In today’s globalized world, learning Chinese has become an incredibly valuable skill for new generations. As China continues to grow in influence, the ability to speak Chinese can open doors to new cultures, friendships, and career opportunities for children.
This topic gained even more attention when the famous entrepreneur Elon Musk shared a Chinese poem on social media. On the morning of November 2, 2021, Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted and microblogged a simultaneous post with the headline “Humankind”, and then he quoted Chinese poet Cao Zhi’s poem “Written While Taking Seven Paces”. The poem reads:
Pods burned to cook peas，
Peas weep in the pot:
“Grown from the same trees，
Why boil us so hot？
This is a richly meaningful poem, and understanding it requires a deeper knowledge of the Chinese language and culture. As we can expect, Elon Musk’s choice of the Chinese poem sparked curiosity and discussion not only about the poem itself but also about the importance of learning Chinese. So why did Musk post this Chinese poem on his Twitter feed?
Elon Musk’s interest in Chinese culture stems from the strategic need to expand into the Chinese market, which is vital for all sectors today. By understanding Chinese language and culture, he and Tesla can effectively communicate with local stakeholders and consumers, fostering relationships that are essential for success. China’s significance as the world’s second-largest economy makes it crucial for global trade, and engaging with Chinese businesses can drive sales and innovation as well.
Musk’s Twitter not only sparked debate but also set a great example for us to see some successful people’s interest in Chinese culture and Mandarin. One such example is Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, who actively promotes Chinese language learning within his family. Zuckerberg’s wife, Priscilla Chan, once mentioned to host Gayle King on CBS This Morning that Zuckerberg’s Mandarin is really better than hers, and in fact he can speak better than he can hear. Zuckerberg wants his daughter to learn Chinese, too.
During his participation in the 2016 China Development Forum, Zuckerberg mentioned that he promised to teach his daughter Chinese. Through learning Chinese, Zuckerberg hopes to teach his daughter a sense of curiosity, encouraging her to recognize that many aspects of the world are not immediately apparent and that she has the ability to explore them independently.
Another example of celebrities having their kids/grandkids learn Chinese is Donald Trump. During Donald Trump’s visit to China, his granddaughter Arabella performed in fluent Chinese. The six-year-old sang two Chinese songs and displayed knowledge about Chinese literature, which amazed many Chinese people. Arabella‘s parents also hired a Mandarin-speaking nanny to keep the Chinese context going throughout the family.
Through stories like Musk’s, Zuckerberg’s family experience, and Arabella’s performance, we can see the value of learning Chinese. Their decision for themselves and their children reflects a broader trend among parents who understand that multilingualism is a significant asset in the 21st century, and investing in Mandarin education for children today will undoubtedly set them on the path to success in tomorrow’s world.
If you are interested in having your kid learn Chinese, sign up for a free trial class via the form in this page, and we will be happy to help.