While offering Mandarin has become de rigueur in top schools throughout the U.S. and Europe, it is also apparently catching on in less likely locales. From the BBC:
Panama is moving to make the teaching of Mandarin compulsory in all schools, in recognition of China’s growing importance in the world economy.
…China is the biggest single user of the Panama Canal that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
The bill’s supporters recognise that English is the international language of business but say that with China’s increasing economic influence, Mandarin is set to be an indispensable language. [Full text]
