why do you decide to learn Chinese?

[ChineseSpeaker]

For we Chinese, English is a mandatory course from middle school to university, so everybody has to study English. However I don't think Chinese is a mandatory course for you guys who are learning Chinese, so I have 2 questions:

1). why did you decide to learn Chinese?

2). How many people around you are learning Chinese?

3). If you are living China, what's the reason for you to come to China?

[Shadowdh]

1. I was interested in the language and then thought it would be a good idea to get a degree and marry it with my other interest (International Relations)

2. In my class at Uni there is about 24 or so people but I hear that this years first year has more than 40... in the west its a fast growing language...

3. I went to China last year to study and will do so again (albeit for a longer time) this year... if the right job came up I would seriously consider moving there...

[Senzhi]

1. So to make sure my 牛肉 doesn't have wings when I go to a restaurant.

2. I'm alone, as even the majority of people here don't speak Mandarin.

3. I came to China as I was from childhood always fascinated about this beautiful country. At the time I couldn't make it to here, so I'm trying to catch up now.

... and it has changed me as quickly as this country is changing itself.

[Xiao Kui]

1. Got tired of being illiterate in my native Flushing, and wanted to eavesdrop on conversations on the 7 train.

2. I attend a private Chinese training center in Kunming where over 200 foreigners are all learning Chinese together.

3. I can't remember why I came, but China really grows on you, and the buses sure are cheaper than in NYC.

[Stefani]

1). why did you decide to learn Chinese?

I want to reconnect to my heritage (Chinese by ancestry - a Huaqiao - but cannot speak Chinese). I look Chinese enough but cannot be Chinese if doesn't speak Chinese (or any of the dialects) My 4-year-old son is learning it too (goes to a Chinese daycare and week-end school), so another incentive for me to learn as well.

2). How many people around you are learning Chinese?

About 10 students in my class, know lots of childrens / teens of Chinese parents who are in Chinese week-end classes.

3). If you are living China, what's the reason for you to come to China?

I would love to live in China, but unfortunately with a husband and a child that is not really an option for me now

I would like to go there to really get the full-immersion. With English, it took me 1 month fully immersed to be comfortable in it.

[rezaf]

i am interested in studying chinese medicine. i came to shanghai about 4 months ago to study chinese at shanghai university of tcm. in my university the students are mostly koreans and vietnamese.

[imron]

1) I've always been interested in foreign languages, and figured Chinese was probably going to be more foreign than anything else Plus I've an interest in Chinese martial arts. Once I started learning, the more I learnt, the more I enjoyed it, and so decided to keep at it.

2) Most of the foreigners I know here in China can speak, or are learning, Chinese (to varying degrees).

3) I believe the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it, so here I am.

[sthubbar]

1) I enjoy speaking Chinese. I picked up a Pimsleur intro course and was hooked.

2) Most of the foreigners I know are learning Chinese.

3) I believe immersion is the best way to learn.

Pretty much the same as imron.

[johnd]

1. I'm learning Chinese mainly because I live in China

2. Ditto Imron

3. I came to China because my wife is Chinese, and I wanted to understand her culture better. But anyway, I always fancied living a in different country, just never thought I'd end up in China.

[aimee08]

1) I like foreign languages and i also like Asian cultures.

2). I'm studying Chinese at university (I'm beginner ), so well, all the people around me are studying

3). mainly for love. My boyfriend is working in China, so I just followed him and took the chance to study Chinese