Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in the world with 1.2 billion people in China alone. There are large populations of Chinese speakers worldwide, including Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. Mandarin is the offical dialect of China.

The language

Chinese is a fascinating language to learn. Native English speakers will find it completely different from what they are used to, in both spoken and written form. The written form is often considered to be quite beautiful as each character is a simplified picture of its meaning.

Culture

China has a long and proud history, and through learning the language you can learn much about its culture. As you improve your language skills, you will discover Chinese habits and traditions as well as learn about the festivals and arts.

Travel and business opportunities

Learning Mandarin is a great first step to travelling in the country, especially as many people there might not understand English. If you are considering to work in China, knowledge of the language is a great plus which potential employers will be looking out for.