| ’s little doubt in the minds of experts that | | | | While many Chinese do speak English, or at least |
| China is well on its way to becoming a formidable | | | | some English, it is not only polite, but also proper, to |
| world power. Since they launched basic market | | | | be able to speak Chinese when dealing with residents |
| reforms in the late 1970s, their economy has | | | | of China. This demonstrates respect for their culture |
| quadrupled in size. They have quickly become a | | | | and customs, which is very important to the Chinese |
| major center for manufacturing, industry and | | | | people. |
| technology. | | | | Thankfully, it’s relatively easy these days to |
| Few can argue that anything the Chinese put their | | | | learn Chinese online. Thanks to the development of |
| minds to can be accomplished in very little time. One | | | | Simplified Chinese, a businessperson only needs to |
| only has to look at the meteoric rise of their space | | | | learn between 3,000 and 4,000 characters to have a |
| program and ambitious goals to land a man on the | | | | fairly good command of the language. For those |
| moon to see that they are ready to become a | | | | people willing to tackle even more of the language, a |
| modern world power, not only economically, but | | | | well-educated Chinese person typically has 6,000 to |
| technologically as well. | | | | 7,000 characters in their vocabulary. |
| This shouldn’t be too surprising, given the | | | | If you want to learn Chinese online, you’ll find |
| fact that China has always been an innovative, | | | | plenty of resources. One of the best ways, |
| forward-thinking country. While the specter of | | | | however, to learn Chinese online, is from a native |
| Communism in modern China still sways our opinions, | | | | speaker. They can help you with the pronunciation so |
| China has given us thousands of years of innovation, | | | | that your Chinese is not only fluent, but also perfect. |
| invention and progress, from printing and gunpowder | | | | One site offering native speakers is Mando Mandarin ( |
| to rocketry and paper. | | | | Their instructors are all Chinese. When you learn |
| In the late 70s, even the basic philosophies of | | | | Chinese online from Mando Mandarin, you can rest |
| Communism were reinvented by Chinese leaders who | | | | assured that your vocabulary, pronunciations and |
| began focusing on growing a market-driven economy | | | | word usage are spot-on. Nothing’s worse |
| to compete with other world economic powers. | | | | than trying to demonstrate your command of a |
| Today, China’s population of educated | | | | foreign language, only to find out that your word |
| consumers is a veritable bonanza for smart business | | | | selection was incorrect. In many cases, it can be |
| people in the West who want to expand their | | | | downright embarrassing to both you and the person |
| market share and tap new streams of customers. In | | | | you are trying to do business with. |
| fact, China’s population of 400 million people | | | | If you are planning to tap into the China market |
| aged 20 to 39 dwarfs the same demographic in all of | | | | – particularly the younger entrepreneurs who |
| Western Europe (110 million). This segment of the | | | | are looking for opportunities with Western partners |
| population thrives on business entrepreneurship and is | | | | – you’ll want to be sure that you learn |
| eager to work hard. They are, perhaps, | | | | Chinese online with a reputable company. After all, |
| China’s greatest asset and your greatest | | | | there’s no reason to let language be a barrier |
| opportunity. | | | | to opportunity in a global economy. |