Chinese

Why Learn Chinese?

The Chinese languages are spoken by more than one billion people worldwide, and are the languages of the Han people, which is the largest ethnic group in China and the Republic of China. About one-fifth of the world’s population, or over 1 billion people, speak some form of Chinese as their native language, and Mandarin Chinese alone has around 850 million native speakers, outnumbering any other languages in the world. Standard Mandarin is the official language of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan), as well as one of four official languages of Singapore. Chinese—de facto, Standard Mandarin—is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

Here are three compelling reasons to learn Chinese:

1. Economic and Business Opportunities:
China is the world's second-largest economy and a global leader in various industries. Proficiency in Chinese opens up significant career opportunities in international business, trade, technology, and finance. Understanding the language can be a vital asset for students aiming to work in companies with ties to China or in global markets where Chinese businesses are influential.

2. Cultural Enrichment and Global Perspective:
Chinese is the gateway to understanding one of the world's oldest and most influential civilizations, with a rich heritage in literature, philosophy, art, and history. Learning Chinese allows students to engage deeply with Chinese culture, fostering a broader global perspective and promoting cross-cultural understanding in an increasingly interconnected world.

3. Strategic Advantage in International Relations:
As China plays a crucial role in global politics and diplomacy, knowledge of Chinese can be a strategic advantage for students pursuing careers in international relations, government, or global policy. It enables better communication and collaboration with Chinese-speaking counterparts and contributes to more informed and effective participation in global affairs.

Mt. SAC offers beginning and intermediate, university-transferable Chinese language courses that include both verbal and written learning, taught by native speakers in both English and Chinese.

Course Offerings

Chinese (CHIN)

Faculty

Name	Phone	Office	Email
Chih-Ping (Andrew) Chang	909-274-4590	66-233	cchang@mtsac.edu
Chiu-Chin (Jean) Chang			ccchang@mtsac.edu
Rae-Shae Chen			rchen@mtsac.edu