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Do You Speak Chinese Mandarin?

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According to the Telegraph, the steady development of China economy in recent decades has increased international attention and global demand for Mandarin speakers. One of the widely accessible places to acquire the language is the network of Confucius Institutes. Located in over 90 countries, the educational centers offer classes for university students and school children of all ages and backgrounds introducing them to the four tones of Mandarin, the hieroglyphs and the cultural traditions.
Below, we shall discuss some aspects of Chinese Mandarin – what stands behind learning the world’s most difficult tongue?

Lanterns in St Annes Square, Manchester, for the Chinese New Year

Source

Confucius Institutes Worldwide

Followed by the Chinese political agenda, its language and culture have been intensively promoted through native speaking tutors and international programs. The number of Confucius institutes functioning in co-operation with schools, colleges and universities around the world has grown substantially since their establishment in 2004. With over 400 institutes available today, China plans to open twice as much by 2020.
The major goal is to enable people with little or no background to gain lingual proficiency and enjoy the studying process at the same time. Native speaking instructors are being sent on-site to motivate and support international learners. Another contribution is the “live corners” – spaces where students are purposefully exposed to the natural flow of Chinese Mandarin speech, unbounded by the classroom teaching atmosphere.

Learning Chinese Mandarin in the UK

Confucius Institutes on university campuses allow undergraduates to incorporate Mandarin courses along with their studying schedule. The language centers staff in the UK, just like in the rest of the world, implements flexible education methods with consideration of social and cultural differences. With about 25 Confucius Institutes on campuses and nearly 40 Confucius Classrooms offering Chinese lessons in primary and secondary schools, the non-profit institutes make a convenient and effective way to become a Mandarin speaker.
Apart from memorizing thousands of characters, the hardship lays in the lack of consistent conversational practice: however “live corners” and experience-based learning proved to be an effective solution. So, the students in Confucius Classroom at St Mary Magdalene Academy in London, for example, were taken for an encounter in a nearby Chinese restaurant where they had to order off the menu in Mandarin.

Why Learning Chinese is so difficult

The process of acquiring Chinese Mandarin is particularly challenging for students who are not surrounded by native speakers on a regular basis. On one part, the Mandarin writing system lacks common ground with any of the European languages – it takes effort and dedication to memorize about 2000 characters from scratch: the lowest number required for reading and understanding Chinese contemporary literature. Tones and pronunciation is another topic that requires guided practicing, as some words that sound the same to an English speaker, for example, have absolutely different meanings in Mandarin.

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The credit for the growing aspiration to acquire the “tongue of the future” may be mostly given to the high potential of China economic power; businessmen and students who plan to live and work in China realize that mastering the speech and vocabulary is essential. However, compared to European semantics, learning Chinese Mandarin as a second or a third language requires a different approach: the script system, distinctive pronunciation and limited place for verbal practice are the common barriers that challenge even most meticulous learners.
Sources:
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/business/finance/UK-firms-want-Chinese-speakers/shdaily.shtml
http://english.hanban.org/node_7716.htm
http://english.hanban.org/article/2014-07/04/content_543545.htm
http://www.ioe.ac.uk/91109.html
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jan/30/university-applications-subjects-age-gender-country
http://www.omniglot.com/chinese/structure.htm
http://ciforschools.wordpress.com/about-us/confucius-classroom/

 

 

Private Language Lessons in Manchester.

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The Language class organises private language classes in the greater Manchester area. Qualified and native speakers come to your home or office offering Italian, French, Spanish language lessons.

Maria Romanelli – Italian

Buongiorno! My name is Maria and I am originally from Abruzzi, Italy. I specialize in teaching Italian to all interested students. As a romance language, Italian is one of the most influential languages in the world. In fact, nearly 125 million people speak this fascinating language worldwide. If you want to learn Italian, you’ve come to
the right place. As a former middle school teacher, I know it can hard learning a new language. This is why I work at your pace, and can help you speak and master this unique language. Whether you love its cuisine or soccer team, Italy remains one of the shining stars in Europe. Why not learn its language and truly expand your horizons? I hope to see you in my classes and Arrivederci for now!

