarin is fast surpassing German, French and Portuguese to be one of the most studied languages in the US and Europe. Schools that once taught exclusively French or Spanish are now offering Chinese as an alternative or as a replacement and children are being brought up to speak Chinese. Why is this? Well apart from the obvious business and employment opportunities afforded those that learn the language, students of Mandarin are also looked upon favourably when considered for college application. Just as employers, colleges see the dedication involved to learn Chinese and the opportunities it offers later.

Learn Chinese today and get ahead of the rest of the crowd.

6) Mentally Challenging

It has been scientifically proven that learning a language is good for the brain. It keep the brain young and healthy and can enhance the learning of other subjects, even seemingly unrelated subjects like Math. It has been shown that bilingual students consistently do better on their SATs than non-bilingual ones. This also applies to older people: It has been shown that people who learn languages are less susceptible to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and can keep their brains sharper for much longer. This effect is even greater for Chinese: The fact that Chinese is so different from English in sound, tones and script means that learning it is even more mentally stimulating than other languages. Learn Chinese and keep learning for a long long time.

7) Chinese Culture is one of the oldest in the World.

The Chinese culture is ancient. They invented gunpowder and paper, and discovered America before Columbus was even born. Their history and culture is immense and colourful, diverse and fascinating and learning the language will give you insight into this history and culture that you would otherwise never have. If you are interested in Chinese medicine, Chinese Opera or theatre, or even Chinese Kung-Fu movies, then learning the language can give you that added extra appreciation.
Never Been Easier

Possibly not the best reason for learning a language but definitely the best time. Since the introduction of Simplified Chinese to unify the different dialects and form one national language, the Chinese language has been more accessible than ever before. This was made even easier by the Government’s sweeping introduction of Pinyin, a transliterated version of the Mandarin script into Roman letters. This means anyone can be speaking and reading Pinyin in days and then progress to the tougher script later on. There are now of course also a multitude of excellent courses available to help you learn Chinese mandarin. These range from small, free vocabulary websites to huge software bohemoths that can teach you everything there is to know about a language… for a price. If you’re serious about learning Chinese though and want to reap the rewards that Mandarin Chinese will bring, then it is definitely worth both the time and the money

9) World Affairs

Sure this is linked to some of the previous reasons but is just as important in its own right. China is playing an increasingly major role in World affairs today, not just economically but also politically and environmentally. China is becoming a superpower but has a lot to work on before its human rights and environmental policies are acceptable globally. These issues will become increasingly more important as China grows, and if you have an interests in these issues, learning the language could certainly put you in a good position to go about changing some of them.

10) Similar Languages

Learning Chinese can give you a strong foundation for learning other languages–most noticeably Japanese. The Japanese and Chinese script are actually almost identical, and although being able to read the script will not mean you will be able to speak Japanese, it will certainly give you a good base from which to learn.

Neil Breakwell is a teacher in Thailand and has lived in Asia for 9 years. He is the creator of a language learning website that gives advice on the best ways to learn new languages and gives honest, in-depth reviews of the best language learning products. If you are looking to learn Chinese Mandarin and are looking at the best way to begin then visit http://www.lingualogue.com/languages/Chinese-language.html

By Neil Breakwell

If you want to learn the beginner Chinese for free, check out lessons at http://www.learnchinesereviews.com. If you are looking for a course that can teach you conversational Chinese in less than eight weeks? Try out Rocket Chinese.

By Michel Smith

Chinese is a language, or a group of languages, spoken by 1.3 billion people worldwide. If you believe Chinese to be one language, rather than a grouping, it is the single most commonly spoken language on the planet. It is spoken in countries like China, Taiwan Singapore, and Malaysia. If you are interested in learning Chinese, it can be intimidating and challenging. But learning Chinese can also be rewarding, and knowing it can have benefits for your career, and help to improve your travels to Asia.

If you decide to learn the Chinese language, there a number of ways you can go about doing so. As a college student, you can study Mandarin Chinese and earn a degree in it. Earning a college degree in Chinese will provide you with a solid knowledge of formal, or Mandarin, Chinese. You will also be proficient in reading and writing the alphabet, which is a standard alphabet throughout the Chinese-speaking world. If you are established in your career, and find it necessary to learn Chinese for business dealings and /or business-associated travel, you can enroll in an accelerated Chinese language course online, or by purchasing audiotapes that teach quick techniques, which will help you to rapidly learn how to speak basic Mandarin Chinese. Learning to speak Chinese this way is convenient if you need to learn it before an important business trip. There are several learning centers that provide accelerated online programs in Chinese, and many lesson on tape available for purchase.

If you are a student majoring of minoring in Chinese, or if you are a tourist with a desire to travel to Asia, an ideal way to learn the Chinese language is through participation in an immersion program. By doing this, you will not only learn how to speak Chinese, but you will learn about and experience Chinese culture. By studying Chinese in a city like Beijing, where the language is natively spoken, you will become part of the life and culture, and you will find learning to speak the Chinese language is much easier than you thought. Since it is a total immersion into the Chinese world, you will learn all conversational and idiomatic styles of the language. You will interact everyday with people who are native speakers of Chinese, and who can’t or won’t speak English with you. You will be taken on guided tours of the famous landmarks, as well as the everyday places. You will grow to understand and recognize the value of the ancient Chinese culture: the history, the art, the architecture, the food, and the people. You will attend courses in which you will learn the complex Chinese alphabet, how to read it, and how to write it as well. Learning the Chinese language by attending an immersion program is an ideal way to go.

If you are fluent in the Chinese language, not only could it help you if are established in a career, but it could also open doors to new careers for you. For example, you could take a job as a foreign language translator, where you would be responsible for translating websites, training documents, and other important business documents, while helping to bridge the communication gap between two very different cultures. You might also consider a career as a teacher if English as a second language. You have the opportunity to relocate to a Chinese-speaking nation, and teach the English language to Chinese students. Being fluent in Chinese will definitely make your relocation less stressful.

Learning how to speak, read, and write the Chinese language has many advantages. It gives you the potential to enhance you career by working and/or traveling abroad, or you would have opportunities to embark on new careers as a translator or a teacher. If you plan to travel to Asia, learning Chinese will make your journeys less stressful and more enjoyable. Taking the time to learning the Chinese language will open your eyes to a new and often misunderstood culture, and is an achievement that can be personally and professionally fulfilling.

John is a director of numerous Internet companies and is a published author. Many articles have been produced on a variety of subjects with excellent content and depth. All his articles may be reproduced provided that an active link is included to Language Schools Find the essential information on where and how to learn a new or second language at Chinese Language

By John Davison

http://www.foreign-languages-school.com/chinese-language.html—chinese language.