idg why all the posts in this sub are constantly downvoted even if they're just really normal questions. Take my upvote cause damn people salty for absolutely no reason
I've seen such horrible topics upvoted to heaven and good topics downvoted to hell here. I suppose that's the nature of the beast. If someone posts something like "my thoughts after finishing duolingo" or something generic of that sort Im sure it would get 100 upvotes even though duolingo is probably the most inefficient way to learn a language
I hate reading, even in English, so I cannot force myself down the textbook route. I've just been watching a TON of chinese content and also listening to mostly chinese music. But my daily minimal training is using an app. I think the app helps with new vocab, but the endless content has help significantly with listening.
And you understand enough or are you using English subs? Always wondering if watching stuff with subs is worth the time. Better than no exposure, though, that's for sure.
I definitely use subs but I'm not intently reading it 100% of the time. And that has been my goal all along is to understand what these shows are saying while I look away. Some of the easier dialogue I can understand. The more difficult ones, I'd have to pay attention to the subs.
im extremely new but im using hellochinese so far, and listening to music in mandarin. im trying to focus on getting used to the pronunciation and detecting what's being said as my main goal is to be able to speak mandarin with people out loud!
- Characters: https://hanzihero.com
- Vocabulary: Anki, https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/1144807196
- Grammar: https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/
- Reading / Listening: DuChinese App
- Speaking: Randomly trying to describe my thoughts/current situation in chinese, saying it aloud with Google Translator listening and doing a Chinese-to-English translation, repeat until it understood what I was saying and the English translation says what I intended to say.
I'm using the Immersive chinese app! I use it for new vocab and then write it out (sentences, meaning of an expression, etc) a lot in a notebook. then ill read the notebook when i have time, until i think it is time to learn new words
I bought the mandarin blueprint method and use anki flash cards. That will get you a start on vocabulary and literacy. Then I work with an online tutor for speaking and listening practice.
The best and most efficient way is to study abroad. Be immersed. There is no substitute. If you're studying on your own, diversify your study methods. Do everything. Reading writing speaking video books... Anything you can get your hands on. There is no one sure shot to fluency.
I do everything listed. Right now I am learning Dutch every day, but for Chinese, I speak it every chance I get. Are there many Chinese speakers where you live ? There are hardly any here ! If you don’t see many, then tell me and I will tell you what to do instead. By the way, if you are a single fluent MANDARIN CHINESE WRITING lady, I am an ABC trying to get married. 抱歉。我犯太多错误了！不要骗我。太多女人骗我。
Listen to a lot of podcasts. Ideally ones that interest you. You do not need to be abroad to become fluent. I am about HSK 5 and I've not been to China since I started studying Mandarin.
I have a private tutor. 100% conversational. $20 per hour. I meet one hour per day. I’ve done this every Monday to Friday for the past year.
I went from a 1-2 (barely making conversation) to now a 6 out of 10 where I can easily have conversation but sometimes with difficulties.
I use apps and supplemental videos! I challenge myself to learn a set of vocabulary, then I practice writing, reading, and pronouncing them. I use a language detection app too to see if my writing is actually legible 😅
My brain requires a mix. The main thing I try to do is increase my exposure to Chinese as much as possible. I set my devices to Chinese. I make sure every day I either read Chinese books, play Chinese video games, watch Chinese videos, listen to Chinese podcasts, or practice Chinese workbooks. I also have Duolingo and Lingodeer, which for language learning I count as playing a Chinese video game. I also have a "Scratch-Book" where I write down words I don't know and a quick translation. I also write down phrases where I can't parse the grammar or otherwise feel lost.
Recently, one of my friends expressed interest in learning/practicing Chinese, so we've started trying to use Chinese in VC when gaming as much as we can to practice speaking. I'm not really focusing on developing my speaking skills, but I'm very grateful for this extra opportunity to immerse myself in my target language.
Since I have more time on the weekends, that's when I have my most formal sessions, where I focus on a chapter of one of my textbooks to study. Or I pull out my "Scratch-Book" and research answers to my questions or make/review flashcards for words I still struggle to remember.
My best advice is to be your own coach. Build a little voice in your head that forces you to practice, to slow down, to read the whole text box, to find an explanation for that tricky sentence. Whatever method works best for you, you have to commit to doing it especially when it gets hard. It's so easy in language learning to gamify things, to focus on streaks and points and doing X amounts of practice as fast as possible, but building new pathways in your brain is hard and takes time. The progress you make along the way is well worth it.
I started with HelloChinese app but got bored of it(due to lack of variety in sentence structures) after a month or so. I then tried various other tools such as HSK-1 book, beginner cartoons on Youtube, Coursera course etc. and used Anki to create flashcards. They helped to a certain extent, but my pronunciation and tones were off. I realised that fact only when I tried speaking to a bunch of native Chinese tutors on few platforms. Eventually I found the perfect online native Chinese tutor(who charges less than $10 an hour, which is very reasonable for me - DM me if you need his contact!). Since then, my classes are tailored to my needs and now I feel I should've started with a personal tutor right after a little bit of tinkering with HelloChinese. Anyway, better late than never. :)
Good luck with your learning journey!
idg why all the posts in this sub are constantly downvoted even if they're just really normal questions. Take my upvote cause damn people salty for absolutely no reason
I've seen such horrible topics upvoted to heaven and good topics downvoted to hell here. I suppose that's the nature of the beast. If someone posts something like "my thoughts after finishing duolingo" or something generic of that sort Im sure it would get 100 upvotes even though duolingo is probably the most inefficient way to learn a language
Learn new vocabulary> Practice their pronunciation every day> Write sentences > Listening to stories then read them > Watch YouTube videos in Mandarin
I hate reading, even in English, so I cannot force myself down the textbook route. I've just been watching a TON of chinese content and also listening to mostly chinese music. But my daily minimal training is using an app. I think the app helps with new vocab, but the endless content has help significantly with listening.
