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What China's Economic Growth Means for PublishersA recent report issued by the Asia Society calls for a national commitment to new investments in teaching Chinese language and culture in response to China's ever-increasing role in the global economy. Indeed, in 2004, China's trade with the U.S. exceeded $230 billion, surpassing all but Canada and Mexico (U.S. Census Bureau). However, Dr. Phyllis Hsiao Hillwig, Chief Operating Officer at Words & Numbers, outlined a number of reasons the demand for Chinese language instruction may not be as urgent as it seems. "Because of its tonal nature, Chinese is a very difficult language to learn," said Hillwig, a native of Taiwan. "Immediately finding highly qualified teachers that can speak both languages fluently and understand the nuances of teaching both languages is a big obstacle to overcome." Hillwig sees the well-documented demand for English-language materials in China as more relevant to educational publishers. "There's a growing middle-class population in China that want their children to learn English." And because of the lack of English-proficient teachers, said Hillwig, there is a demand for supplemental products that parents can purchase, which would include audio components. Prices for these supplements may be less than most U.S. comparable products, but the sheer quantity of people in China should make it worthwhile. Hillwig foresees a growing demand in Chinese-language materials at some point in the future, but not enough to warrant the immediate attention of publishers. Questions, ideas, or in need of more information? Please contact Stacey Pusey at 302-295-8349. |
Click here to view the Asia Society's report |
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