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I was kind of surprised by this. I would have though that speaking decent English would be a fairly valuable skill for Chinese companies that operate outside of
by fhood 8y ago
I was kind of surprised by this. I would have though that speaking decent English would be a fairly valuable skill for Chinese companies that operate outside of China.
- vkou 8y agoAn understanding of history and ethics and psychology is also a valuable skill, but if that's your only skill, you'll be making lattes.
- thaumasiotes 8y agoIt's perfectly possible as a Chinese person in China to enjoy a solid middle-class lifestyle based only on your ability to speak English.
- vkou 8y agoIt seems that is no longer the case.
- AmericanChopper 8y agoIt never really was the case. It's pretty much just a meme that's often repeated about China, and to some extent the rest of Asia. If you don't have marketable skills, then learning a second language simply makes you unmarketable in two languages.
- jpatokal 8y agoProblem is, majoring in English doesn't necessarily mean they actually have the ability to really speak English.
- barry-cotter 8y agoIf you can actually speak English to a level high enough to communicate effectively with monoglot English speakers this is absolutely true. Unfortunately lots of degree programmes that aim for that level of fluency do not achieve it. I’ve worked in Shanghai for the past six years. This is definitely one of the cities with the highest fluency in English in China. Most educated professionals have some basic competency in reading English. That’s really the most you can assume.
- seanmcdirmid 8y agoLiving in Beijing, I was amazed in Shanghai when the taxi driver actually spoke to me in English. That would just never happen in Beijing. English wasn't uncommon in the professional world, however.
- barry-cotter 8y agoA taxi driver who speaks good English is pretty rare here too but plenty speak a little. Definitely a minority but they exist. English is common in the professional world, absolutely, but it’s not necessary for a high level professional career like it would be in most of Western Europe.
- seanmcdirmid 8y agoIf you are a foreigner good English is most definitely essential unless your Chinese is 大山 good. But I agree with your point!