Chinese is hard. I get it. At first, characters feel like a mass of impenetrable pictures, and practicing tones only to have Chinese speakers not understand you and reply in English or whip out their translation app feels extremely frustrating. And, in the era of ChatGPT and other AI tools, putting in the effort to learn a language can seem futile.
However, if you’re an international faculty member relocating to China for a long term position, for example a tenure-track job, tenured position, or renewable contract, I really recommend investing the time and effort to learn Chinese.
For me, learning Chinese has been one of the most important developments in my personal and professional life. Here’s why it matters.
1. It Leads to Research and Networking Opportunities
Learning Chinese does more than just improve your daily communication—it also opens doors to numerous research and networking opportunities. In a place where your personal network of guanxi (relationships) is paramount, building trust and connection with local people is important.
This is particularly true for faculty from the US (and to a lesser extent US allies such as the EU and UK) in the unfortunate environment of growing international tensions.
Even a small amount of Chinese shows local collaborators or interviewees that you are serious about your commitment to working and doing research in China, and that you take an interest in the country and its culture. As a result, they will be more likely to work with you.
For example, I am almost certain that many of my past interviewees for my own research would not have consented to participate had I not approached them in Chinese.
Once your Chinese improves even more, you can attend conferences, apply for grants, read research papers, and access data directly in Chinese, maximizing your research and collaboration possibilities.
In China, it’s polite to hand over and accept business cards using two hands.
2. It Helps You Understand and Connect With Your Students Better
Contrary to common stereotypes of China as an exclusively hierarchical society, in my experience, relationships between students and faculty in China tend to be closer and in many ways less formal than those in the West, and as a result your students will really value and emphasize building connections with you as a faculty member.
(For example, it is common for students and faculty to add each other on WeChat, China’s ubiquitous social media app).
By learning Chinese, you gain insights into the cultural nuances and educational expectations that shape your students’ perspectives on the world. This understanding can enhance your teaching effectiveness and help you build stronger rapport with students.
Moreover, when students see that you are making the effort to learn their language, it fosters a more inclusive learning environment. And, when you speak good Chinese, your students (both Chinese and international) will genuinely respect you more as a result.
3. It Makes You More Efficient and Less Reliant on Local Colleagues and Friends
Navigating day-to-day life in a foreign country can be daunting, particularly when it involves processes like obtaining permits, negotiating lease agreements, or simply taking a Didi (China’s equivalent of Uber) to a research or conference venue.
Proficiency in Chinese makes these processes SO much easier, and most importantly gives you independence. If you don’t have to rely on local colleagues to help you import a book you need for research, set up mobile payments, or get a receipt for an expense claim, it makes both you and your colleagues more efficient.
(And while in my experience most people in China are extremely warm and helpful to confused foreigners, it also removes the risk of annoying your friends and colleagues with requests for help with what seem to them like very simple things.)
4. It Saves You Money
While most people don’t go into academia for the money, higher salaries on offer in joint venture institutions and top Chinese universities are a common reason for international faculty to relocate to China. Even learning some basic Chinese means that hard-earned cash doesn’t need to be unnecessarily spent on expensive English-only services catering to foreigners.
In most major cities, it is perfectly possible to rent an apartment, order take-out / food delivery, and get a cleaner or nanny for your child without speaking Chinese, and these English-language services can be a lifeline for new arrivals in the country.
BUT, all of these services are much cheaper if you use local Chinese companies or mobile apps. Therefore, I suggest that once you have a basic command of Chinese, you start to transition to local services and platforms (this is also a great way to practice your Chinese skills).
5. It Opens Up Travel and Personal Opportunities
Work-life balance matters, and while the main motivations for most faculty to relocate to China are professional, the opportunity to travel and experience life in another country and culture is also a major draw.
Learning Chinese opens personal doors as well as professional ones. For example, while it’s possible to travel on China’s urban metro systems and high speed trains using only English, if you want to navigate smaller towns and China’s stunning remote countryside independently, you need to speak at least some basic Chinese.
And, if your Chinese gets to intermediate or advanced levels, you can engage with local groups focused on whatever your hobbies or interests happen to be.
Personally, for example, I love sports, and I am currently the only foreigner in both my running group and boxing gym, both of which operate exclusively in Chinese. Through these activities, I have had the opportunity to make genuine local friends outside of the “expat” / international bubble, and as a result have greatly deepened my understanding of China and Chinese culture, while having a lot of fun in the process.
Me in the boxing gym
Conclusion
Investing the effort to learn Chinese as an international faculty member in China can be transformative. Professionally, it leads to new research opportunities and connections, helps you better understand and engage with your students, and makes you more efficient. Personally, it allows you to explore the country independently, make real friendships outside of international circles, and live a more fulfilled (and simply easier) life in China.
快开始吧! kuài kāi shǐ bā!（So, get started!)