Will Mandarin replace English in popularity?

Some say it seems as if English's role as the most popular language in the world may be about to wane in favor of Mandarin. The hundreds of thousands of college kids and other language enthusiasts that pour into China every year are not surprising anymore.

According to Hanban, Confucius Institutes are already spreading the Chinese language and culture in 88 countries and 272 locations, reaching approximately 280,000 students.

Additional applications for the establishment of Confucius Institutes from 260 schools and colleges in 50 countries shows an optimistic trend, one that will no doubt continue.