[inputcoffee]

There are a few reasons:

1. You are usually effective and comfortable in the language you were educated in.

2. If you want to do business with a person in another language, you usually both default to English because it is usually second language if it is not their first.

I mean look at your own situation. I assume that you are fairly well educated (on Hacker News, decent grammar, and asked a good question). Suppose you had to leave the US, where would you go?

Your top choices might be other English speaking countries (Ireland, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand).

Your next set of choices would be places you could do business in English (Berlin perhaps).

Globally, a lot more educated people know English than Chinese. Its not impossible but it is a far larger barrier to entry than, say, blocking youTube.

[rconti]

After Ireland, Canada, UK, Australia, NZ, I'd probably go for Scandinavian countries and Iceland. They have smaller native-speaking populations, a high level of exposure to English, and great foreign language training. Then I'd probably go for countries like Latvia, Romania, etc.

I'd consider Germany and France to be third-tier in that sense because they have large native-speaking populations and a greater expectation that people know their language.

[stevesun21]

I agreed with you about English vs Mandarin from education perspect and business trade perspect.

What I am saying is that China attracts talent who live in China and why don't communicate with others in Mandarin? Learn Mandarin isn't a binary choose for these talents who live in China -- they can still learn stuffs in English and do business with other people around world in English.

From my experience that learn English is not only about helping me to communicate with others, but also, help me to learn a different mindset and culture.

[inputcoffee]

Ugh!

Too late to edit this now but I meant to say Mandarin, not "Chinese."

Mea Culpa.