Learn Mandarin

If you want to do something constructive whilst you travel then learn a language. Learning a new language is a great thing to do on a gap year or career break.

If you really want to set yourself a challenge then why not learn Mandarin?

Mandarin is the national language of China and is also the most widely spoken language in the world.  If you learn Mandarin, therefore, you will potentially be able to speak with more people in the world than with any other language. If you learn the basics of Mandarin you will find yourself at a distinct advantage because so few Westerners are able to speak it. China is undoubtedly the fastest growing economic power in the world today and if you learn Mandarin you will be learning a language that is becoming increasingly important to the western world. If you are visiting China on a gap year or career break and learn Mandarin you will also find you gain so much more from the overall experience. If you learn some Mandarin, you will be able to communicate far more easily with locals. When you make the effort to learn Mandarin the Chinese people really appreciate your efforts as they are so used to western travellers not being able to speak more than just a few words of Mandarin. 

If you learn Mandarin one of the first things you will need to get to grips with is the fact that it is very much a tonal language. To learn Mandarin properly you need to grasp the fact that a word must be spoken at exactly the correct pitch in order to make yourself understood. When you learn Mandarin you will be taught sounds that are completely different to those in the English language. Another challenge you will have to overcome when you learn Mandarin is that you will need to master the Chinese writing system which, again, is obviously completely alien to the one we use in the west. All of this makes the opportunity to learn Mandarin exciting and challenging!

Many people who learn Mandarin find that, although the art of correct intonation can be difficult, it is quite a logical language with less contradictory general rules than other languages. Another important thing to bear in mind if you want to learn Mandarin is that it can be a lot of fun and you will gain a real sense of achievement when you start to become more proficient. When you learn Mandarin you will also meet other like-minded travellers doing the same thing and you can help each other out with your studies.

The best way to learn Mandarin in China is with Real Gap's ‘Paid Teaching English Programme China' which includes comprehensive Mandarin lessons. This programme is ideal for anyone who wants to experience Chinese culture in-depth by living and working there on a gap year or career break. Unlike many of Real Gap's working holidays, you don't need to be under the age of 30 - and it is also one of the few opportunities in Asia for you to earn money on a gap year or career break when you work. Travellers on the programme receive four weeks of training before they start their teaching jobs and learn Mandarin as part of this training. The beauty of this programme is that you learn Mandarin and then get to put your new skills to the test in the classroom. If you learn Mandarin, or any other language for that matter, it is so important to get real-life practice in everyday situations. When you learn Mandarin on this programme you will be as learning as much from your pupils as they will from you - and you get paid for your troubles!

China is an exciting destination for the more intrepid and adventurous gap year or career break traveller. If you want to learn Mandarin by visiting China and have any questions you would like to ask regarding the programme, or anything else for that matter, then give one of Real Gap's experienced team of travel advisers a call.

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