Why Do I Want to Learn Mandarin

Have you ever wondered why I have to learn Mandarin? Or any language besides your mother tongue?

I have always asked myself that when I was being sent to a Chinese center to learn Mandarin when I was young. To be frank, Mandarin is challenging and it is nothing similar to what I used to recognize as words - the alphabet. Therefore, I find it is extra challenging while learning the new language.

However, as I grow older, I came to a realization that I want to learn Mandarin. I'm starting to notice the benefits of knowing a different language. To me, it is a lifestyle that nothing else can achieve. A new language also brings you different opportunities. For instance, Mandarin gives me the comfort in connecting, self-confidence, and building relationships. It helps me feel more confident when I’m dealing with a person in their language. The level of connection is also divine, which can give relationships a boost of closeness because you have something relatable.

In the U.S, there are approximately 1.2 billion Chinese speakers. Imagine that is how many people you can impress because no one ever will expect a non-Chinese to speak Mandarin to them. In front of them, your credibility will instantly increase and they are already interested in you. All of that can be achieved by simply speaking in Mandarin. The first impressions are always important regardless of who you are or who you are meeting with. Especially in a diverse society, you can stand out more as a person who is cultural, educated, and worthy of speaking with.

They said give yourself a goal or a purpose when you are learning something new. Learning a new language is no longer as simple as understanding the word, but also the culture, the people, and the mindset behind it all. When setting your goals to learn Mandarin, I suggest you not only put “learn new vocabulary”, but also put “I want whoever I speak to in Chinese to find me attractive and wise”. The goal is to not limit yourself to a concrete set of goals, such as correct grammar, but to present yourself better in others’ eyes by the fact that you can speak Mandarin. The power of learning Mandarin does not only lie in the textbook and test; it also makes you a better person, certainly a smarter person.