46 Some learn Mandarin to do business in China




The international language1 of business2 is English. But a growing number3 of American companies, that do business in China, are having their workers4 learn5Mandarin. Michael Cheng is a Taiwanese-American Internet entrepreneur6 and property developer7.
He is also8 in the business of teaching Chinese. Michael Cheng is president and founder9of the Mando Mandarin Online School. The school is based in New York and uses teachers in China to teach10 over webcams. Michael Cheng says China is now theworld’s second-largest economy11. He says it makes sense12 to engage13 people in their own14 language and to understand their culture.
He says that goes a long way in building15 strong relationships16, especially with the Chinese. Michael Cheng says that as China’s economic power has increased17, so has its cultural power. He says, starting in 2004, the Chinese Ministry of Education18 and the Chinese Language Council19 began20 to set up21 Confucius Institutes around the world22.
The purpose23 was to promote24 and develop25 Chinese language and culture teaching around the world. Now, he says, there are more than26 300 Confucius Institutes inalmost27 100 countries. These institutes work to promote Chinese language at the university-level28. The Chinese government has partnered29 with colleges30 and the Asia Society to set up programs across the United States.
High schools31 have also received money to start Chinese language training programs32. Michael Cheng says many English speakers33 want to learn Mandarin and many people in China want to learn English. He adds that34 taking the time to learnsomeone else’s language35 is a sign36 of respect and a way37 to build business relationships.For VOA Learning English, I’m Alex Villarreal. (Adapted from a radio program broadcast 02Nov2012)
Vocabulary
1.    Language = língua
2.    Business = negócios
3.    growing number = número crescent
4.    workers = empregados, trabalhadores
5.    learn = aprender
6.    entrepreneur = empresário
7.    property developer = incorporador de imóveis
8.    also = também
9.    founder = fundador
10.    teach = ensinar
11.    world’s second-largest economy = a segunda maior economia do mundo
12.    it makes sense = faz sentido
13.    engage = engajar, envolver
14.    own = própria
15.    building = construer
16.    strong relationships = relacionamentos fortes
17.    has increased = tem aumentado
18.    Ministry of Education = Ministério da Educação
19.    Council = conselho
20.    Began = começou
21.    set up = estabelecer
22.    around the world = pelo mundo todo
23.    purpose = propósito
24.    promote = promover
25.    develop = desenvolver
26.    there are more than = existem mais de
27.    almost = quase
28.    level = nível
29.    has partnered = tem feito parceria
30.    colleges = faculdades
31.    High schools = colégios
32.    training programs = programas de treinamento
33.    English speakers = falantes da lingua Inglesa
34.    adds that = acrescenta que
35.    someone else’s language = a lingua de alguma outra pessoa
36.    sign = sinal
37.    way = forma, maneira