February 11, 2009 4:53 PM
- Text
China's Hot New Export: Its Language
(CBS)
English is the native tongue of more than 300 million people in the world.
But more than 1 billion speak Mandarin Chinese.
Chinese has become the newest export to the United States, where in the last few years the study of Chinese has gone from pretty much zero to thousands of students. It's growing fast: from Maryland, where a third of the schools now teach Chinese, to Chicago, where most classes are in urban schools, CBS News correspondent Barry Petersen reports.
"More and more people are interested in what languages our students should be learning that are going to be useful to them to get jobs later on," said Robert Davis, director of the Chicago Chinese Language program.
Even in Snohomish, Wash., they sing China's praises. It is a tough and subtle language.
"You could say 'ma,' and then you could also say 'meh,' and have it mean 'mom' or 'horse,'" one student told Petersen.
The Chinese government is all for spreading the language as a way of spreading China's influence around the world. It even supplies teachers, but there aren't enough to go around. So there's a lottery to see which American schools get teachers from China.
Many candidates are volunteers, some willing to leave their families and children for up to a year. They must be bilingual — Chinese and English.
And like Janet Yan Ping, they believe they are teaching more than a language.
"We should let China be known by the world, and we should know the world as well," she said.
A school in Marin County, north of San Francisco, won Janet's services.
Nathan is in class because his mom, Denise, learned Chinese as a child in Singapore.
"It's a very competitive world we're in," Denise Wang-Kline said.
Japanese was once the language most Americans thought their children should learn. But then Japan's economy faded, while China's economy keeps rising fast and the Chinese government believes that 100 million foreigners will soon be speaking their language ... including those in America's classrooms.
"It's a new language, and all the languages are kinda hard at first. But when you get used to it – this is my second year at Chinese – it's fun," said Chinese language student Craig Jones.
But more than 1 billion speak Mandarin Chinese.
Chinese has become the newest export to the United States, where in the last few years the study of Chinese has gone from pretty much zero to thousands of students. It's growing fast: from Maryland, where a third of the schools now teach Chinese, to Chicago, where most classes are in urban schools, CBS News correspondent Barry Petersen reports.
"More and more people are interested in what languages our students should be learning that are going to be useful to them to get jobs later on," said Robert Davis, director of the Chicago Chinese Language program.
Even in Snohomish, Wash., they sing China's praises. It is a tough and subtle language.
"You could say 'ma,' and then you could also say 'meh,' and have it mean 'mom' or 'horse,'" one student told Petersen.
The Chinese government is all for spreading the language as a way of spreading China's influence around the world. It even supplies teachers, but there aren't enough to go around. So there's a lottery to see which American schools get teachers from China.
Many candidates are volunteers, some willing to leave their families and children for up to a year. They must be bilingual — Chinese and English.
And like Janet Yan Ping, they believe they are teaching more than a language.
"We should let China be known by the world, and we should know the world as well," she said.
A school in Marin County, north of San Francisco, won Janet's services.
Nathan is in class because his mom, Denise, learned Chinese as a child in Singapore.
"It's a very competitive world we're in," Denise Wang-Kline said.
Japanese was once the language most Americans thought their children should learn. But then Japan's economy faded, while China's economy keeps rising fast and the Chinese government believes that 100 million foreigners will soon be speaking their language ... including those in America's classrooms.
"It's a new language, and all the languages are kinda hard at first. But when you get used to it – this is my second year at Chinese – it's fun," said Chinese language student Craig Jones.
Latest Now in CBS Evening News
- Evening News Online, 02.10.12
- Diplomat: U.S. military not the answer in Syria
- On the Road: Noah's Dream Catcher Network
- Salvaging the Costa Concordia
- Bank deal won't protect federal mortgages
- Ambassador Ford on military help in Syria
- Rare moment of relief in Syria
- Romney touts conservatism at CPAC
- Obama's contraceptive compromise
- American company may salvage Costa Concordia
- A small taste of freedom in one part of Syria
- 12-year-old saves grandma's home from foreclosure
- Evening News Online, 02.09.12
- One mortgage mess culprit: Signature mills
- Remembering Kodak cameras
- Obama frees 10 states from "No Child Left Behind"
- Assad continues relentless attack on Homs
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News
- Magic hit 17 3-pointers in 102-89 win over Heat
- Lin, Chandler lead Knicks over Wizards 107-93
- Delfino scores 25 as Bucks beat Raptors
- Parker scores 37, leads Spurs over 76ers 100-90
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News
