Thinking about learning Mandarin

breadmonkey

Hi,

I'm currently in my final year of a Civil Engineering degree and recently I've been giving a lot of thought to maybe going to China for a while to learn Mandarin. I've heard lots of talk that since the Chinese economy is rapidly growing, it would be a wise move to learn the language.

I was at a careers fair the other day and I got talking to a guy from the Fás Overseas Graduate something-or-other and he told me that they're constantly looking for people and even showed me a graduate position he had in Beijing for next year.

I would be doing this with a view to giving me more opportunities for work back home since I'm not totally sure I want to go into Civil for my whole life.

Would being able to read and write Mandarin make me a valuable employee in a range of disciplines or would I still just be a Civil engineer who happens to speak another language?

Any input appreciated.

Nody

breadmonkey wrote: »

Hi,

I'm currently in my final year of a Civil Engineering degree and recently I've been giving a lot of thought to maybe going to China for a while to learn Mandarin. I've heard lots of talk that since the Chinese economy is rapidly growing, it would be a wise move to learn the language.

English is mandatory in Chinese school since this year for everyone and many business people already speak it at some level due to all the contact with US etc.

Mrs. MacGyver

My boyfriend did a night course in Mandarin Chinese in Trinity College, perhaps you could look into that if you have the time to do it. The lectures were only once a week so at least it will give you a bit of a taster of things to come.

damnyanks

If you have the chance to goto China with a job lined up before you touch down go for it. You may not learn the language or enjoy the country but at leats you'll know instead of second guessing it.

Failing that move to Italy - the women are lovely

Glowing

Learning to write Mandarin is no easy feat - I think even the Chinese have difficulties. You're certainly not going to learn it doing a part time course, it'll be a lot of hard work - probably at least a degree course to write it to a somewhere even close to a professional level.

Having said that, I did a short 10 week mandarin course and I thoroughly enjoyed it - we learnt about 20 characters (out of 40,000 ) and grasped the basics of the pronounciation, tones, counting, basic phrases etc. I then spent 2 months in China and had a fantastic time.

I'd go for the job - it's very unlikely they'll expect you to speak Chinese however. You can do a taster course before you leave and then some part time study over there. But it'd be for your own benefit rather than for the sake of your career. In the cities especially, the young generation have reasonably good english anyway ..... go for it!

Cantab.

Was at a high-profile networking event this evening and about 50% of the attendees were from China. They are going to take over the world. Forget about investing in Irish property - invest in your career in China and you'll reap rewards. English-speaking people with good manners and western know-how are in big demand in China. Now's the time I guess.

breadmonkey

Thanks for the replies.

Glowing wrote: »

I'd go for the job - it's very unlikely they'll expect you to speak Chinese however. You can do a taster course before you leave and then some part time study over there. But it'd be for your own benefit rather than for the sake of your career. In the cities especially, the young generation have reasonably good english anyway ..... go for it!

The job in question doesn't require that you speak Chinese. You do a 7 week course before you go and more stuff when you get there. I've come to the conclusion that to really ever learn a language to the point of fluency, you have to live in the country and have a real need to be able to communicate.

Noelie

One of my mates got a job in Taiwan with FAS. they sent him on a course before he was sent to Taiwan to learn the language, I can't remember how long the course was but i think it was 6 weeks full time but i could be wrong with that.

He initially went out for three years and has been there over four now, I'm not sure if it's been with the same company I don't think it has been. He'd speak Manderian to he colleagues everyday as not everyone speaks English.

He can't read or write anything but says he'd be 80% fluent when speaking.

keefg

Go for it Breadmonkey......Look at it this way, if you don't use the language in a professional capacity .......at least you will know what food you are ordering, directions & general politeness to people (that always goes down well).