Learning is a weightless treasure you can always carry easily - Chinese Proverb
China is one of the world’s oldest and richest continuous cultures, over 5000 years old. One-fifth of the planet speaks Chinese. Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken first language in the world.
Learning and understanding the Chinese language is an added advantage for every Nigerian, especially for business purposes. A lot of Nigerians do business with the Chinese people. Even the government has economic dealings with China.
International businesses prefer to hire people who speak more than one language. Speaking Chinese will give you a competitive advantage in the labour market over others who do not speak the language. Knowing the language will make you an attractive employee.
Statistically, over fourteen thousand Nigerians in the last three years have learnt how to speak the Chinese Mandarin language in Lagos.
Learning Chinese is a worthwhile pursuit.
There is a standardised form of Mandarin based on the Beijing dialect of the language. It is known as Modern Standard Mandarin and is the version of the language you will probably learn when you study Chinese in Nigeria.
If you want to learn how to speak Chinese in Nigeria, you have to decide if you're going to learn at a language school, with the help of a private tutor, on your own or take it as a course at school.
Once you understand all the twists and turns of the language, you can appreciate Chinese culture, music, film, opera, poetry, novels and literature.
How can I go about learning the Chinese language in Nigeria?
In this article, we’ve got some answers for you.
Is Learning Chinese Worthwhile?
Learning a new language enhances listening skills and memory in an individual. Research has also proven that learning Chinese exercises your brain more than any other language because of its complexity.
The Chinese language can be complicated in the beginning. However, its benefits make it worthwhile.
There are plenty of reasons Nigerians are now learning Chinese. If learning the language is not worthwhile, hundreds of Nigerians will not be learning the language yearly. Even some universities in Nigeria are now offering courses in Chinese.
Mandarin Chinese is the most natively spoken language in the world, with nearly a billion speakers.
Learning a new international foreign language statistically increases every Nigerian chance of getting a job. A language like Chinese opens several job opportunities.
Many businesses in Nigeria are looking for employees who know how to speak Chinese and other foreign languages. Chinese on your CV in Nigeria will be pleasing to employers.
By working on improving your ability to speak Chinese, you’ll be able to distinguish new sounds in a foreign language more easily. Learning the language can help you give your brain a workout while training your memory. It is a good exercise for your brain and memory.
So you see its benefits extend to health.
Chinese is a tonal language. Learning Chinese requires a lot of dedication because, unlike many languages, they do not have alphabets but characters made up of smaller components. You have to take time to learn and master these components.
Best Places To Study Chinese In Nigeria
If you want to study Chinese at a higher institution in Nigeria, here are schools where you can get a degree in it:
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa (UNIZIK)
- Kaduna State University (KASU)
- University Of Lagos (UNILAG)
- Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State
While studying Chinese in Nigeria, you’ll cover all aspects of the language; Chinese grammar, conjugations, spelling, Chinese characters, transcription, Pinyin, speaking, phonetics, etc.
Ways To Learn Mandarin Chinese In Nigeria
Many primary, secondary and universities in Nigeria are now adding the Chinese language to their curriculum. However, there are several ways you can learn to speak Chinese.
You can learn with a private tutor, in a group, at the school level, with a language school or learn it on your own.
Learn With A Private Language School
The demand for foreign languages like Chinese has birthed several language schools in Nigeria. Learning at a private language school will look good on your CV. It’s also a great way to learn Mandarin quickly from experienced and qualified Chinese teachers.
Though language schools are not cheap, you will be taught according to a recommended syllabus to ensure you speak the language well and fast. Students will be mandated to do classwork, assignments and examinations to test their knowledge, which will help their learning process.
Learning Chinese At School
Today, many schools at the primary, secondary and university levels in Nigeria are now offering classes and courses in Chinese. Students can get a bachelor's degree in Chinese at a university offering the course in Nigeria.
When it comes to language learning, it is better to start young. It is why indigenous and foreign languages are in the curriculum for students from the primary level of education in Nigeria.
At the primary and secondary levels, the student's syllabus will cover common phrases, essential Chinese vocabulary, Chinese grammar, pronunciation, tones, and how to write these famous Chinese characters.
Learning Chinese On Your Own
It is possible to learn Chinese without help. You can use apps like Duolingo and Memrise to learn Chinese on your own.
Many people learnt how to speak foreign languages on their own outside the school environment with the right combination of clear motivation, resources, and a deep understanding of core language learning concepts.
Thanks to resources like YouTube channels, blogs, and websites, you can learn without a tutor or attending a school.
Learning Chinese With A Private Teacher
If you do not want to attend a school, you can hire the services of a private tutor to learn Chinese.
You can get private Chinese tutors on Superprof for lessons online or via home tutoring. Most of the tutors offer the first hour of their classes for free, which will allow you to know if you want to continue with them or not.
Tips For Learning Chinese
Despite the Chinese language being considered one of the not-so-easy languages to learn, more and more Nigerians are interested in learning it.
Knowing why you want to learn the language will help your learning process.
Before you start learning Chinese, you should know that:
- Chinese is a tonal language.
- Chinese has over 50,000 characters.
Invest in the best Chinese learning materials and decide if learning will be in a formal or informal setting. A good way to learn the language faster is by immersion. It is an opportunity for you to be in an environment where most of the people you interact with speak the language.
Some tips that can help you learn Chinese faster are:
- Make a learning schedule
- Find activities that combine listening, reading, speaking and writing, like watching Chinese movies.
- Always ask your teachers questions.
- Learn Chinese greaatings
- Learn about their culture and food.
- Practice in all your free time.
Registering with a language school asides from learning at school is also a sure way of learning Chinese. You can learn Chinese by hiring the services of a private tutor, get a native speaker to teach you or learn Chinese online thanks to resources like YouTube channels, blogs, and websites.
Learning Chinese With A Private Teacher In Nigeria
More and more Nigerians are interested in learning the language because of its business benefits or to travel and learn more about Chinese culture. You can search for a private tutor online using the google engine search for Chinese tutors.
You can also check out ads on Social networks like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Supeprof is another easy and fast way to get the best Chinese tutors.
Before choosing the right tutor, you need to know what you want to find the teacher's profile that corresponds to your wants and needs, whether for professional, personal or academic reasons.
The prices for a tutor vary. The more qualified your tutor, the more the cost for the lessons. A Chinese graduate will charge more than an undergraduate student.
If you need to focus on Chinese pronunciation or dialect, you should invest in a native speaker or maybe even immersion!
Online tutorials are usually cheaper than face-to-face home tutorials as they will not include transportation costs. On superprof, you can get classes for as low as 1,000 NGN per hour. On other platforms, the cheapest is usually about 3,500 NGN per hour.
Chinese is one of the five languages which is most challenging to learn for native English speakers. How long it will take you to learn with a private tutor is up to you and your chosen tutor.
To learn fast with your private tutor, always stay motivated, ask questions and practice.
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