Why Learn Chinese?Why Learn Chinese?What Do We Do in Our What Do We Do in Our

Chinese Classes?Chinese Classes?

Jane ZouChinese Teacher

Riverwood High SchoolRidgeview Middle Schoolzoux@fultonschools.org

5 Top Reasons to Learn Chinese5 Top Reasons to Learn Chinese

1. To be equipped for future opportunities, by giving yourself the Chinese Advantage!

- China is the 2nd largest economy in the world. world.

2. The world is becoming flat in global 2. The world is becoming flat in global economy!economy!

As Thomas Friedman said, the world is becoming flat. Communication, ideas, and goods are traveling faster and faster between countries including the US and China.  Learning Chinese gives you the opportunity to take advantage of communicating with people on the other side of the world. 

3. Chinese has become a must in 3. Chinese has become a must in government!government!

The Austrian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. The US Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geitner studied Chinese and attended Beijing University.  The former Utah Governor, and former Ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman is fluent in Chinese

President Obama has pledged to send 100,000 students to China in the next 4 years

4. Chinese Culture!4. Chinese Culture!

Chinese culture is over 5000 years old.  By learning the Chinese Language, you will learn another culture and another way of looking at the world.

Isn’t it fabulous that you are able to communicate with one fifth of the people on this planet with their mother tongue?

5. Learning Chinese will give 5. Learning Chinese will give yourself a competitive yourself a competitive

advantage!advantage!Chinese is the fastest growing world

language taught in U. S. Schools. In the state of Georgia, currently there are about 3000 students learning Chinese. In Fulton Schools 9 schools are currently providing Chinese.

Federal agencies and business leaders are looking for people who can speak Chinese and understand the culture.

There are more opportunities for you to get accepted by your dream college and obtain scholarships.

Colleges offering Chinese in Colleges offering Chinese in GeorgiaGeorgia

Georgia Institute of Technology University of GeorgiaGeorgia State UniversityEmory UniversityKennesaw State UniversityUniversity of North GeorgiaGeorgia Perimeter CollegeMorehouse CollegeSpelman College

Some Facts about ChineseSome Facts about Chinese

• Chinese has a relatively uncomplicated grammar. Unlike French, German or English, Chinese has no verb conjugation (no need to memorize verb tenses!) and no noun declension (e.g., gender and number distinctions).

Some Facts about Chinese- Some Facts about Chinese- cont’dcont’d

• The basic word order of Chinese is subject — verb — object, exactly as in English. A large number of the key terms of Mandarin Chinese have been formed as translations of English concepts. You are entering a different culture and learning a new language, but the content of many of the modern key concepts is familiar.

Classroom activities Classroom activities

Products of Classroom Products of Classroom ActivitiesActivities

Products of Classroom Activities – Products of Classroom Activities – cont’dcont’d

Club & Field TripClub & Field Trip

Some information on Summer Some information on Summer CampsCamps

Chinese Bridge – a two-week summer camp to China for American High Schools students (all expenses inside China is covered by a non-profit organization called Hanban)

UNG Federal Language Academy – a three-week summer camp for high school students to learn critical languages at University of North Georgia

StarTalk – a two-week summer camp for high school students to learn critical languages