Lisa Perez – Spanish

Hola students! My name is Lisa Perez and I hail from Madrid, Spain. My specialty is Spanish, which is spoken by over 414 million people across the globe. It is also the second most spoken language by primary speakers, and is the most popular language for bilingual students and teachers. If you’ve always wanted to learn Spanish, now is the perfect time. I offer easy to understand classes that will help you learn, speak, and even write this globally popular language. I can also teach you about Spanish culture, including arts, music, cuisine, and especially sports. See you in my class and adios for now!

Pierre Lebeaux – French

Bonjour! My name is Pierre and I am from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I have a Master’s Degree in French and have been teaching for over 10 years. As the language of love, French is eloquently spoken by over 220 million people. This includes Europe, as well as Canada, America, and especially throughout Africa. If you want to learn this captivating and compelling language, I can turn your dreams into realities. Simply sign up for my class and you will truly experience the magic of France! Au Revoir!

UK Business Suffering From Lack Of Language Skills

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According to the BBC, businesses are missing out on opportunities to break into new markets because they cannot recruit multilingual employees locally. This stems from the fact that the current education system doesn’t emphasize the acquisition of second languages. Although the government is now targeting policies to allow for second languages in the curriculum, it will be a while before the system can provide the necessary number of multilingual employees to satisfy the current job market. Most of the demand is for people who can speak French, German and Spanish but the recent domination of China in global trade has also led to demand for Mandarin speakers.

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British companies are suffering because of lack of language skills – source

 Bigger Trading Opportunities

Although UK’s biggest trading partner today is the EU, Katja Hall, the CBI Director General, the biggest demand for multilingual will no longer come from Europe. Firms are now looking to trade in China as well as Latin America where fast growing economies are allowing companies to trade globally. Multilingual employees mean that transitioning into new markets is a lot easier and less costly. Today, British firms that want to do this have to hire expatriates which means bigger salaries.

Early Intervention

With only 1 in 5 schools requiring student to learn a second language, it will be several years before these companies can hire locally. Although there have been recent government initiatives to correct this worrying lack of foreign language education, it is yet to be seen as to how they will be implemented and how effective they will be. According to Ms. Hall, the problems is that students are not being told early that foreign languages will give them vast opportunities in the future. This is relevant because languages are much easier to grasp at young ages and if they are introduced early enough, it only takes a few years to become fluent.

Reintroduction

As of September this year, children will be required to start learning second languages from the age of 7. In the past, languages were compulsory from the age of 11, a policy which saw a great decline in recent years. The current crop will understand from an early age that languages are just as important as math, science or history. It will definitely give them an edge because they have better earning opportunities.

Are employers willing to pay more for these skills? The trends speak for themselves. Although they will not pay as much as they pay expatriates, they will pay enough to distinguish multilingual employees from those who are not. In addition to French, Spanish, German and Mandarin, they are also looking for staff who can speak Cantonese, Polish, Russian, Japanese as well as employees who can speak Arabic.

Is it too late for those who haven’t mastered a second language? Fortunately no. There are plenty of foreign language classes available either through the internet or through better option of a personal tutor. A personal tutor is more effective because you don’t just learn a language, you get to learn a little bit of the culture.

Polish Language is Increasing in Popularity in the UK

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On weekends, many children are engaged in various activities. Some accompany their parents as they go shopping while others take part in sporting activities. The polish language is among the most commonly spoken languages in the UK. This is because Polish children attend extra classes to learn Polish mostly on weekends. Besides learning the language, the children are also taught about the history and culture of their country of origin.

DSC_0634 Polanie Polish Dance Group

Polish Culture – source

Parents allow their children to attend Saturday classes for different reasons. Whatever the motivation for taking these lessons; there are benefits why one should learn a new language in the UK. To begin with, it opens the young children to a new perspective of their future. Every parent should accept that learning new languages is an opportunity and not a risk. It opens the young lives of their children to new opportunities which equip them with skills to communicate comfortably with people from Poland.

Since communism collapsed in 1989, Poland has seen dramatic social and economic development. Life expectancy has improved and the economic situation is better. The country is now more attractive to Poles who have been living in other countries. The children, who are growing in other countries now,may choose to relocate to the country of their forefathers in the future. This choice will be influenced greatly by their knowledge of Polish as it will be easy to communicate.

