Wednesday 20-04-2022 - 10:25

This Wednesday 20 April marks Chinese Language Day – a chance to celebrate the world’s most spoken language. More than one billion people speak some form of the Chinese language, and the numbers grow everyday as more people discover a passion for linguistics. 

 

My reason for learning Mandarin is because the one I love is currently studying in China. As part of her requirements for graduation, she has to be fluent in the Chinese language. So, I thought to use the opportunity provided by the Confucius Institute to learn Chinese to support and surprise her. I am intrigued by the several-thousand-year history of China, and I believe learning Mandarin is a way to understand and immerse myself in the beauty of the culture and to make friends with the amazing Chinese people.

 

I love the fact the people of China are meticulous about their language and have continued to protect certain aspects of it from external influences over the years. While the Ancient Mandarin characters are now modernised, one can still see that there is a certain level of intentionality that is put into preserving the old hànzì characters. Each character has a meaning attached to it. So, to learn the Chinese character easily, it’s best practice to learn the associated meaning, and you will find a deep and interesting language, worthy of admiration.

 

My most interesting session when learning Mandarin was when we had a role-play using Chinese currency (Yuan) to buy foodstuffs in a market. It was great to have a feel of the different denominations of the yuan, seeing what they look like, including their connotations. I felt like I was in the centre of a market in China conversing in Mandarin to buy myself fish (鱼 Yú ) and rice (米饭mǐfàn) to make myself a delicious dinner (晚饭wǎn fàn).

 

Learning a new language in a different country is challenging because it’s difficult to practice what you have learnt. That opportunity to practice what has been learnt with native speakers is for me the most difficult aspect. One way I try to bridge the gap is by listening to Chinese news, exploring Chinese YouTube channels or watching short animations about the Chinese language.  

I have had an enjoyable experience learning Mandarin and I want to extend my gratitude to my tutors for their support and commitment to materialising my desires. 

 

Xièxie 谢谢 Lǎoshī 老师

 

- Aniekan Ekpenyong, Mandarin Chinese Language Student