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If you’re wondering what’s the most commonly used foreign language in Canberra, Australia’s national capital, the answer is Mandarin. According to the 2016 census, there are 4,105 Mandarin speakers living in the city, which make up 2% of the population. Cantonese is also quite popular, and it’s listed as the fourth-most commonly used non-official language after Mandarin, Arabic and Italian. The main reason why these two Chinese variants are so widely spread is due to the large number of Chinese residents that choose to live in the city. The impact of the Chinese community can be seen in many parts of Canberra, but especially in the central area around Woolley Street, sometimes referred to as the city’s Chinatown because of the many Chinese restaurants, stores and supermarkets that can be found there.
As you can imagine, learning any of the Chinese variants will improve your life in Canberra. In addition to getting access to unique opportunities in the local job market, being able to communicate fluently in Chinese will allow you to meet people that are part of the foreign-born community and also connect more deeply with Chinese-speaking tourists. On top of this, speaking Chinese will open the doors to a wonderful ancient culture that will change the way you see the world.
Are you trying to become more employable in the city? If so, having a language like Chinese in your CV is one of the smartest ways to stand out in any job interview and make a great first impression. This is especially true if you’re trying to land a job in one of Canberra’s key industry sectors like renewable energy, financial services or IT, as there are many positions in these areas that require you to be bilingual such as Chinese-speaking Business Analyst for Finite IT, Chinese-English Bilingual Clean Energy Regulator for APS and Chinese-speaking Financial Services Manager for QinetiQ. Even if you’re applying for a job that doesn’t require you to be bilingual, being able to speak such a challenging language as Chinese will impress local employers and get you closer to landing the position.
Additionally, learning Chinese is the best way to expand your business in the city, as you’ll be able to attract more foreign-born customers and meet people from all over the world that can help you reach international markets. On the other hand, if you’re planning on working abroad, becoming a fluent Chinese speaker is key to taking advantage of the many job openings in China for native English speakers, and avoiding culture shocks once you move there.
There are many ways to get to know Chinese culture without leaving Canberra. One of the most enjoyable ones if you’re a foodie is to visit the local restaurants that serve Chinese food. A great place you should not miss is Happy’s Chinese Restaurant, located at 47 Garema Place. When it first opened its doors in 1962, it was the first Chinese restaurant in the city and after sixty years it continues to serve traditional Cantonese food to Canberrans seven days a week. The first thing you’ll notice when you step inside this family-owned restaurant is a large Great Wall of China painting, proudly painted by one of the owners, and the wonderful smell coming from the kitchen. Among the many mouth-watering dishes you can find here, the most popular include pork stew, Shandong chicken and deep-fried duck with taro, a popular starch in Chinese cuisine.
Another great way to get a taste of Chinese culture in the city is to attend some of the festivals that celebrate the traditions of this country. Probably one of the most popular ones is the Chinese Lantern Festival, held every February to mark the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. It’s organized by the Australia China Friendship Society and takes place at the gorgeous Beijing Garden, located at Flynn Drive in the Yarralumla suburb. This festival stands out for its show-stopping performances of martial arts, traditional dances and live Chinese music, as well as for its colourful lantern parade that captivates thousands of people every year.
Meeting other language learners is key to boosting your skills and practising the language. In Canberra, you can attend the meetings organized by Language Exchange Canberra every Tuesday at PJ O’Reilly’s, a great local pub. Although speakers of many languages attend this event, Mandarin is one of the most popular, so you’ll definitely find language partners at different levels to chat with. Before you attend, you need to contact them in their Facebook group to let them know you’re going, and then you simply have to go to the pub and look for the tables booked under “Language Exchange”. Once you’ve found them, you’ll be placed in a smaller group with other Chinese speakers to start speaking and enjoy a nice evening at the pub.
As you now know, speaking Chinese will not only get you closer to a fascinating culture, but it will expand your social life and change the way you experience the city for the better. Fortunately, there are many great ways to develop your skills in the city. If you are looking to work on your Chinese skills on your own, you’ll find many useful resources at the ACT Heritage Library, located at 255 Canberra Ave. These include books like Easy Peasy Chinese: Mandarin Chinese for Beginners by Elinor Greenwood, a great guide for students who want to learn essential everyday words, and apps like Mango Languages that can help you expand your vocabulary. However, if you’re looking for the most efficient way to master Chinese in the city, your best choice is Listen & Learn. Just send us a quick enquiry now and we’ll pair you up with a teacher that will tailor a completely personalised language course that will make learning Chinese a fun, interesting experience you’ll never forget.
