Mandarin Chinese to be Taught in Oakland Schools this Fall

I recently returned from two weeks in China with 21 educators from Oakland County. Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, in his 2007 State of the County  address, challenged Oakland County schools to begin teaching Mandarin Chinese in our public schools. While a few school districts already teach Mandarin, the effort is isolated and sporadic. Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Vickie Markavitch and superintendents from the 28 public school districts have accepted the challenge. Everyone views it as an exciting and focused opportunity to help Oakland County students succeed in a global environment.
 
The trip was immensely successful in acquiring partnerships with Chinese universities and colleges that can provide Mandarin instructors for the effort. The plan is to have three to five new Chinese teachers begin this fall, with additional districts using online instruction as well. A three- to five- year effort would target some level of Mandarin Chinese acquisition in all 28 Oakland County school districts. The schools are to be commended for responding so quickly to this challenge. 
 
What should not be lost in this effort is the impact this will have on economic development in Oakland County and the region. Certainly a prime reason for the program is to have our graduates compete effectively in this global economy. But this effort should have immediate benefits for attracting Chinese companies and investment to Oakland County. Chinese companies are often reluctant to invest the time and effort to explore abundant opportunities here. The commonly held belief is that most Americans do not support them or want them to come over here and conduct business. Nothing we can say to them is as powerful as the statement an entire county makes by committing to teach its young people Chinese culture and language. This program will make it easier to attract foreign investment to Oakland County and allow our companies – as they expand into China – to hire local graduates for their overseas efforts to penetrate what is the becoming the world’s largest marketplace. It will also give Chinese companies here a ready supply of our graduates from which to choose.