Learn Chinese
China has been the sleeping giant for long enough. All economic forecasts predict that China will be a dominant force in 21st century international trade and in domestic growth. For the US and the rest of the Western world, this may well mean some radical shifts in the way we do business and in the way we think. This change also bodes well in terms of job prospects for Chinese interpreters and translators.
As it is right now, Chinese languages (predominantly Mandarin and Cantonese) are two of the most widely spoken in the world, in large part because of the sheer population of China (over 1 billion people). With the increasing “capitalization” of Chinese culture (a pun – we mean the increasing influence of capitalism in China), the dominance of the Chinese language worldwide will only increase. One need only look at the growing familiarity of Chinese language characters on restaurants and many other businesses as a sign of things to come.
Chinese is a language written in pictograms. It is very different from English and other languages that are part of a family of languages called the Indo-European languages. If you are interested in learning Chinese, there are a number of ways that you can learn.
Where to go to study Chinese?
There are some Chinese language schools across North America, but most people who want to learn Chinese fully go abroad to study Chinese in China. This is an exciting way to broaden your horizons and to fully immerse yourself in Chinese culture.
Search our database of Chinese language schools.
It is also possible to learn Chinese over the internet. Some websites offer “free Chinese lessons,” but as with all courses of learning, we warn you that you will very likely get what you pay for. Some websites, on the other hand, offer detailed instruction online. We always charge that the best way to learn any language (or any course of learning, for that matter, whether online or elsewhere) is to undertake formal training.
Even before you undertake a formal course in Chinese language, you need to set goals:
- Do you want basic conversational Chinese only?
- Do you wish to pass the Chinese Language Proficiency Test (CLPT)
- Do you wish to become a professional translator or interpreter of Chinese?
Become a Chinese Translator or Interpreter
As a Chinese language interpreter and translator, you will have an interesting, rewarding career, in a dynamic world. It will be in your best interest to find the very best Chinese language schools, and there is no better way to compare Chinese schools than using the internet. You can click here to fully investigate the best ways to learn Chinese.
This guide also offers you the chance to read more about:
Interpreters and Translators
Interpreters and Translators: Employment and Income, Present and Future
Interpreters and Translators: Training and Qualifications