These Mandarin Chinese lessons are more general in nature and are targeted at students who have a whole range of different needs. While all beginners level students can expect to cover Survival Mandarin Chinese—required for short visits to a country where English may not be spoken and/or the intention is to make good contacts with the local population—students then generally progress in different directions depending on their needs. Typical students include those buying property overseas, spouses of overseas nationals, people about to set off on that long-awaited world trip, Mandarin Chinese-culture enthusiasts and those who are keen to pass a particular Mandarin Chinese examination. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
These Mandarin Chinese lessons are driven towards people who have a requirement to learn Mandarin Chinese to bolster their work output. For novices, you will find it useful to learn basic greetings and business etiquette. Once you have become more proficient, then reading and writing will come to the fore. Typical students include those concerned with imports and exports, those seeking work in multinational companies, international negotiations and anyone working with international colleagues or administration. Even in our most rudimentary lesson for beginnners, students can expect to finish with decent telephone and e-mail Mandarin Chinese, as well as a good enough grip on the language for a short trip to the country where the language is spoken. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Lessons in Mandarin Chinese are also accessible for 2 or more studying in tandem (Two-to-One Mandarin Chinese Lessons or Small Group In-Company Mandarin Chinese Lessons). All those involved must have around the same experience of the language, similar needs for areas of proficiency, and must be able to work at the same time and place. Bookings must be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn does not advise classes of more than 6-8 people, although In-Company Taster Mandarin Chinese sessions can be run with as many as 12 people. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Our native speaker qualified Mandarin Chinese language teachers can train you and your colleagues at your office or home at a time to suit you. Classes can be any day of the week (even weekends) in the morning, afternoon or evening. In certain circumstances, if your home or office is not available, you can take your classes at the trainer's office. Course books are provided. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Lessons in Mandarin Chinese are also accessible for two or more people studying in tandem (Two-to-One Mandarin Chinese Lessons or Small Group In-Company Mandarin Chinese Lessons). All those involved must have around the same experience of the language, similar needs of areas of proficiency and must be able to meet at the same time and place. Bookings must be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn does not advise classes of more than 6-8 people, though In-Company Taster Mandarin Chinese sessions can be run with as many as 12 people. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Teresa Teng was a very popular artist in the 1970s and her music is still played today throughout China, especially in karaoke bars. This is a very catchy, romantic song where the poetic persona describes the moon and its qualities, while comparing it to her loving heart. Listening to this song will help you understand cultural aspects of the language (such as the importance of Chinese New Year), which is essential to become truly fluent in Mandarin. Why not try to sing out loud and practise your pronunciation while having fun?
Listen and susbcribe here!If you are a fan of rap and are studying Mandarin Chinese at the moment, you can combine your passions to learn new vocabulary and grammar! For example, “Hide the Band” is a song about the music world and how bands struggle to become successful, so it is a great track to get acquainted with vocabulary about music, such as singer (Gēshou), agent (Dàili rén) and microphone (Màikèfeng). The song is fast-paced and includes a lot of slang and colloquial pronunciations, so it might be best for advanced students who are already used to Chinese intonation.
Listen and susbcribe here!Are you looking for a song to increase your Mandarin ability while learning more about Chinese beliefs and traditions? Then, you should not miss “The Drunken Beauty” by Li Yu Gang. This piece tells the story of a man and a woman who meet at a party and instantly fall in love with each other. You will find plenty of descriptive adjectives, as each poetic persona describes what they like in the other person. It does not include any complicated grammar structures or extravagant vocabulary, so you will be able to understand the song, even if you are just a beginner!
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Chinese Skill tries to cover every aspect of language learning in just one app. The activities it proposes are engaging and fun, so you can learn vocabulary, pronunciation, and other aspects of Mandarin in a meaningful way. Instead of being categorised by vocabulary items, the app’s mini-lessons are organised by level. So, if you are a beginner, you will start with the Chinese characters, an introduction to grammar rules and basic, everyday vocabulary. It also includes lessons for intermediate and advanced students, so you can take advantage of this app regardless of your proficiency.
Discover the app and practise!Podcasts are great materials with which you can develop your listening skills in a foreign language, such as Mandarin Chinese. With Chinese Pod, you will find more than a hundred podcasts organised by level or theme, so you will surely find something interesting and relevant to you and your interests. The best part is that most podcasts include a transcript in both Chinese and English, so they are suitable for everyone, even absolute beginners.
Discover the app and practise!Have you ever needed an offline Mandarin Chinese dictionary and couldn’t find one? Pleco is what you are after. This is a great app that will provide you with definitions of the words you look up, while its premium version includes a handwriting recognizer which uses the phone’s camera to quickly translate written or printed words. And you can even use it to test your own writing accuracy. Plus, each term stored in the app is accompanied by an audio recording, so you learn how to pronounce them correctly, as well.
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