I recently read an article about the Tech Show in Monterey Ca. where entrepreneurs gathered to dicsuss many things. One of the guest speakers said that 12 of the most popular 100 blogs are in Chinese. The title of his lecture was something like 12 reasons why you should learn Chinese.

19 years ago, I made a trip to Hong Kong, China and Japan and came back wanting to speak Cantonese. My school didn't have it so I studied Mandarin. I studied 2 years than lived in Taiwan so I wouldn't ever "lose" it. Over the years, although I didn't lose it, it was not very effective. A few years ago, I became interested in it again for business and started studying it again. I even made a trip to Asia to nine countries. I found that Singapore and Malaysia spoke Mandarin. Now I am living in Guangzhou and even picking up a little Cantonese. Today I found posters for kids that have images of animals, vegetables, etc to help kids learn Mandarin. I bought 13 different ones and plan to put them up on the wall like a school would have them. I teach English so these might help.

Chinese is tricky. It is tough to learn unless ones comes here. I wonder if it will ever take off. I use it to help me enter doors. Maybe this will change if I am here long enough. I wonder who your clients will be. One thing I didn't really follow up on was the characters. It makes things tricky as far as living here. Pin yin is nice but not the same. I remember one student who butchered the language. However, when she wrote the characters, look out. I guess there is something for everyone. I hope your school has something for different learning skills and learning styles.

Good luck!