Learning Mandarin

[naomi24]

Boris has suggested that children in our schools be taught Mandarin. Good idea or not?

Does anyone fancy giving it a go themselves? I wouldn't mind trying it. It's different!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/boris-johnson-children-should-learn-mandarin-in-school-8883579.html

[Theland]

Learning compulsory languages is a waste of time for most people and a wasted opportunity when the time would be better spent doing something of more use in their lives. How many people actually NEED another language?

[naomi24]

I've found them useful in all sorts of situations. With the help of a bit of English, a bit of German, a bit of French, and a bit of Spanish, I once conversed with someone who spoke none of those languages fluently in order to pay my water rates. Language is never wasted. :o)

[ichkeria]

It's very sad to hear someone say that learning a subject is a waste of time. Whatever happened to the joy of learning for its own sake? Although I'm sure the benefits of language study, especially perhaps for children, go further than that

[Peter Pedant]

Lazy Gun - liang pi jo ?

I did evening classes for two years and enjoyed it -spoken only
and enjoyed it

I am not sure how far they would get - it is a difficult language

after one y at uni - you expect to recognise 200 characters...