Let’s rewind the clock 51 years. The Cold War was in full swing, the Berlin Wall had just gone up, and President Kennedy delivered a remarkable speech in Germany to an audience of around 450,000. In a surprising display of solidarity, he famously declared in a Boston-accented German: “I am a jelly doughnut.”
This, of course, makes little sense because Kennedy meant to say, “Ich bin Berliner,” which translates to “I am from Berlin.” Instead, his use of an indefinite article turned his statement into a humorous reference to a beloved German pastry.
Now, fast forward to last summer, when my 15-year-old nephew, Ethan, was a counselor-in-training at a camp in New Hampshire. One day, he encountered a new camper—a little girl from China who couldn’t speak any English. While his fellow counselors struggled to communicate using gestures and drawings, Ethan stepped in to help.
“Rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng,” he greeted her, which means “Nice to meet you.” “Nǐ jùyǒu měiguó kǒuyīn kěpà,” she replied. According to Ethan, this translates to: “You have a terrible accent.”
I had no idea Ethan even knew some Mandarin, but it turns out he took lessons for three years during middle school, opting for it over Spanish. His proficiency isn’t stellar; he admitted his accent is “really bad, very American.” Nevertheless, he managed to convey a few basic ideas to the girl, like when lunch was, making her feel somewhat welcome.
Now, let’s discuss Mark Thompson. Recently, he participated in a staged interview at Tsinghua University in China, despite Facebook being banned there. Although Mark’s Mandarin is reportedly as shaky as Ethan’s, his motivation for learning is personal. His Chinese-American wife’s mother doesn’t speak English, and he’s drawn to the challenge of mastering the language. For Facebook shareholders, however, there’s a commercial incentive: speaking Mandarin demonstrates respect for Chinese culture, possibly paving the way for the site’s return to China and gaining access to over a billion potential users.
Have we reached a point where kids studying Italian or French may be at a disadvantage? While the increasing number of Spanish speakers in the U.S. might warrant a different perspective, how often do children need to know German or ancient Greek? Current trends suggest that many parents and schools now believe that if kids don’t learn Chinese, they risk falling behind. While exact figures are hard to come by, the growth in American students studying Mandarin has been rapid. In 2000, there were about 5,000 students learning Chinese; by 2006, the number surged to around 51,000, and in 2009, it reached 61,000 high school students alone. Many assert that acquiring this language can open doors.
“I wouldn’t say that American kids should be forced to learn Chinese,” remarked Linda Adams, a corporate lawyer in Boston who aids Western companies navigating the Chinese market, “but they should be encouraged—strongly encouraged—to learn Mandarin.” The primary motivation is commercial, but it’s unlikely that many elementary and middle school students who study Mandarin will end up in international business, let alone visit China.
Reflecting on Mark’s reasons for studying the language, I believe there’s an important yet often overlooked argument in favor. It’s not about negotiating business deals; it’s about showing interest and respect for another culture, similar to Kennedy’s intent in Berlin.
Misunderstanding a pastry for a person didn’t detract from Kennedy’s message, as the German audience grasped the sentiment behind his words. It’s the same when I bumble through poorly pronounced French in Paris or when Ethan helps a foreign student feel more at home.
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Summary
Encouraging children to learn Mandarin—even if their pronunciation isn’t perfect—can foster cultural respect and open up future opportunities. As the world evolves, so does the importance of language skills, particularly in a globalized economy.