The six shifts toward Chinese becoming a global language

With China's international status and influence on the rise, the Chinese language, particularly Mandarin, is becoming an increasingly important global language. Looking toward the mid-21st century, there is potential for Chinese to evolve from merely being an influential international language to becoming a widely influential global language, one of the most significant universally spoken languages. As Chinese transitions from being an international language to a global language and China evolves from being a language-rich nation to a language-strong nation, international Chinese education needs to undergo a series of transformations. These transformations aim to harness the power of Chinese in advancing the construction of a culturally strong nation.

Firstly, the shift is needed from Chinese education to Chinese application. Over the past 70 years, international Chinese education has witnessed a growing number of students and wider distribution of Chinese language learning worldwide. However, the practical value of Chinese is a significant attraction. To further this, Chinese should integrate closely with various professions, occupations, industries, and fields, bridging the gap between learning and practical application. This expansion of Chinese application areas will unlock its practical functions across various domains.

Secondly, the transition is necessary from language competition to language cooperation. International Chinese education is guided by the concept of a community of shared future for humanity, emphasizing mutual benefit and win-win cooperation rather than zero-sum competition. This approach involves treating the languages and cultures of host countries with equality and respect. It promotes two-way communication, mutual learning, and the adoption of teaching methods and languages that learners find easy to understand. The goal is to build a harmonious, diverse, and mutually beneficial global language ecosystem to address issues like language endangerment and extinction.

Thirdly, the movement should be made from globalization to the localization of Chinese. Chinese is not confined to China; it belongs to the world. Its inclusiveness and diversity are standout features as Chinese becomes a world language. To achieve this, Chinese should not only "go out" but also "integrate in" by becoming an integral part of local social and cultural contexts in various countries. In the process of Chinese localization, differences in the use of Chinese in different countries should be fully respected, allowing Chinese to genuinely integrate and take root in local societies.

Fourthly, there should be a shift from linear communication to social network communication. In the context of significant global changes and the rapid evolution of new technologies, a single linear communication approach is inadequate for the complexity, variability, and uncertainty faced by international Chinese education. Utilizing both government and civil channels and involving various actors such as schools, teachers, media, and platforms in a socialized network communication approach will better improve the international Chinese education system and enhance the nation's language dissemination capability.

Fifthly, the transition from physical space to virtual scenarios is essential. The rise of new media and self-media has shifted international Chinese education from physical spaces to virtual environments, expanding communication modes from interpersonal to ubiquitous. Technologies like big data, artificial intelligence, metaverse, and virtual reality empower international Chinese education. This includes embracing embodied communication through Chinese virtual anchors and addressing issues related to security, availability, and richness in Chinese resource big data models, all contributing to enhancing the status and influence of Chinese in virtual spaces.

Lastly, the shift is required from language communication to civilizational exchange. International language communication always takes place within a specific historical and cultural context, closely related to international patterns, social changes, and cultural innovations. International Chinese education aims to facilitate multicultural exchanges and dialogues, promote the sharing of common human values, and foster mutual learning among world civilizations, ultimately showcasing even greater appeal and influence.