A relentless pursuit to learn Mandarin

With the rise of China as well as the proven benefits of learning a second language, my husband and I have pulled out all the stops to help our two daughters develop a love of Mandarin

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"Hablo espanol," (I speak Spanish) repeatedly rang out in Riverside Park when we lived in New York over a decade ago.

Spanish was the second language of choice for most parents, with babysitters and nannies hired to reinforce it with little ones on swings and scooters.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on February 17, 2019, with the headline A relentless pursuit to learn Mandarin. Subscribe