So you can speak english very "good"… or is it very "well?" If you can't answer that question, don't stress too much because at least you're still able to read this; and you'll be able to communicate on a basic level with people all over the world. Most European or Asian nations will have some sort of English speaking ability as a growing tourism industry have forced it upon them learn; either learn how to speak English, or get beaten out by a competitor that does. Communication is crucial to doing business in the modern world we live in today. While knowing English is a huge asset, it is simply not enough to succeed in a growing multi-national nation.

So what's the next 'best' language after English you might wonder? Well, Mandarin, the national language of China is actually the most widely spoken language in the world with more than a billion of the world's population speaking it. Within the last few months, China has overtaken Japan as the world's second highest GDP. Some say that by 2016, it will overtake the US and with the economic turmoil nowadays in the US, this estimate is really no exaggeration. And when that day does come, knowing how to speak the official language of China will be a huge asset.

Travel around southeast Asia knowing English will get you by. But if you know Chinese, you'll not only get around much easier, you'll also save a tonne of money through avoiding local vendors trying to ripping you off. To them a stereotypical English speaker is a sucker but a thrifty money hoarder speaks Mandarin. So to learn Mandarin, like any language, opens up a new world. In this case you can explore one of the oldest cultures in the world. Mandarin is spoken by relatively fewer non-Chinese than most European languages spoken by non-natives in their respective countries. This means that there is a much greater demand for Chinese for less than Westerners are able to speak. Furthermore, China is rapidly expanding its online presence thus making Mandarin increasingly useful for future communications.

Mandarin is a gateway to the largest workforce in the world. It is not only the official language of China, but also in Taiwan and Singapore (one of the main languages in Singapore). Learning Chinese today will inevitably lead to a better future. Numerous career opportunities and government enterprises as well as scientific and cultural exchanges await the Chinese speaking individual. The Chinese market is now booming after decades of global isolation. China has become a world economic superpower as its doors have opened to foreign investment and business. Foreigners used to learn Chinese simply because they were interested in the culture. Now it is also a means for business.

While many universities in countries around the world offer Chinese language courses, it is time consuming and expensive; thus an excellent alternative is to search for online resources. The number of foreigners who have actually gone to China to learn Chinese has increased tremendously in the past 10 years. Even the UK has set aside an education fund to promote the learning of Chinese among its citizens as it has already become a new global language in the 21st century.

In conclusion... I'm sure you already know of the impact China has and will have on this world and the importance of learning Chinese. If you have no interest whatsoever, there will still be ample opportunity here in the western world but needless to say you will be missing out as people who do speak mandarin will have a huge benefit with much more options to choose from.