While attending Polish classes, children get to learn the culture and history of Poland. Knowledge of Polish culture allows them to understand their country which makes it attractive for them to visit and probably settle in. There are many interesting Polish customs that the young people can learn, such as how the Poles painted Easter eggs. These are some of the benefits of second languages for the young ones.

British researchers are still interested in Polish as well as other cultures. There are still plenty they can discover about Poland. The children who learn Polish can be employed in researches on Polish culture. They are perfect natural candidates as they will be motivated by knowledge of Polish language.

People are increasingly free to move and settle in any part of the world. Children born far away from their country of origin, may wish know about their roots. Polish children who learn a new language in the UK are able to know where they came from easily. They are able to embrace the diversity and opportunities presented to them by the European Union.

There are some Poles living in the UK and other countries who can speak Polish well, but their writing skills in the language are poor. Acquiring new writing skills is one of the benefits of second languages. This is an advantage for them as they are equipped with an additional way of communication.

Polish children who learn a new language in the UK get a chance to visit Poland. They attend summer courses in Poland that are partly financed by the Polish government. These courses are designed for Polish children living in the UK. During the courses, they visit a number of places that form the starting point of a long adventure with their Motherland.

The Language class also organises Polish private lessons in London to anyone interested in learning this language. Anyone is welcome to book a trial lessons to test our communicative task based method

 

Russian, Chinese and Serbo Croat teachers in London

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Elana Stojkov – Polish and Russian

Hi everyone. I’m Elana, originally from The Ukraine and I teach Polish and Russian to anyone who wants to learn. I’ve been teaching adults for about four years here, but I was a teacher of children in middle school in The Ukraine, ages 9 to 11. I am a very patient teacher and I know that Eastern Bloc languages are very difficult to learn, but I really believe that with hard work and a positive attitude, anyone can become a perfect speaker. Spaseeba (Thank you in Russian) for reading about me and I hope to see you in my classes. Do widzenia (Polish for goodbye).

Li Min Lao – Chinese Mandarin

Nee how students. I am teacher Li Min Lao from the Beijing Province in China. I came to this country to help people learn about the culture of my country, and the beautiful and musical language that I speak. I hold a degree in Chinese cultural studies and am currently working towards getting my Masters degree. I hope to teach everyone about all of the history of China, and we can even learn about Chinese food together. I hope you will join my class, from the youngest student to the oldest, and we can all become lovers of China together.

Adrijana Kajkavian – Serbo Croat

Zdravo, kako ste vi danas? Welcome to my teacher profile. My name is Adrijana – pronounced: ahd-ree-ah-nah – from beautiful Croatia. I only came to this country recently but I have already met many students who want to learn to speak in Serbo-Croat. I was a teacher of geography in my country, and I love to explain how beautiful Croatia is, and the deep and rich history is has built over many thousands of years. I hope you will join to my class, even if you already speak the language, because I have many things to teach you that you maybe don’t already know. Good to you in your studies and I hope vidimo se uskoro, which means, I will see you soon.

New Language Requirements Bring Challenge for Schools in United Kingdom

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The recent curriculum requirement, which will be due in September 2014 states, that every school-child aged 7 to 11 must be prone to a second language studies throughout these years. In reality, however, the scheme may fall flat as nearly 60% of primary schools are challenged by the upcoming change. This is mainly caused by essential lack of teaching staff in and their insufficient level of proficiency. Besides that, poor communication between lingual supervisors in primary and secondary schools adds to the relatively low activity rate within students.

Prior to making foreign language studies a compulsory part of primary and secondary education, there are a few dominant matters to consider:

Shortage of Qualified Language Teachers in Primary Schools

An overwhelming majority (75%) of primary school instructors hold only GCSE qualification in the language subjects, meaning the teachers may find it difficult to provide the desired level of knowledge and expertise. In light of the small number of professionals and no constructive guidance, schools authorities are in doubt the idea of advanced lingual tuition should really work. Whereas primary educators are on most part enthusiastic about the oncoming reform, their lack of confidence and real-time experience is undermining the initiative.

Poor Collaboration between Primary and Secondary Schools

A further issue that cannot be ignored is the ineffective networking within the educational system: about 70% of primary scholars are not able to keep on studying the same foreign tongue in the secondary school due to the tutors mismatch. While private institutes report better figures with nearly half of institutions are apt to provide students a continual exposure to the initially chosen language, the outcome is still less than satisfactory. Consequently, a great amount of learners are forced to shift to another tongue during transition from primary to the secondary education, which often causes confusion and discouragement, let alone the fact that a pupil needs to adjust to a language never studied before.

