Why fewer people want to learn Mandarin in New Zealand

AUCKLAND: Mandarin was once the darling of foreign language learning in New Zealand.

Students even used to camp overnight outside the University of Auckland's foreign language department to get a spot in the Chinese programme.

But student numbers are seeing an "alarming decline", Dr Wang Danping, senior lecturer of Chinese at the university told CNA.

Mandarin was formally included in the national curriculum in 1995 at secondary school level. The language later entered primary schools, seeing a surge between 2010 and 2020, thanks in part to a NZ$10 million (US$6.1 million) Asian Language Learning in Schools fund. But since then, the pipeline of students appears to have dried up.

Official data shows the number of students learning Mandarin at universities across New Zealand was just 255 in 2020, a 57 per cent drop from 2010. At least one university, the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), closed its Asian Studies and Chinese Studies programmes in 2023, while its Diploma in Arts in Chinese programme was closed in 2019.

"These actions were taken because of a substantial decline in student enrolments in these teaching programmes," said Professor Tim Maloney, head of the AUT's School of Social Sciences & Humanities.

Several other universities are also downsizing their offerings because of budget issues and low enrolment.

“We're not talking about losing one or two students, one or two classes," said Dr Wang.

"We're talking about losing the entire programme and the teaching team."

WHY THE WANING INTEREST?

Chinese language learning is falling across the English-speaking world, with data showing a similar decline in the United States, the UK, Australia, and Germany.

With artificial intelligence and translation apps getting more advanced every day, basic Mandarin no longer gives young people a leg up in the job market.

Tensions between China and the West have also meant bad press, with Chinese learners getting caught in the crossfire.

“One of the students said choosing Mandarin Chinese might be regarded as (being) pro-China, pro-Communist Party of China," said Dr Wang.

She added that a barrage of negative news stories and opinions about China in mainstream media pushed the student to think in that direction, she added.

Through the rise and fall of Mandarin learning in the education system, China has maintained its position as New Zealand’s biggest trading partner.

However, without a long-term strategy, Dr Wang warned that New Zealand is losing its Chinese-language capacity, especially in higher education where future leaders and experts are groomed.

“While the impact might not be immediately visible in the thriving business relations between China and New Zealand, the lack of linguistic and cultural skills in future generations poses challenges,” she said.

“It could eventually hinder our ability to maintain relationships and develop a sustainable strategy for partnership that is based on mutual understanding and trust.”

However, even among those who learn Mandarin, those who put it to use are not many, said chair of the New Zealand China Council, Mr John McKinnon.

“Many of the people learning Mandarin have not necessarily gone into businesses connected with it. Many of the people who are involved with our interactions with China are themselves from China, so obviously language is not an issue for them,” he said.

SOME CONTINUE TO BE INTERESTED

Despite the waning interest in the language, there are New Zealanders who are still learning it.

“There’re a lot of Chinese people around me, and Chinese culture in Auckland and near where I live, (it's) something I see so it makes me more curious,” said third-year engineering student Rebecca Fitzpatrick, who took a summer class this year at the University of Auckland.

For others, the reasons are more pragmatic.

“I went on a school trip to China because I’m a business student and we learned about the strong connections between New Zealand and China," said final-year engineering and commerce student Matthew Edwards, who was also inspired by his Mandarin-speaking sister.

"I think it’s an increasingly important language especially if you’re living in the Pacific,” he said.

While Mandarin learning may be decreasing in the West, reports suggest the language is going strong in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia made Mandarin learning compulsory in secondary schools last year, joining the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Iran, which have added the language to the national curriculums. In Southeast Asia, Mandarin is taught in all Singapore schools, remains robust in Malaysia, and also shows signs of gaining popularity in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Head of Mandarin Language and Chinese Culture at University of Al Azhar Indonesia Feri Ansori told CNA’s East Asia Tonight that many Indonesian students are willing to learn the language because they believe it can benefit their businesses in future.

“China has been Indonesia’s top trading partner and a major source of investment. So, it is a very good opportunity for the Indonesian students to learn Chinese,” he said.

He added that while technology has been developing, it may not be able to translate Mandarin accurately. This is given that Mandarin is a language where the same word could have different meanings based on tone, he said.

“Learning Mandarin will be immensely helpful for anyone who wants to get ahead in their business ventures,” he said.