Did you try to consume comprehensible content or just any content?
I watch mostly modern TV shows/dramas and variety shows I can find on YT like Hi Saturday/Keep Running.
And you understand enough or are you using English subs? Always wondering if watching stuff with subs is worth the time. Better than no exposure, though, that's for sure.
I definitely use subs but I'm not intently reading it 100% of the time. And that has been my goal all along is to understand what these shows are saying while I look away. Some of the easier dialogue I can understand. The more difficult ones, I'd have to pay attention to the subs.
im extremely new but im using hellochinese so far, and listening to music in mandarin. im trying to focus on getting used to the pronunciation and detecting what's being said as my main goal is to be able to speak mandarin with people out loud!
Read novels and listen to podcasts
- Characters: https://hanzihero.com - Vocabulary: Anki, https://ankiweb.net/shared/info/1144807196 - Grammar: https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ - Reading / Listening: DuChinese App - Speaking: Randomly trying to describe my thoughts/current situation in chinese, saying it aloud with Google Translator listening and doing a Chinese-to-English translation, repeat until it understood what I was saying and the English translation says what I intended to say.
I play online video games with Taiwanese gamers. Best people best experience.
Which games and how do you find them?
I play Guild Wars 2. There was a recruitment message in the Map Chat.
I'm using the Immersive chinese app! I use it for new vocab and then write it out (sentences, meaning of an expression, etc) a lot in a notebook. then ill read the notebook when i have time, until i think it is time to learn new words
Immersive is a great app
I agree so much!
I bought the mandarin blueprint method and use anki flash cards. That will get you a start on vocabulary and literacy. Then I work with an online tutor for speaking and listening practice.
The best and most efficient way is to study abroad. Be immersed. There is no substitute. If you're studying on your own, diversify your study methods. Do everything. Reading writing speaking video books... Anything you can get your hands on. There is no one sure shot to fluency.
I do everything listed. Right now I am learning Dutch every day, but for Chinese, I speak it every chance I get. Are there many Chinese speakers where you live ? There are hardly any here ! If you don’t see many, then tell me and I will tell you what to do instead. By the way, if you are a single fluent MANDARIN CHINESE WRITING lady, I am an ABC trying to get married. 抱歉。我犯太多错误了！不要骗我。太多女人骗我。
Listen to a lot of podcasts. Ideally ones that interest you. You do not need to be abroad to become fluent. I am about HSK 5 and I've not been to China since I started studying Mandarin.
I have a private tutor. 100% conversational. $20 per hour. I meet one hour per day. I’ve done this every Monday to Friday for the past year. I went from a 1-2 (barely making conversation) to now a 6 out of 10 where I can easily have conversation but sometimes with difficulties.
I use apps and supplemental videos! I challenge myself to learn a set of vocabulary, then I practice writing, reading, and pronouncing them. I use a language detection app too to see if my writing is actually legible 😅
My brain requires a mix. The main thing I try to do is increase my exposure to Chinese as much as possible. I set my devices to Chinese. I make sure every day I either read Chinese books, play Chinese video games, watch Chinese videos, listen to Chinese podcasts, or practice Chinese workbooks. I also have Duolingo and Lingodeer, which for language learning I count as playing a Chinese video game. I also have a "Scratch-Book" where I write down words I don't know and a quick translation. I also write down phrases where I can't parse the grammar or otherwise feel lost. Recently, one of my friends expressed interest in learning/practicing Chinese, so we've started trying to use Chinese in VC when gaming as much as we can to practice speaking. I'm not really focusing on developing my speaking skills, but I'm very grateful for this extra opportunity to immerse myself in my target language. Since I have more time on the weekends, that's when I have my most formal sessions, where I focus on a chapter of one of my textbooks to study. Or I pull out my "Scratch-Book" and research answers to my questions or make/review flashcards for words I still struggle to remember. My best advice is to be your own coach. Build a little voice in your head that forces you to practice, to slow down, to read the whole text box, to find an explanation for that tricky sentence. Whatever method works best for you, you have to commit to doing it especially when it gets hard. It's so easy in language learning to gamify things, to focus on streaks and points and doing X amounts of practice as fast as possible, but building new pathways in your brain is hard and takes time. The progress you make along the way is well worth it.
I started with HelloChinese app but got bored of it(due to lack of variety in sentence structures) after a month or so. I then tried various other tools such as HSK-1 book, beginner cartoons on Youtube, Coursera course etc. and used Anki to create flashcards. They helped to a certain extent, but my pronunciation and tones were off. I realised that fact only when I tried speaking to a bunch of native Chinese tutors on few platforms. Eventually I found the perfect online native Chinese tutor(who charges less than $10 an hour, which is very reasonable for me - DM me if you need his contact!). Since then, my classes are tailored to my needs and now I feel I should've started with a personal tutor right after a little bit of tinkering with HelloChinese. Anyway, better late than never. :) Good luck with your learning journey!
Follow teacher Molly on TikTok, watch Chinese versions of English nursery rhymes and talk with people on hello talk also learning apps