Dubai kids get ready for Mandarin influence

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Dubai kids get ready for Mandarin influence Knowing your “xiexie” from your “ni hao” could soon be just as important as being able to speak English. That’s the view of parents who have enrolled their kids in a Chinese language school in Dubai that teaches Mandarin, which has almost a billion native speakers and is the fastest-growing language in the world. And the influence of the country’s culture is on the increase too, with more than 200,000 Chinese residents in Dubai alone. The launch of the Happy Mandarin Learning Centre in October has seen 30 students, both expat and Emirati, enrol. One Emirati parent, 28-year-old Fatimah Abdullah Gafati, wants her five-year-old son, Humaid Rashid, to be fluent in Mandarin. “Everyone might be speaking English now, but Mandarin will be the next big language,” she said. “If my son becomes fluent now, he will be prepared for the future. He’s already fluent in Arabic and English – a third language would be a major advantage.” Indian mum Jaya Nair has her two children, 13-year-old Rohan and 10-year-old Anamika, studying Mandarin. Nair and her family often visit China to immerse themselves in the culture. Nair said: “The last time we visited was this summer. My son is already able to translate for us. He’s been learning for three years. Teaching my children Mandarin, for us, means helping them to overcome barriers they may face in the future. In the next generation, Chinese may be one of the main languages. It’s best to be prepared.” The Happy Mandarin Learning Centre, one of the very few Chinese language-dedicated schools in the UAE, was launched by housewife Reem Hong. The Chinese-born 40-year-old, who has been married to an Emirati for 18 years, said she was inspired to open the school because her four children were struggling to speak Chinese. She said: “I taught them Chinese myself. After they became fluent, I realised I could open a school and teach. The Chinese community is growing everywhere. Everyone wants to learn to speak it fluently and even the Chinese expats in Dubai want their children to remember their culture and speak their native tongue.” The classes are on offer at the Raffles International School. Each term sees pupils given 34 hours of teaching. sarwat@7days.ae Read the original story at: Dubai kids get ready for Mandarin influence