On CBS MoneyWatch: 5 Great Jobs for Lousy Times
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 1 of 24:
Next »
Not a needed skill
Many Chinese people are learning English from an early age.

Imagine a situation in which a person with some Chinese in school is in a meeting with a Chinese person who has spent decades working on fluency in English. How likely is that Chinese person to request the meeting be conducted in English?

Making a foreign language a minor part of learning is not the same as making it a lifetime priority.

That said, knowing the history, culture, and customs of another people is valuable.

Whether Chinese language is offered in Ohio is not especially important. Having a rudimentary knowledge of Chinese people is more likely to help the student understand the world and events.
Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 12/05/08  (Edited: 12/05/2008 @ 12:21) You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

Not a needed skill  Anton Philidor | 12/05/08
It is a useful skill  wonsil@... | 12/05/08
They learn our language because we  Linux User 147560 | 12/05/08
As long as we all stay home...  bernalillo | 12/05/08
Can't agree with you more  Koneko S. | 12/06/08
Another language in school...  Caggles | 12/05/08
We can't even get them to learn English...  ajole | 12/05/08
You're wasting your time, he doesn't get it.  T1Oracle | 12/05/08
Look at other countries...  Caggles | 12/05/08
We have been analysing our ed system for generations.  bernalillo | 12/05/08
Blame the parents?  T1Oracle | 12/05/08
Re: look at other countries  V@... | 12/05/08
Exactly. But we can't test that easily or cheaply.  ajole | 12/06/08
Can't look at the other countries.  ajole | 12/06/08
RE: Chinese...How's that for a 21st Century Skill?  Linux User 147560 | 12/05/08
RE: Chinese...How's that for a 21st Century Skill?  barrelhse@... | 12/05/08
RE: Chinese...How's that for a 21st Century Skill?  Bruce L | 12/05/08
2008 the International Year of Languages  cmeisner@... | 12/05/08
Lingua franca  Anton Philidor | 12/05/08
Ah, quality US education  Yagotta B. Kidding | 12/05/08
Chinese Are Learning English -- How's that for a 21st Century Skill?  synyan | 12/06/08
RE: Chinese...How's that for a 21st Century Skill?  synyan | 12/06/08
RE: Chinese...How's that for a 21st Century Skill?  synyan | 12/06/08
RE: Chinese...How's that for a 21st Century Skill?  h5597 | 12/07/08

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads