Matthew Gibson
China Summer Fellow 2016
Shanghai, China
When I started learning Mandarin Chinese at New York University, I was thrilled at the prospect of learning such a unique language. However, I will be the first to admit that my excitement came from the prospect of being different. The rarity of Caucasian Americans who were able to speak Chinese made it enticing, and I relished explaining to people that I was learning the language. Often, I would be asked, “Say something in Chinese!” and I would proudly respond with something very basic, lacking proper pronunciation or use of any tones whatsoever. For me, Chinese was a kind of party trick. I considered myself very clever to choose such an intricate language.
Over time, as I learned more about the language, people, culture, and traditions of China, my respect grew in turn. I began to become uncomfortable telling people that I was learning Chinese and if asked to demonstrate I would decline. I realized that all languages are sophisticated and complicated and the process of learning them has no reflection on your ability or worth. More than a billion people have learned Mandarin Chinese natively and many of them also learn native dialects or other languages including English. I began to ask myself why I thought I was special because I decided to study Mandarin.
Now, in Shanghai, I exclusively practice my Mandarin with native speakers. I am very often told that my Mandarin is very good, and while I am flattered, I know that it is not true and I wonder why native speakers delight in telling me so. A close friend of mine, who regularly tolerates my bumbling Mandarin, explained that Chinese people themselves know how difficult the language can be to learn and are excited when other people want to learn it as well. I am reminded that I too should respect those who take on the challenge of learning English.
In Shanghai, I feel proud and confident in my study of Mandarin, because for me, it is a way of showing respect to my new community. Despite strenuous, intense classes, I love learning Mandarin. My excitement for the language no longer stems from being “special” but instead from the opportunity to meet and engage with an incredible number of people. Each day while traveling in Shanghai, the use of the local language is an exciting first step as I engage with my new community.