As human beings, we have come a long way through evolution, and this is especially visible in our way of communicating with each other. In our distant past, we could only communicate with each other through gestures and signals. There was no distinct language of communication. As time went on, we developed speech and eventually started writing.

As the human mind evolves, languages were created, with people having the ability to communicate in more than one language. Currently, there are many languages across the globe, each unique in vocabulary, syntax, and phonology.

English has been known to be the world’s universal language of communication and even business for a long time. This popularity was due to the numerous British conquests around the globe in the 19th and 20th century.

Many people worldwide feel compelled to learn English to become global citizens. However, as of late, Chinese, offers a stern challenge to the dominance of English, being the most used language in the world. In this article, we will look at reasons why the average Singaporean will find it beneficial to learn the Chinese language.

1. The Job Market

Learning to read and write in Chinese gives you an edge in the job market. As China continues to grow into a significant superpower, many companies are expanding into China and forging Chinese relations. By being familiar with the language, you can be an asset to the company.

A clear understanding of your field of work coupled with a good command of the Chinese language will make you an irresistible hire. Knowledge of Chinese will give you an edge over the competition, as it will play a huge role in shaping the employment scene of the future worldwide.

2. Developing Artistic Traits

Everyone knows how Chinese symbols look. They are often mistaken for Japanese or Korean writings and vice versa, but they are unique. To anyone seeing them for the first time, they may look complicated and difficult to grasp. With practice, they become more familiar and natural to put down.

The symbols used in Chinese writing are quite artistic and complicated to master. Once you learn to write in Chinese, your penmanship will automatically improve.

3. Improving Brain Power

When you embark on learning a second language, you will significantly improve your critical and creative thinking. Mandarin speakers are said to use both sides of the brain, developing their brain power.

Most people who speak only one language used much less of their weaker side of the brain. As Chinese is quite complex, an individual will see an increase in brain activity when learning the language.

4. Lingua Franca

Within the next few years, Chinese will become Asia’s common language of communication. Learning Chinese will, therefore, mean you will be able to communicate effectively across all countries on the world’s largest continent.

As Chinese starts to gain traction in various countries, it will soon become a dominant language used in corporate environments.

5. Social Integration

One in every five people in the world is Chinese, with the number of Chinese speakers set to increase in the future. Being able to understand Chinese will allow you to communicate with more people. As of today, Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with many societies having Chinese-speaking members amongst them.

As a Singaporean who wants to keep up in an ever-changing world, you might find taking a Chinese language course useful. While learning new languages can be daunting, you will learn invaluable skills that will help you in the future.