Page 5 - Learning Mandarin News Today

a tea party darling and she dabbled in witchcraft when she was in high school. shes the author of a new book with the intriguing title, "troublemaker." good to see you how are you? >> good. >> i cant help but notice you did the sign of the cross when you sat down. is it because youre nervous about the interview? >> i did it off camera. i didnt realize you were watching. i do that just because ever since my very first tv interview i just pray. i ask for gods blessing on what im about to...

>> christine odonnell ran for the senate from delaware. a tea party darling and she dabbled in witch craft when she was in high school. shes the author of a new book with the intriguing title, "trouble making." good to see you how are you? >> good. >> i cant help but notice you did the sign of the cross when you sat down. is it because youre nervous about the interview? >> i did it off camera. i didnt realize you were watching. i do that just because ever since my very first tv intervi...

>> reporter: last year, china-africa trade exceeded $100 billion, mainly to feed chinas appetite for african commodities. ♪ while learning mandarin is something of an exotic rarity in south africa, it could be the smartest investment these kids make. ♪ cnn, south africa.

in syria. these rikts are set to show demonstrations in dara last friday. although cnn cannot verify when the video was shot. an estimated 1,500 people are unaccounted for in joplin,h. nearly 100 volunteers are working to reunite family and determine whos really missing. the volcanic eruption in iceland thats disrupted air traffic in europe is finally ending. the ash cloud thrown up from the volcano is drifting east and dissipating and most of the airports closed are re-opening. th...

But for the two to actually have such an important state visit, its a reflection, whichever way we look at it, turning point, breakthrough, whatever you want. that theres a g-2 and that that bilateral economic relationship is going to define them. for one simple reason, ali. because the u.s. may hold the leadership, if you like. particularly in relation to the trans-atlantic and the european sphere. but youve got china with asean, with apec and other side of the globe. together they need each ot...

But for the two to actually have such an important state visit, its a reflection, whichever way we look at it, turning point, break through, whatever you want, that theres a g-2, and that that bilateral economic relationship is going to define -- and for one simple reason, ali. because the u.s. may hold the leadership, if you like, particularly in relation to the transatlantic and the european sphere, but china, asean, apec, they need each other. >> ive spent a lot of the week talking about how ...

Learning chinese, it is mandarin that they want to be learning? ing. >> absolutely. >> what do you think the benefit of that is? because there are kids across the country now who are going to be choosing between languages, french, spanish, latin, and other things, and maybe music and things like that. whats your best argument for learning mandarin as a public school student? >> obviously, the economic factor is obvious. china is large, very, very large economy. and if youre going to a meeting or...

Communication is key. jay writes when i watched the opening ceremony at the 2008 olympics, my then 6-year-old daughter better started learning mandarin. and i for one welcome children and adults learning it so hollywood will stop dubbing the martial arts film and we can enjoy them in the native tongue. if you want to read more, go to my blog, cnn.com/caffertyfile. >> will do, jack. to our viewers, youre in "the situation room." happening now, two big stories in washington this hour. first, over ...