From raises to promotions, here’s why you need to be studying Mandarin

Scrolling through job listings online — for research purposes only, don’t worry, bosses — I noticed that more and more roles demand Mandarin proficiency in Malaysia. In some cases, they don’t make it a criteria, but humbly suggest its importance as a deciding factor.  

The value placed on Mandarin is something that Shah Farid Mat Rashid has recognised since he picked up the language some decades ago while studying in Beijing.  

Today, Rashid is the founder and managing director of Fasih Mandarin, a language learning institution in Malaysia teaching both children and adults the language.  

Finding a market in Malaysia  

“Everyone knows the importance of Mandarin now,” the founder says.   

This might be especially true in Malaysia, where the ethnic Chinese population make up about 23% of the total population. As such, even before China became as strong of an economy as it is today, numerous companies in Malaysia have valued the importance of Mandarin. 

When he first started offering classes, Rashid had just made a simple post to Facebook announcing his services. In a day, his class quickly filled up with 20 students, with more in the waiting list.  

He found an audience of learners who genuinely wanted to pick up the language, rather than being forced into a class.  

Today, Fasih Mandarin has grown to numerous branches, with some students having attained HSK 6, the highest level of the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, or Chinese Proficiency Test, for non-native speakers. Some of his students have also become teachers at his institution.  

Rashid at Fasih Mandarin’s branch in Wangsa Maju. Source: Study International

A standout feature  

“I wanted something more in my career.” 

To Rashid, that’s typically the main reason why students join Fasih Mandarin.  

“Something more,” Rashid says, isn’t purely about money. For some, it’s more about being recognised, about offering something “extra” in their company.  

“If you’re someone who can speak three languages — Bahasa Malaysia, English, and now, Mandarin — you will stand out more compared with the rest of the team,” he says.  

The founder says he has seen many students who’ve been promoted or received an increment after securing their Mandarin skills.  

“That’s something that we’re very proud of.” 

A 2023 paper showed that learning Mandarin proficiency is economically valuable in the Chinese labour market. Workers with a higher level of proficiency were more likely to find jobs that matches their expertise. This is likely true in Malaysia, where there are many Chinese-speaking sectors, too.  

Many parents also want their kids to benefit from speaking a third language, which is why Fasih Mandarin has also developed FM Kids. Interestingly, teaching kids has taught him new things about educating adults. Like children, adults actually want their classes to be fun, so some materials from the children’s courses have been adapted, which involves getting grown-ups to sing nursery rhymes and conduct roleplaying sessions.  

Fasih Mandarin was founded in 2018. Source: Fasih Mandarin

Corporates want in  

Today, Mandarin is the second most spoken language in the world. China itself has become the second-largest economy, driving the need for Mandarin in international trade and business.  

China’s impact on the world was magnified after COVID, when tourists and companies began to enter various countries such as Malaysia. 

This is why Fasih Mandarin now engages with a number of corporate clients that would like to upskill their staff. This could include customer-facing employees such as retail workers who deal with Chinese shoppers and tourists.  

Fasih Mandarin is sure to tailor their courses based on the requirements of the company. For example, if they are a cosmetics brand, they would teach them industry-related words like “lipstick” and “makeup remover.” They also customise the courses based on the timeline the companies have.  

“If we cannot meet the requirements, we have to be frank with them and explain that the students need more time for the particular customisations,” Rashid says.  

Many companies also want staffers who are proficient in Mandarin as this helps them bring their business into China. While there’s no doubt many Chinese companies can converse in English, having Mandarin skills would open many more doors across many sectors. 

Rashid graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Source: Shah Farid Mat Rashid

Connecting with the world 

Beyond the practical uses of Mandarin, Rashid appreciates the way learning a new language like Mandarin has allowed him to connect with the world at large.  

This is true to most languages, of course, but with how prominent Mandarin and Chinese culture is nowadays, the impact can be more deeply felt.  

Travelling becomes easier, too, and not just in China or Chinese-speaking countries. Chinese diaspora can be found in many places across the world, and with the language being so commonly spoken now, it can even be a replacement for English in some places.  

“There’s so much more I can do with Mandarin,” he says.