Spoken by more than 1.3 billion people, Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world. It is the official language of media, government, and education in the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, and Singapore, and is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.<br><br>Because of the high demand for language professionals and a limited number of students who reach proficiency, the U.S. government designated Chinese as a critical language, and there are generous scholarships and unique educational opportunities available.<br><br>Studying Chinese at URI, youll become part of a unique, close-knit community of students, faculty, and staff who support learners at all levels. Youll have faculty support and encouragement as you learn the subtleties of pronunciation and practice your skills.