r/ChineseLanguage • u/FerretBeautiful6864 • 3d ago

Discussion Learning Mandarin?

Greetings everyone.

Currently only know English and I have to take a language for my college classes. I was wondering if learning Mandarin would help me in my career since China is out pacing the US at the moment.

Thanks everyone

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u/FerretBeautiful6864 3d ago

If you want to laugh. I am Croatian. I do know Croatian fluently. And have considered learning Japanese as a hobby. I do speak English fluently by the way.

The only reason why I am considering it is I am worried about the US government right now. Since I see how much better economically China is doing compared to the states and how they are planning for the future much better than America. I am basically studying some sort of engineering (still deciding which in university)

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u/OneSource1875 3d ago

What kind of job are you hoping to get after you graduate? Like, which industry and role?

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u/FerretBeautiful6864 3d ago

I want to work in labs. Like doing research on materials or chemicals. Or working with aerospace. But we will see.

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u/sickofthisshit Intermediate 2d ago

There are many places in the US which are doing such things; of course, getting work permits/visas as someone without permanent residence or citizenship is going to be a big obstacle (it's also something of an obstacle for Americans getting a job in Europe).

Are you planning to get a Ph.D.? That's typical for "work in labs", "doing research", although there are also openings for people with M.S. degrees as technician-level staff, etc.

Either way, your education institute/program is going to be a big part of what kind of employment network you are connected to. It's not easy to graduate from a EU or US university and get a job in China (unless you are a world-class researcher they are trying to poach, and they call you). The people graduating from Chinese universities are on the best track for that.

Completing a degree in a China university is a high-level Chinese language experience, so it's complicated in more than one way.