Why do Chinese students have to learn English?

[v0031]

What do you know about English learning in China? Why do they have to learn it so hard? It costs so much.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

For better or worse, English has become the language of international commerce.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

It's part of China's plan to take over the world.

[Franzl]

Because few non-Chinese people speak Chinese?

[opebo]

Because they must serve Wall Street.

[v0031]

Because they must serve Wall Street.

Cool answer.

[dead0man]

You don't have to and if you do have to, blame your government.

[politicallefty]

It's really not a bad idea to learn it as a primary second language. I only wish more American schools would teach foreign languages starting in elementary school.

[dead0man]

There are public elementary schools in the US not teaching Spanish?  Not in my part of the country.

[Donerail]

They'll be more efficient administrators of the Occupied Territories if they are fluent in the language of its inhabitants.

[v0031]

They'll be more efficient administrators of the Occupied Territories if they are fluent in the language of its inhabitants.

Can you say your idea in easy English, please.

[dead0man]

He thinks the US will be a vassal to the PRC in your life time and that knowing English will make it easier for them to "administer" us.  Which is absurd for numerous reasons.

[Beet]

Because the Chinese government makes them. I think my dad learned Russian when he was a kid, fwiw.

The Chinese governments reasoning is probably what Ernest said: English is lingua Franca. It's the privileged language of the privileged culture.

[Oswald Acted Alone, You Kook]

They'll be more efficient administrators of the Occupied Territories if they are fluent in the language of its inhabitants.

Can you say your idea in easy English, please.

So when China takes over English countries, the Chinese will know the language.

[Donerail]

Serious answer: to better connect with the rest of the world. English is one of the, if not the, most common second languages in the world - when a Korean and a Mexican want to cut a business deal, the Korean doesn't speak Spanish and the Mexican doesn't speak Korean - they either get a translator or speak in English. English is widespread and opens up opportunities, as the language of trade, commerce, journalism, science, medicine, and communications. Of course, the value is debated, but it's so widespread the government has decided it's a good investment.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Plus English is just a neat language.... what with words like "kerfuffle", "flibbertigibbet", and "curmudgeon".

For example:  The sour old curmudgeonly man caused a kerfuffle when he called his nagging wife a flibbertigibbet.

English is the playdough of languages.  You can make anything out of it... and, at least for young children, it doesn't taste bad either.

[morgieb]

English is the lingua franca. It's why I find it hard to be arsed with anything else.

[Ban my account ffs!]

English is the lingua franca. It's why I find it hard to be arsed with anything else.

And the fact that English speakers don't find "English is the lingua franca" ironic at all is precisely what makes English the lingua franca.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

This is Murica, and we speak English. I will now quote a favorite song from my childhood .

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Donerail]

This is Murica, and we speak English. I will now quote a favorite song from my childhood .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEPh_KlTyII

[politicallefty]

There are public elementary schools in the US not teaching Spanish?  Not in my part of the country.

The data I read had elementary school enrollment in foreign languages at something like 15-20%. I'm sure you're aware as many are that learning a language is far easier when you start at a young age. I'd say that should at least be at 80-90% (ideally 100%). I don't know what the rates are in most industrialized nations, but I'm sure the US pales in comparison (let alone compared to less-industrialized nations).