Downtown Sydney staring to
look more and more like China
everyday!

dragon-Popular youth clothing
style in Sydney

Mother Chu's-Popular
Taiwanese restaurant in
Sydney

Chinese the language of the future?

By Nik Brogden　Photos by Miky2rude

Asian culture is now making a bigger impact than ever on western society. Currently not only are westerners eating Chinese food, watching Chinese movies (got to love Kung Fu Hustle) and fattening the pockets of tattoo artists by getting Chinese characters plastered over their bodies, but now it is the business world that are feeling the need for understanding not only Chinese culture, but a rapidly growing need for the Chinese language.

Due to the huge demand for Chinese and Taiwanese made products, western companies are now working with wealthy Asian clients. Gen Y business people are finding if they can speak Mandarin Chinese they have a huge advantage over their counterparts.

James Hogan of Adult English School (www.adultenglishschool.com) says that the increased interest in Mandarin Chinese was the catalyst for creating his Adult Language School. James believes that interest will continue to increase. "The Spanish had the 18th Century, the British the 19th and the Americans had the 20th. Now it's China's turn and a lot of people know they need to learn a Chinese language to survive in the 21st century. It looks like I'll have to learn Mandarin soon, too!" Says James.

Australian based company Bopomofo (www.bopomofo.com.au) have taken this a step further offering young Australian's the chance to have a working holiday in Taiwan.

Via working with Taiwan Tourism, they now provide people the chance to totally immerse themselves in Asian culture and gain a wonderful understanding of the Chinese language whilst at the same time experiencing all the wonders Taiwan has to offer.

So with the current world trends it seems Chinese will definitely be the language of the future. With the global integration of Chinese culture into the western world it is becoming more prevalent that westerners embrace the Chinese culture as the world moves into the 21st century.

Left: KMT Building-located in downtown Sydney
Right: Oriental Bar-Oriental pubs now popping up all over Sydney! Westerners love it!