There’s a certain irony in teaching modern foreign languages.  For sure, schools are attempting to halt the free-fall number of students taking foreign languages by using many different persuading arguments.  We hear about how it will help you in a more globalised world – particularly one in which Chinese and Mandarin, in particular, are more important, giving you language skills that will put you a cut above the rest when it comes to applying for jobs.  It makes travelling easier too, with the ability to converse better with the people you meet on the way.  In fact, the option to learn Chinese while travelling China is something a lot of older students opt for.

All in all, it’s something I’ve been quite a proponent of.

Despite the flaws in the way that schools teach modern foreign languages, I do think that they certainly provide students with a basic understanding in terms of what schools want them to learn for exams.  It’s better than nothing.

The choice available isn’t too shabby either – I could, and did, study French, German and Spanish at GCSE.  I also did French at A Level.  A nice wide range of languages, then.  I’d be happy with that.

Back to that irony then – what schools don’t do enough of, and that’s actually teaching the most widely-spoken language in the world – not just in terms of native speakers, but the most widely-spoken of all.  I am, of course, talking about Mandarin.

With around one billion native speakers, Mandarin is fast becoming a popular option across the world as a foreign language study, yet we seem to be lagging behind in Britain.

A drop in Mandarin Chinese learners has been seen as recently as 2022. Figures: British Council Language Trends Report

Although things have been improving, the numbers are still relatively low. Approximately 38% of independent and private school students are offering the language. By contrast, learners in public schools make up just 11%. There are more options to learn Mandarin in London due to the fact that there are more speakers of the language in the city.

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The UK Hopes to Improve Numbers Learning Mandarin

Chinatown London
Chinatown, London: Image Source: Unsplash.com

The Confucius Institute will help teach the language and provide support to teachers in training to teach in the UK. The hope is that these newly-qualified Mandarin teachers will head into state schools, where the need is greater at present.

The language skill of Mandarin is certainly a popular choice among workplaces, UK employers reported to the Confederation of British Industry that Mandarin came in at number 2 on their list of most desirable languages for candidates to have.

Such a high rating for Mandarin really doesn’t surprise me, given China’s current position as the fastest-growing economy in the world.  Businesses are bound to be searching for candidates who understand this and are prepared to travel across the world, expanding and strengthening trade links as they go.

There are some schemes in place to try and get schools to include the language as more of a realistic option, but there is such a shortage of Mandarin language teachers that we need to do more. The Mandarin Excellence Programme by British Council Schools is one such scheme, that has been successful in its limited reach.

Why Learn Mandarin?

Why learn the Chinese language? Well, there are quite a few reasons.

Learning Mandarin, the most widely spoken language in the world, offers numerous advantages. It opens doors to a rich cultural heritage, enhances cross-cultural communication, and fosters international business opportunities, as China plays a prominent role in the global economy.

Proficiency in Mandarin can also improve cognitive skills, as it challenges learners with its complex characters and tones. This video explains the benefits to your brain perfectly:

Additionally, learning Mandarin can enhance career prospects, and a lot of people choose to study Mandarin for business reasons as it's a valuable skill sought after by employers looking to expand their presence in the global marketplace, and it provides access to a vast array of resources and information in fields such as science, technology, and culture.

There is a perception of English and British people being lazy with languages, as English is so widely-spoken. It is true, but if you ever visit China you may be surprised, it is thought that around 1% of the population are fluent, though a much higher percentage of Chinese people are able to speak some English. This is one example of British people being able to build more cultural bridges.

What Are the Obstacles?

So, why aren't more students learning Mandarin Chinese if it is so important? We've established the answer to "Why learn Mandarin?" but now we need to explore why some students aren't doing so. What puts a lot of young people off learning the language?

There are a couple of types of obstacles, some that prevent the language from being available in schools at all, and others that prevent students from wanting to learn or feeling that they can learn.

Perceived Difficulty of the Language

Mandarin's reputation for complexity can be a little scary for students, and the language is so vastly different from European languages. Its tonal nature means that different tones can change the meaning of a word, making pronunciation challenging. The writing system, which uses thousands of characters, is also a significant hurdle for learners. Many students may opt for languages perceived as easier to grasp.

Limited Availability

People can't learn the language unless someone facilitates this for them. In the UK, there have been some issues with this, as we've already covered. Access to Mandarin programs and qualified teachers is uneven across the UK. In some areas, it may be challenging to find suitable courses, particularly in primary and secondary schools. This scarcity of resources can discourage potential learners.

Curriculum Constraints

The UK education system traditionally prioritises European languages, which are seen as more practical for travel and work within Europe. This focus on languages like French, Spanish, and German can lead to Mandarin being marginalized in the curriculum. A lot of young people can see the benefits of learning Spanish or French as they may have come across the languages more on their holidays.

A lot of schools are stuck in their ways, having built systems to teach languages like French over decades, so introducing a new method to allow people to learn the language may be too much of a challenge for them. They may have also started lessons in other languages from many years prior to the GCSE years.

Alternative Language Choices

Love to learn
Love to learn! Image Source: Unsplash.com

Students can choose other languages, such as German or French, which is the most popular of the languages. Many French words have the same origins as English words which can make it simpler to learn, but the same cannot be said of Mandarin Chinese.

Students might choose languages that are more commonly taught and used in the UK or the Western world. These languages are often seen as more immediately useful for travel, international business, and everyday communication. The dominance of European languages in the media and popular culture can reinforce this preference.

Cultural and Historical Distance

map of the world
Map of the World: Image source: Unsplash.com

The UK's historical and cultural ties with Europe have traditionally influenced language choices. European languages are often seen as culturally and historically closer to British culture. The relative unfamiliarity of Chinese culture and history may make Mandarin seem less relevant to some.

Perhaps one of the best answers for encouraging students to learn the language is to help them to learn Chinese language and culture.

Lack of Awareness

A significant proportion of students and parents may not fully understand the potential benefits of learning Mandarin. These benefits include access to one of the world's largest economies, increased employability in international markets, and an enriched cultural perspective. Raising awareness about these advantages and some of the resources available can encourage more students to consider Mandarin.

Time Investment

Learning Mandarin requires a substantial time commitment due to its complexity. Students may feel that they can achieve fluency in a European language more efficiently, especially if they have limited time to devote to language learning. Learning a new alphabet is one of the reasons why people are put off the language as they aren't able to use the same letters as they are used to, but there are some great learning resources to help with this:

While there are some debates regarding the best way to learn Chinese most are agreed that there are enough benefits to make it worthwhile for schools to include.

Efforts to address these challenges could involve government initiatives to promote Mandarin education, increased training and recruitment of Mandarin teachers, and curriculum adjustments to emphasise the language's importance in global commerce and diplomacy. Additionally, offering cultural enrichment opportunities and showcasing successful individuals who have benefited from learning Mandarin can inspire more British students to take up this valuable language.

Conclusion

Mandarin Chinese is a language that everyone is now aware of the benefits of. Whether you are learning in school or just want to learn of your own accord, there are tutors all over the UK who may be able to help. If you don't have a tutor near you, it is also possible to work with a tutor remotely to learn Mandarin Chinese.

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Brentyn

Avid movie-goer, reader, skier and language learner. Passionate about life, food and travelling.