Students Are Not Highly Motivated about Taking Foreign Languages

Resulting by low proportion of capable tutors who would introduce children to the language from the very first school years, students often find themselves uninspired to take French, German or Spanish classes. As foreign language studies have not been compulsory at all GCSE level before, an additional incentive might be required to enhance interest in the subject – an entire new learning culture should be established. Supply of more native speaking teachers or those demonstrating proper verbal and reading capacity is one example of a positive didactic experience. Another key to success is the dialogue between different undergraduate stages providing a swift studying course.

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The overall picture of foreign language education across the UK is far from perfect both in state-funded and independent institutes. Yet, there are signs of gradual improvement in the long term, as the social awareness grows: more secondary students realize the importance of their lingual proficiency and add tongues to their agenda. A steadily growing number of teenage students who have chosen to learn at least a non-English language has been reported by nearly 50% of public secondary schools.

Second Languages Might Be Introduced In North America

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According to the Guardian North America has long been the cradle of multiculturalism. This is especially true in the United States where hundreds if not thousands of different languages and dialects are spoken. As the melting pot of the world, no more so is true than in New York City. In fact, the Big Apple even has neighborhoods that are lined with countless ethnicities and languages. Still, English is the official language of the U.S.A and second only to Mandarin Chinese as the most spoken language in the world. With the advent of technology, however, the world is becoming smaller in almost every aspect. To effectively break down communication barriers between native speakers and new arrivals, the U.S. may need to adopt and implement secondary languages across the board.

Singapore Leads the World in Bilingual Education

While Spanish and French are taught at all grade levels, the U.S. needs to look at Singapore as a model for multi lingual studies and communications. In fact, the city state is proud of its bilingual and trilingual education system, which sees residents and citizens learning and speaking more languages on a daily basis. While the U.S. is known for its diverse and culturally rich population, it appears English is still the driving force that binds each people across vast lines. While it’s important to speak the official language, it is equally important to adopt and learn new languages as well. Not only does this expand educational horizons, it helps aspiring students tap into a world of new opportunities in various sectors.

Second Languages as Important as English

When it comes to multiculturalism, languages play a pivotal role at every turn. In fact, it’s the ability to communicate with others that fosters pluralism at its finest. From Chinese and German to Polish and Hindi, secondary languages continue to soar at alarming rates. In fact, they are no longer just relegated to ethnically diverse communities across the nation. These languages are now spoken as often and as frequently as English. This is especially true in the world of commerce and business, which has placed a strong emphasis on learning new languages to compete in this globally challenging and diverse market. According to Forbes Magazine, it’s almost like North America has been hit with a reverse form of linguistic outsourcing.

Learning New Languages is Essential

Whether for business or personal enrichment, learning new languages is no longer considered a luxury. With 3% of all literary works in the U.S. now with translated versions, that number is slated to rise with the arrival of new immigrants and foreigners. These new arrivals are also not just settling in the big cities and metropolitan centers of the nation. Like the smallest towns in England, main street America has been flooded by multiculturalism at all levels. In fact, it is so common to see Indian and Mexican restaurants right next to all American fast food franchises and retail establishments. There are also countless events held each year that celebrate the diversity of this great and expanding nation. If you truly want to be a global citizen, learning new languages is simply essential.

Learn Italian One to One With a Private Tutor

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There are several reasons to learn Italian. As a popular romance language, Italian is spoken by nearly 125 million people worldwide. Suffice to say, this language is just as important as English, French, German, and especially Mandarin Chinese. This is especially true in the world of global business, where learning a second language is now considered mandatory. Based on recent reports, the UK is rapidly becoming one of the world’s largest melting pots. With a wide array of cultures and languages, learning Italian is another way for British youth and businesses to break down communication barriers with new arrivals from the old country.

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A trip to Italy to practice the language – source

Britain to Learn Italian to improve communication.

