Learning is a weightless treasure you can always carry easily - Chinese Proverb
Since China has the world's largest GDP, there are several beneficial reasons for learning Mandarin.
The number of people choosing to learn Chinese globally has increased. More than 70 countries, including Nigeria, have officially incorporated learning the Chinese language into their educational systems.
Statistically, over 25 million people are currently learning Chinese as a second language, and over 200 million people outside China have learnt Chinese. Many primary, secondary and universities in Nigeria are now adding the Chinese language to their curriculum.
More than 1,500 Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms have been made available in 159 countries, including Nigeria, and several students all over Nigeria are now taking lessons to learn Chinese.
The University of Lagos is one of the schools in Nigeria that has an alliance with these Confucius institutes.
Research has shown that factors such as political annexation, marital relation, economic transaction, cultural association, educational acquisition and religious affiliation affect bilingualism and multilingualism.
For Nigeria, the economy and business transactions with China are one of the reasons people are driving towards learning the language.
Hundreds of Nigerians are learning Chinese Mandarin each year.
Chinese language on your CV will increase your chances of employment because there is a growing demand for Mandarin-to-English translators and Mandarin-speaking professionals in Nigeria.
Where can you learn Chinese in Nigeria?
Which are the best places to learn Mandarin?
In this article, we will discuss the ways and places you can learn Chinese Mandarin in Nigeria.
Groups For Learning Mandarin In Nigeria
You can learn Chinese in a group in a physical or online class. Native speakers passionate about teaching foreigners can teach a group of interested learners. You can get people from the Chinese community of Nigeria to help organise Chinese language classes for a group of interested pupils.
There are several great reasons to learn Mandarin with a Chinese group or association:
- An introduction to Chinese characters and language.
- Chinese writing.
- Traditional Chinese painting.
- Learn other Chinese regional languages like Cantonese and Wan as well as Pinyin.
Pinyin is a phonetic approach to speaking the Chinese language. Studying Pinyin will help you use the Latin alphabet to spell words and can be the foundation for grasping Mandarin concepts more quickly.
With the increase of Chinese presence in Nigeria, several Chinese learners are working with some Nigerian companies as translators.
There are several Chinese language groups in Nigeria where students can learn Chinese. These groups usually offer students ways they can learn Mandarin:
- Private Chinese tutorials for quickly learning to read and write in Chinese.
- Practical workshops for practising listening and speaking in Chinese
Here are a few groups, resources, and places where you can learn Chinese in Nigeria that you should consider paying a visit to:
- Educere
- Chinese language Nigeria
- Lextorah
- Confucius Institute
- Chinese Club Nigeria
You can also get a Chinese tutor on the Superprof website to teach you and other interested learners in groups.
Private Chinese Language Schools
Languages are increasingly becoming important in Nigeria. A lot of Nigeria are now investing their resources into learning a foreign language. The Chinese language is one of the most sorts after languages to learn in the country.
The demand for learning foreign languages has birthed several private language schools in Nigeria.
Here are some of the things you should know about learning Chinese at a private language school:
- Learning at a private school is not cheap. However, you can be sure that you are taught according to a recommended syllabus to ensure you speak the language well and fast.
- The timetable isn’t necessarily flexible. Unlike a private tutor that teaches you according to your pace, language schools have curricula and time frames expected that each student should learn some aspects of the language.
- Each private school has their techniques for teaching its students.
- Most times, you will have to be physically present at the school for your Chinese lessons unless the private school offer both real-time online and physical classes.
- You will be mandated to do classwork, assignments and examinations to test your knowledge.
- There are different levels of classes according to the level of Chinese you understand.
However, 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.
You will have a certificate of completion according to your level, which you use to prove anywhere that you learnt Chinese in a private language school.
Learning Chinese In Schools In Nigeria
The fact that Chinese is the world’s second language and has nearly a billion speakers is a good argument for learning it for personal and professional reasons.
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.
Would your child like to be able to speak Chinese?
Not to worry, many schools in the country have introduced foreign languages as part of their curriculum for their students.
Chinese At The Primary School Level
When it comes to language learning, it’s better to start young. The student's syllabus will cover some common phrases, essential Chinese vocabulary, Chinese grammar, pronunciation, tones, and how to write these famous Chinese characters.
Though it is not common, some schools teach their students the Chinese language at the primary or basic level. Learning the Chinese language in schools is becoming necessary because China has become the new destination for economic growth and technological development.
Lagos is one of the states in Nigeria that started the Chinese language as part of its curriculum.
Chinese At The Secondary School Level
In secondary school, any student learning the language has chosen it as one of the foreign languages they want to know. It is usually an elective subject for students.
Any student whose school offers it as one of their foreign languages can start learning it, especially if they are interested in learning or studying it at the university level in or outside Nigeria.
The knowledge of the Chinese language will help students who want to further their studies in China or do research in various fields of human endeavour as China has become a success story in the world economy.
If students want to learn more about Mandarin Chinese, consider looking for private Chinese tutors to help them.
Chinese At The University Level
For students who want to get a university degree in Chinese, three universities offer Chinese studies as a course:
Chinese degree at the university level in Nigeria is a four years course.
Learning Chinese By Yourself
If you do not want to attend a group or school or hire the services of a tutor, you can learn Chinese on your own, thanks to resources like YouTube channels, blogs, and websites.
It is possible to learn Chinese without help. However, it will be difficult and take more time to master the language, especially since Mandarin Chinese is not one of the easiest languages to learn.
You can use apps like Duolingo and Memrise to learn Chinese on your own. Practice regularly and find people online or offline who you can communicate with in Chinese while learning. It will help you better, so you don't get frustrated and stop.
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.
You can be well on your way towards fluency as you self-study Chinese.
Learning Chinese With A Private Tutor
You can hire the services of a private Chinese tutor to learn Chinese. They can help you learn to speak, read, write, and understand Chinese while focusing on exactly what you want to know.
There are tonnes of advantages of a private Chinese tutor:
- You can go at your speed
- You get to choose when and how often you have your private tutorials.
- You also get personalised feedback
- You get lessons tailored to you.
After all, there isn't a timed syllabus for you to follow!
You can get private Chinese tutors on Superprof to give you private 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.
If learning Chinese is important to you, don’t be afraid to invest in a good and affordable teacher on Superprof.
You can also read:
The Best Places To Study The Chinese Language In Nigeria
What You Need To Know Before Learning The Chinese Language In Nigeria
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
