Let’s take a little trip back in time—51 years to be exact. The Cold War was in full swing, the Berlin Wall had just gone up, and President Kennedy was about to give a monumental speech in Germany, addressing a crowd of around 450,000. In a moment that would go down in history, he confidently declared in a rather charming Bostonian accent: “I am a jelly doughnut.”
Now, before you scratch your head in confusion, let me explain. What he actually meant to say was “Ich bin Berliner,” which means “I am a Berliner” or “I hail from Berlin.” But thanks to that sneaky indefinite article, he instead introduced himself as a pastry.
Fast forward to last summer when my cousin Leo, a 15-year-old counselor-in-training at a summer camp in New Hampshire, encountered a little girl from China who couldn’t speak a word of English. His fellow counselors were flailing around with gestures and doodles, but Leo had a different approach.
“Rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng,” he greeted her, which he thought meant “Nice to meet you.” To his surprise, she responded, “Nǐ jùyǒu měiguó kǒuyīn kěpà,” which Leo learned translates to “You have a horrible accent.” Ouch! Who knew Leo even spoke Mandarin? Apparently, he had studied it for three years during middle school, after opting for it over Spanish. His skills might not be top-notch—his accent is about as American as apple pie—but he managed to convey some important information, like when lunch was, helping the girl feel a bit more at home.
Now, let’s talk about the social media titan, Mark Zuckerberg. Recently, he participated in a staged interview at Tsinghua University in China, despite Facebook being banned there. His Mandarin wasn’t perfect either, but he had his reasons for diving into the language. His wife is Chinese-American, and her mother doesn’t speak English. More importantly for Facebook shareholders, his efforts reflect respect for Chinese culture, which could help pave the way for Facebook to eventually operate in China and add over a billion new users.
So, is it time to rethink our approach to language education? Are we doing our kids a disservice by having them study languages like Italian or French? Spanish might be an exception, given its growing prevalence in the U.S., but how often do we really use German or ancient Greek?
Recent trends show that many parents and educators are beginning to believe that without studying Mandarin, kids might miss out on future opportunities. While exact numbers are tricky to come by, the growth of American students learning Mandarin has been impressive. In 2000, there were around 5,000 students taking Chinese in grades K-12; by 2006, that number skyrocketed to about 51,000, and by 2009, it reached 61,000 high school students. Many believe this opens doors for future careers.
David L. Thompson, a corporate lawyer in Boston, suggests we should encourage kids to learn Mandarin, emphasizing its commercial benefits. Yet, realistically, very few elementary and middle school students will end up in international business or even visit China.
Reflecting on Zuckerberg’s motivations, there’s a less frequently discussed angle: learning a language fosters respect and connection. Just like Kennedy’s pastry blunder, it’s not the exact wording but the gesture that counts. My own attempts to bumble through French in Paris or Leo’s efforts to help a fellow camper shows that even imperfect communication can bridge gaps and build understanding.
In a world where respect and cultural appreciation matter, maybe it’s worth encouraging our kids to learn languages—even if their accents are a bit “off.”
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Summary
In today’s global landscape, learning Mandarin might be more beneficial than traditional languages like Italian or French. As seen through stories of individuals like Leo and Mark Zuckerberg, speaking even a little can promote connection and respect for different cultures. Encouraging children to embrace Mandarin could open up a world of opportunities, even if their pronunciation leaves something to be desired.