At the same time, learning the Italian language can unite neighborhoods across England and establish a true sense of multiculturalism. With a lack of language skills in UK, the Prime Minister has stressed the need for Britons to adopt and learn new languages. Along with breaking down communication obstacles, learning Italian helps non-speakers learn more about Italy’s fascinating culture and traditions. This includes their world renowned cuisine, along with music and other essential traits. From London to Manchester, there are several native speaking Italians across the nation. The ability to learn their language can also help propel business opportunities and careers. This is especially true for students that want to establish their own commercial entities within domestic or international capacities.

What to do to learn Italian in London.

If you want to learn Italian, your options and choices are simply unlimited. In fact, there are several schools within London and other cities that teach this popular language. If working for an international firm that deals with Italian partners and clients, chances are they will pay for you to learn the language. By learning this fascinating language, you will be able to effectively engage and communicate with your Italian customers. If pressed for time, however, there are online and physical tutors available for your convenience. Whether for business or personal fulfillment, learning the Italian language offers a myriad of opportunities for UK businesses and students.

Times are ripe to learn Mandarin Chinese at GCSE Level

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Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world. With over a billion speakers worldwide, the language continues to soar in global popularity. In fact, Mandarin Chinese is slated to be the primary language taught at a new center in London. According to Education Minister Elizabeth Truss, the upcoming “center of excellence” will employ Mandarin speaking teachers to help British youth learn this fascinating and expanding language. The agreement with leading educational institutes in China will also train non-Mandarin speaking instructors in the UK as well. While there are currently 300 Mandarin speaking teachers across London, this new agreement will double that count to 600 by the end of the year.

Christine Ling

Chinese language is becoming very popular to learn – source

Now it is the time to learn Chinese.

If you have always wanted to learn Chinese, now is the perfect time to tap into a wealth of opportunities. Along with GCSE language courses , Mandarin Chinese will also be taught at after school centers across the nation. This not only expands multiculturalism in the UK, it will also help students maintain a competitive edge in this challenging and diverse global marketplace. In fact, Elizabeth Truss believes this is a vital step in helping England’s youth compete for international jobs and positions. It will also help them learn about the Chinese culture, while expanding their educational capacities and horizons. This coincides with a recent Forbes articles that reiterates the importance of learning second languages in both the educational and business realms.

What the future of language learning is holding for you.

While the British PM would like to see scores of domestic Mandarin speakers by 2020, Katharine Carruthers is also championing this linguistic cause across the UK. As the Director of the Institute of Education, she has always stressed the importance of learning Chinese for students and commercial entities. With Hanban providing financial and logistical support for the new language center London, Carruthers is simply ecstatic. In fact, she believes this will lead to more GCSE language courses with a strong emphasis on French and Mandarin Chinese. In a nutshell, learning this important language will truly boost careers and business opportunities.

French, Italian, Spanish Business language lessons in London

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If you want to enhance and improve your business, learn a second language. According to business experts, multilingualism is on the rise in several commercial sectors. From Mandarin Chinese, to Italian to Spanish, to French, countless businesses are employing translators, and multilingual staff to help break down communication barriers. At the same time, these commercial entities are learning to speak different languages to effectively communicate with their global clients. Learning new languages simply opens the door to a wealth of new opportunities. It also expands your brands global reach, while maintaining a competitive edge in this challenging and diverse marketplace.

Why learning a second language will benefit your business in London.

London Eye

Whether it’s a new or existing commercial venture, the business world is expanding at faster rates. To stay ahead of the curve, you need an effective way to promote your products and services. Whether targeting domestic or international customer bases, the ability to sell worldwide requires optimal and clear communications across the board. In the past, global clients had to learn some English to communicate with partners stateside. Since so much business is done abroad these days, this trend has seemed to reverse.

We can help you getting started with foreign language training.

Today, there are several business owners that have learned to speak Spanish, German, and even Arabic. By learning these languages, domestic entities can now conduct business across vast platforms and networks. This has helped eliminate the fear of language barriers that hinder performance and productivity.

From ecommerce solutions to textiles, it is imperative for businesses to adopt and implement new languages. This helps them secure higher visibility, while facilitating the needs of their international and foreign clients. With over 200,000 global companies now on Facebook and other social media networks, the ability to converse and communicate with international customers have helped them secure a strong online presence. This not only generates a lasting buzz about their companies, it also helps them secure leads while generating recurring business and profits. If you are struggling to attract new clients due to language obstacles, now is simply the perfect time to learn a second language and reap the benefits.