This thesis examines the growing interest in learning Mandarin Chinese as a foreign language and explores whether Mandarin could become the new lingua franca for business, particularly in Asia. It investigates the factors contributing to the increasing popularity of Mandarin, including China’s rise as a global economic power and its potential role in reshaping international business practices. This research is unique as it incorporates both the students' viewpoint through quantitative research on why they learn Mandarin as well as the perspective of Taiwanese workers, merging these insights to conduct a comprehensive analysis and draw meaningful conclusions. The findings suggest that while cultural interest is a key factor, the primary reason people choose to learn Mandarin is the growing number of professional opportunities, with many learners seeing it as a valuable asset for career advancement in an increasingly globalized job market. Despite Mandarin gaining importance in international business, particularly in Asian markets, English remains dominant in global trade and communication. The thesis concludes that while Mandarin may become more widely used in certain sectors and regions, it is unlikely to fully replace English as the primary business language in the near future.

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