The graph illustrates the number of 13-year-old students who chose to study French and Mandarin between 2000 and the present day, based on a survey of 160 teenagers.
Overall, the proportion of students studying Mandarin rose substantially over the period, whereas the figure for French declined sharply. Despite these contrasting trends, French consistently attracted more learners than Mandarin.
In 2000, around 150 students opted for French, compared with fewer than 20 who chose Mandarin. Over the following five years, enrolment in French classes dropped dramatically by about 85 students. Although there was a slight recovery in 2006, with numbers rising to roughly 90, the figure then levelled off and remained stable.
Mandarin, by contrast, displayed rapid growth. Starting at just under 20 students in 2000, participation increased steeply to reach a peak of 75 in 2005. After a minor decline and some fluctuations, the number eventually returned to the same peak level by the end of the period.
In summary, while French maintained its position as the most popular choice among teenagers, Mandarin showed remarkable growth and steadily narrowed the gap between the two languages.