An entry over at Going Global about students in the U.S. learning Chinese as a second language reminded me of an article in the Miami Herald that I read last month about the increase in Latin Americans learning Chinese as a second language.
An entry over at Going Global about students in the U.S. learning Chinese as a second language reminded me of an article in the Miami Herald that I read last month about the increase in Latin Americans learning Chinese as a second language.
August 7th, 2005 at 11:33 pm
Did you happen to be living here last November when Hu Jintao came to visit? Everyone went China crazy. In fact, I think they were the first country to give Argentina a substantial loan after the 2002 devaluation/selective default.
I had friends tell me that their companies were paying for them to take elementary Chinese classes. An Argentine speaking Chinese? What is the world coming to? 🙂
August 8th, 2005 at 7:01 am
I wasn’t here when Hu Jintao came to town. I was speaking with a friend here just the other night who mentioned (without having seen my post) that she knew someone who was learning Chinese. Also, my girlfriend knows someone who works for an organization that is focused just on promoting trade between Argentina and China. It all reminds me of a comment from a friend of mine in the US when he said that he “would be glad when the US is no longer a superpower.”
August 8th, 2005 at 7:43 pm
Oh, yeah… but be careful what you wish for. It may come true. Along the way I got a Master’s in Chinese Studies (seems like a previous life), & I’m not so sure I’d want China assuming economic superpower status. There are lots of social & psychological issues they need to deal with before taking on such a title. The US certainly doesn’t have it right (plenty of unresolved social & psych issues too), but they just might be a step ahead of the Chinese. Who knows? Only time will tell.