中國的官方語言普通話在美國的學校中突然熱起來。由于中國經濟在21世紀的快速發展，美國的公立和私立學校紛紛在外語課程中加入漢語這一科目，或將已有的漢語教學項目進行擴展。據統計，在美國的學校中，有5萬名孩子在學習漢語。但推動漢語項目的發展不是沒有遇到困難。由于缺乏受過專業訓練、持有證書的教師，一些學校很難加入漢語教學的競爭。當學校聘用教師時，它們通常直接從中國招聘，這種方式為文化沖突埋下了隱患。
　　【翻譯詞匯】
　　官方語言 official language
　　普通話 Mandarin
　　快速的 rapid
　　課程 curriculum (pl.curricula)
　　已有的 in place
　　缺乏 shortage
　　受過專業訓練 professionally trained
　　證書 certificate
　　招聘 recruit
　　文化沖突 culture clash
　　【精彩譯文】
　　Mandarin, the official language of China, is suddenly hot in American schools. With the rapid development of China’s economy in the 21th century, both public and private schools in America are scrambling to add Mandarin to their curricula of foreign languages or expanding Chinese language programs already in place. By some estimates, as many as 50 000 children nationwide are taking Mandarin in American schools. To develop Chinese-language programs has met some difficulties. A shortage of professionally trained teachers with certificates has made it difficult for some schools to join the competition. When schools need to employ teachers, they often recruit them from China directly, which is a hidden trouble for culture clash.