Mandarin Immersion Parents Council

Sasha Obama Speaks Chinese with President Hu Jinato

January 21, 2011

(CBS) President Barack Obama’s daughter Sasha, 9, is learning Chinese in
school. And like any encouraging dad, the president helped her find
opportunities to hone her skills.

This week, the 9-year-old had the chance to practice her phrases with
Hu Jintao, the Chinese president.

According to Reuters, a White House official disclosed the language
“practice” on Thursday after a formal state dinner in Hu’s honor.

Ben Rhodes, a White House deputy national security adviser, noted
President Obama has said his daughter was studying Chinese in her class.

“She’s under 10 years old and they’re studying Chinese, and she wanted
to have the chance to practice her Chinese with President Hu,” Rhodes
said.

Sasha attended Hu’s welcoming ceremony Wednesday on the White House lawn
and was able to speak with the state visitor.

Rhodes said, “Not every (child) has the opportunity to try out their
first phrases of Chinese with the president of China, but she had that
chance.”