Let’s rewind the clock to 51 years ago, during the height of the Cold War. In a moment of profound solidarity, President Kennedy delivered a speech in front of a massive crowd in Germany, famously declaring in his charming Boston-accented German: “I am a jelly doughnut.” While this may sound nonsensical, it was a classic mix-up; he intended to say “Ich bin ein Berliner,” meaning “I am from Berlin.” However, due to a small grammatical oversight, he instead claimed to be a pastry.
Fast forward to last summer when my young nephew, Oliver, then 15, was a counselor-in-training at a camp in New Hampshire. One day, he encountered a new camper, a young girl from China who didn’t speak a word of English. While his fellow counselors struggled with gestures and drawings, Oliver stepped in to help. “Rènshi ni hen gaoxing,” he greeted her, which translates to something like, “Nice to meet you.” The girl responded with, “Ni jùyou meiguo kouyin kepà,” which Oliver interpreted as “You have a terrible accent.”
I was unaware that Oliver even knew Mandarin! It turns out he studied it for three years during middle school, choosing it over Spanish. His skills aren’t stellar—he readily admits his accent is “really bad, very American.” Nevertheless, he was able to convey basic information, like lunch times, helping the girl feel a bit more at home.
The Case for Learning Mandarin
Now, let’s talk about tech mogul Mark Thompson. You may have seen a recent video of him speaking Mandarin during a staged interview at Tsinghua University, where he serves on the advisory board. His accent, like Oliver’s, isn’t perfect, yet he has strong motivations for learning the language. Thompson’s wife is Chinese-American, and her mother doesn’t speak English. Beyond personal reasons, there’s a business angle too; speaking Mandarin suggests an understanding and respect for Chinese culture, which could be beneficial in expanding Facebook’s presence in China, potentially adding over a billion new users.
So, should we conclude that children studying Italian or French are at a disadvantage? Spanish might be an exception, given the growing number of Spanish speakers in the U.S., but how often do kids need to know German or ancient Greek? There’s a rising belief among parents and educators that if children don’t learn Chinese, they might miss out on future opportunities. The numbers back this up: In 2000, only about 5,000 students were learning Mandarin in K-12 schools, but by 2006 that number jumped to 51,000. By 2009, there were 61,000 high school students studying it.
David L. Woronov, a corporate attorney based in Boston who helps Western businesses navigate China, believes American children should be strongly urged to learn Mandarin. While the primary motivation is commercial, the reality is that the majority of elementary and middle school students studying Mandarin may never work in international business or even travel to China.
Building Connections Through Language
Returning to Thompson’s motivations, there’s a compelling argument for learning Mandarin that goes beyond business. Just as Kennedy’s slip-up was understood by his audience as a gesture of goodwill, struggling through the language can demonstrate respect and create connections. When I fumble through my awkward French in Paris, or when Oliver tries to speak Mandarin, it’s all about building rapport.
In conclusion, while perfect fluency isn’t necessary, the ability to communicate—even imperfectly—can foster understanding and kindness. This is a valuable lesson for both children and adults.
If you’re interested in learning more about the process of home insemination, check out this informative resource from the Cleveland Clinic. Alternatively, if you’re looking for practical tools, consider exploring options like the BabyMaker home intracervical insemination syringe kit combo or the CryoBaby home intracervical insemination syringe kit combo, both excellent choices for your journey into parenthood.
Keyphrase: Should Kids Learn Mandarin?
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]