Introduction
So, why learn Chinese? For one, China is a critical player in the global economy and world affairs. Also, the country has a fascinating history, and its culture and cuisine have long influenced its neighbors and the West.
“It is an entirely wonderful, rich culture,” says Carrie Wiebe, CV Starr Professor of Chinese at Middlebury College in Vermont. “If we don’t learn Chinese, we’re really blocking ourselves off from vast amounts of human information and culture and beauty and depth of thinking that Europeans have just not traditionally been aware of.”
Learning how to speak Chinese, especially the national language Mandarin, can prepare you for international economics or world affairs careers. Not to mention, knowing the language makes traveling throughout China easier and more enriching.
Like any skill, learning Mandarin requires practice and self-discipline. Here are some strategies you can use to learn the language more quickly and easily.
Is it easy to learn Chinese?
One of the exciting things about the Chinese language is that it is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world (Mandarin Chinese) despite being challenging to learn afresh. The tonal nature of Chinese makes it challenging for learners to learn.


