Mandarin Chinese is the second most spoken language in the world, accounting for almost 14% of the population. It is estimated that 1.1 billion people in the world speak Mandarin, so why is it that none of the public high schools in Northwest Seattle – Lincoln included – offer classes for it?
I am a senior who has been studying Mandarin Chinese since my freshman year, but my proficiency level is equivalent to someone who has taken no more than two school years of language classes. All of my structured learning has been done over summer breaks between school years as taking classes during the school year would leave me with little time to complete homework or simply relax.
By having a Chinese class at the school I go to almost every day, I would learn so much more efficiently and get to practice more with others in my class.
Learning Mandarin Chinese presents you with the ability to communicate and connect with millions of people in their native language, a worthwhile skill useful in various aspects of life. It opens up new opportunities for jobs, relationships, and experiences.
China is the second biggest economy in the world, following the United States. Being able to speak both English and Mandarin Chinese would give you the ability to involve yourself with the world’s two biggest economies, opening the door for an abundance of business opportunities.
Through studying Mandarin, I have made friends I never would have met if I didn’t know the language. China is very culturally different from the United States, so it is very rewarding to be able to exchange stories with my friends there about what life is like in our respective countries.
Over the summer of 2024, I went to Shanghai for four weeks to study Mandarin Chinese abroad. I stayed with a host family and took language classes at a college every weekday morning, with cultural activities in the afternoon.
This was truly a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. It can be argued that any study abroad program is a worthwhile experience, which I do agree with, but I can guarantee that no other will be like China.
Most Chinese apps and websites do not offer a translation feature – something many Americans may have already figured out after downloading 小红书, or Red Note, following the temporary TikTok ban in January. While said app has since implemented an English version following this influx of Americans (albeit still being quite faulty), the same cannot be said for other Chinese apps.
Those wanting to explore Chinese websites or apps will have a hard time navigating without understanding the language. There are always external translating applications, but it is very tedious to have to translate each individual page on a separate platform.
In my opinion, it is not worth the effort, and if you have genuine interest in these Chinese apps and websites, learning the language will be a worthwhile skill and make your experience much smoother.
According to ACS 2020, over 15% of Seattle’s immigrant population come from China, making it the #1 country of origin among immigrants here. Learning Mandarin equips you with the ability to connect on a deeper level with Chinese immigrants who contribute a lot to the Seattle community, especially those who do not speak much English.
If Lincoln added Mandarin Chinese to its curriculum, it would stand out from other Northwest Seattle Public Schools for being the only one that offers it, therefore attracting more people and positive attention. It’s a language that comes with many benefits, so implementing it into our school would strengthen our community greatly.