East Asian cultures aren’t a monolith, but they share unique geographical and historical features that set them apart from the rest of the world. The region of East Asia, which spans countries like Taiwan, Mongolia, Japan, China, and a few more, is attributed as the cradle of one of the oldest civilizations in the world.
Today, many East Asian nations have established themselves as visionaries across many different areas. It wouldn’t be too far off from the truth to say that right now, East Asian countries like China, Japan, and South Korea are some of the world’s leading tech giants, industrial entrepreneurs, and trendsetters in pop culture.
Until the past decade, everyone in the world had very limited access to one another. But as soon as social media innovations and upgrades came around, globalization could no longer be contained. Ever since the world has gravitated towards studying East Asian culture with greater enthusiasm.
Part of getting to know a culture better comes from understanding the languages spoken in it. Apart from the learning process being incredibly fun, there are many other interesting reasons to study East Asian languages.
Gateway to the Cultures
Every East Asian country is unique in its own right. The region is home to some of the most ancient cultures and schools of thought in the world, and it’s interesting to learn about how the past influences the countries’ present. From Japan’s complex society that features a contrast of high-tech urban streetscapes and traditional wooden homes to Mongolia’s vibrant nomadic culture, the region has a lot of intellectual enrichment to offer.
Knowing the regional languages of these countries helps you gain relevant cultural insight via local resources and by talking to the people themselves, which is a more intimate and authentic way to go about it than studying the cultures through the orientalist gaze.
Diverse Entertainment Options
Right now, East Asian entertainment is giving Hollywood a run for its money. While South Korea has been generating enormous revenue for some time via the international popularity of its idol music industry, the country’s film industry has begun taking over the world as well. Japan, on the other hand, has had a well-established fan base around the world for its animation, video game, and comic industries for over two decades.
If you’re looking to explore these diverse entertainment options, knowing Korean and Japanese helps eliminate language barriers when you’re consuming Korean and Japanese media. This, in turn, enhances the fun and helps you enjoy said media at a more comprehensive level.
Job Opportunities
Several East Asian countries, with China being the most noteworthy, are currently thriving economies. China, in particular, is the world’s second-biggest and fastest-growing economy, falling behind the US only marginally. The country’s financial sector offers a plethora of exciting career opportunities in industries like trade, biotechnology, modern medicine, and countless others.
This means that Chinese is a profitable language to learn since you won’t lose important info and nuances in translation while at work. You’re also able to leverage yourself as a worthy candidate for any important job position by knowing the language.
If you’re considering learning an East Asian language, get your child on board as well to help them get a head start. Our unique picture book for children called The Cat, the Fish, and the Waiter features an interesting and easy-to-follow multi-language learning method that helps your child pick up Japanese, Chinese, or Korean in no time. Order your desired version of the kids’ storybook online now.