Americans Should Learn Chinese

Professor Kristina English composition 30/ October /2012

Americans Should Learn Chinese

According to a report of the US Center for Applied Linguistics, about one in 300 American elementary schools taught Chinese in 1997. By 2008, the figure was close to one in 30. Chinese has become the most rapidly increasing foreign language in America. The Americans learn Chinese because of China's ever-increasing

international standing, the demand of literature translation, and America's lack of foreign language learning tradition.

China's ever-increasing international standing is the biggest reason for Americans to learn Chinese. China has become the second most important country in the world, which only follows America. As America's largest competitor and cooperative partner, the study of China and Chinese will be an important project in the US. Some

Americans believe that China will exceed America in the near future. They try to learn more Chinese to gain a share of profits in a China-leading world. In short, China's high international standing makes more Americans learn Chinese.

The demand of literature translation is a new reason for Americans to learn Chinese. In the past, few Chinese literature works were introduced to America. But now, I believe there will be a passion for Chinese literature in America after Mo Yan won the Nobel prize in literature. More American translators will devote to translating Chinese literature into English. However, the first thing for them to do is to learn Chinese. Thus，learning Chinese is indispensable for literature translation.

America's lack of foreign language learning tradition makes learning Chinese urgent. Because of the low rate of population that speaks a second language, America is short of diplomats mastering other languages besides English. This is a

disadvantage of America in diplomacy. As Chinese ancient strategist Sun Tzu wrote in the Art of War, \"know yourself and know your enemy, you will win every war.\" In the face of the strongest competitor, America must know China well by learning Chinese.

Above all, China's steadily increasing international standing, the demand of literature translation, and America's lack of foreign language learning tradition make it necessary for Americans to learn Chinese. Another report of the US Center for Applied Linguistics shows that in 2008, only 4 percent of middle and high schools in America offered foreign language instruction, including Chinese. This situation will be improved as the passion for Chinese in America becomes warmer and warmer.