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Costa Rica native leads Mandarin-speaking group
By VICTORIA GRACIANO

Daily Titan Staff Writer
Published: February 24, 2010

Victor Hugo Miranda Jr. and Mandarin Friends members during a Waxing Crescent Hike at Griffith park. Photo courtesy of Victor Hugo Miranda Jr.

When Victor Hugo Miranda Jr., a Costa Rica native, answered his phone, the words that came out of his mouth were not English.

On the other side of the line was his wife asking – in Mandarin Chinese – if he would be home for dinner.
“I am Hispanic and I’m leading a group of Mandarin speakers,” Miranda, 35, said. “And I’m not a native speaker of Mandarin.”

Miranda is referring to Mandarin Friends, a Mandarin-speaking group based in the Los Angeles area. As the group leader, Miranda seeks to create a place where members can speak and practice Mandarin Chinese.
About three years ago Miranda, a linguistic student at Cal State Fullerton, was made club leader. He has since made the club an online meeting place for members who want to break down political barriers and enjoy each other’s company.

“We come together to interact with one another and at the same time have fun,” Miranda said. “Most of the events are outdoors, like hiking, but we also go to dinners, bowling, wine tasting and tea houses.”
Vu Nguyen, president of the Vietnamese Student Association, said that what Miranda is doing is a huge personal accomplishment. Nguyen, a 20-year-old marketing major, is learning Chinese on his own time.
“In the world that we live in today,” Nguyen said, “knowing another language is not even a trend anymore, it’s just the way of life.”

Those involved in Mandarin Friends are united by their desire and ability to speak Mandarin Chinese. As a result, members are exposed to the culture as they learn about the language.

Minh Le, a 24-year-old finance and accounting major, said that Miranda could inspire other people to take advantage of language classes and really use it to their advantage.

“It’s amazing that he’s doing this,” Le said, “especially if he wasn’t born there (Taiwan).”
Miranda worked as an English teacher in Costa Rica before winning a scholarship to study in Taiwan. He studied Mandarin Chinese for three years and geography for the next two.
Miranda, who also tutors children in Chinese and Spanish, says he is interested in creating a language exchange club on campus. Although he is not currently taking Chinese courses, he wants to bring the atmosphere created in Mandarin Friends to CSUF.

This language exchange club is meant to be useful in networking, friendships and practice for members. Miranda is interested in working with Chinese speakers as well as Spanish speakers.

“There is the possibility that I could be able to do it, although it would be very difficult,” Miranda said. “I think I could be more of a consultant or adviser but I am willing to dedicate some of my time to establish this type of club.”

Miranda said anyone interested in practicing their language skills outside of the classroom could become a member of this language exchange club.

“I think what he’s doing is so common in Southern California because we’re so mixed now,” said Meijuan Dong, part-time Chinese professor.

But if a club like the one proposed by Miranda was to be formed, Dong said students could really benefit.

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