Why learn Chinese?  I asked my brother, Mark, this question today.  His answer was very similar to mine.  Please let me explain.

 

First, you might ask, "Is your brother also learning Chinese?"  That will be quickly followed by, "Can I add him as a friend here or on QQ?"  I'll explain.

 

Mark had three reasons for wanting to learn Chinese.  First, like me, he said, "When you learn a new language, you learn new ideas.  Chinese has new words that I've never heard and those words have no English equivalents.  I want to learn about China from people in China.  I don't want to have to rely on someone else's interpretation.  I want to read Chinese directly and speak to Chinese people directly."

 

Second, Mark wants to make friends in China.  I have learned to agree with this goal in studying Chinese.  My first goal was not to make friends but to learn about China and the Chinese people.  But after teaching three Chinese students how to drive my truck and taking some of them on three major vacations, they have become my friends.  I've made more friends here and on QQ, etc.  I like to say, "You can never have enough friends."  Those students are attending the University of Arkansas where I went to college.  It is 126 miles west of my home (200 km).

 

Third, Mark wants to make money.  This was not my original goal.  But now I work for several companies in China and to what I call "Chinglish to English translation."  For example, Chinese scientists often publish their research.  Their research papers are published in either Chinese or English.  If they are published in Chinese, they often have to publish an English abstract along with their Chinese abstract.  My job is to make sure their use of English is good English.  So I serve as an editor to revise and edit their research papers. 

 

I live in a small town in rural Arkansas.  I have a long experience as a writer and editor, so this is a good job for me in a small town.  I'm hoping to be a full time writer before long.  My brother is also interested in learning Chinese.  He has a strong interest, but it is a new interest.  I'm not sure how soon he will be ready to chat here.  He wants to learn some Chinese before he chats here.

 

pH