“How to survive the meltdown” – Learn Chinese from an early age (Panorama)

Added by Pete on 13th December 2011 at 09:57AM

Chinese lessons frame  last night’s (12 Dec 11) Panorama programme on BBC1.  Mandarin features in both the beginning and end sequences. 

Panorama investigates how Britain could survive the economic crisis. It asks what our government needs to do to chart a path to a brighter future.  The conclusion is for us to ‘move to unfamiliar places’ including what we educate our children. Such as move will require “big decisions” being made. 

The school featured is Independent primary school, St Christopher’s in Hampstead.  Susie West the Headteacher states “Chinese needs to be taught regularly and consistently throughout a child’s school from reception; a difficult challenge”.  She also adds about China “as a rising power it is courteous, if doing business, to at least be able to meet and greet.”

The programme is currently on IPlayer for a further 6 days.  Link http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b018gt66/Panorama_How_to_Survive_the_Meltdown/

Chinese features at 2 mins and 27mins.