The benefit for a foreigner of speaking Chinese is that it shows you have made an effort.
If the native Chinese speakers have reason to believe that your effort is serious, then their respect for you rises noticably and is obvious. Doors open that would otherwise be closed.
This is the social benefit, but it certainly impacts any business relationships as well, since those are largely social as well.
All this is aside from the great personal benefit of learning an interesting and fun language. Maybe some day I'll be good enough to read 红楼梦 in the original.. ;)
Great site, good comments. Agree with Jenny on the temptations - always up to you which ones are harmless fun and which are dangerous to your heart.
Posted on: China Street Smart with John Chan
September 1, 2009 at 2:40 PMThe benefit for a foreigner of speaking Chinese is that it shows you have made an effort.
If the native Chinese speakers have reason to believe that your effort is serious, then their respect for you rises noticably and is obvious. Doors open that would otherwise be closed.
This is the social benefit, but it certainly impacts any business relationships as well, since those are largely social as well.
All this is aside from the great personal benefit of learning an interesting and fun language. Maybe some day I'll be good enough to read 红楼梦 in the original.. ;)
Great site, good comments. Agree with Jenny on the temptations - always up to you which ones are harmless fun and which are dangerous to your heart.