How to Start Learning Chinese

Learning any language can be a daunting task. This is no different for the Chinese, and many learners have tried learning Chinese through tutoring services, immersion school, and self-teaching. However, many have found their language acquisition difficult or have outright given up on learning Chinese. In this blog, I will detail five strategies I used to ensure that I was well on my way to learning Chinese; and you can take advantage of these tips to ensure that your Chinese tutoring goes well.

1. Pick the Right Service

The most important choice for your Mandarin learning will be choosing the best learning path. For example, in 2020, I chose to self-teach via Duolingo; however, I quickly concluded that it was an ineffective study method. While I did learn a few Chinese words, I did not acquire an understanding of the language. When I resumed my Chinese learning, I decided to go with a tutoring service. KellynKai taught me Chinese from the basics, and I feel that I am actually making progress with learning the language. My tutors are very helpful, and the lessons are well designed. Another route that I could have taken was Chinese immersion schools which fully immerse the students in Chinese. KellynKai also offers this service. At the end of the day, it's important to pick the option that best suits you.

2. Study Well

Studying is an important part of learning anything. Of course, this is the same for learning languages. While learning Chinese, I took advantage of KellynKai’s flashcard app, since it automatically synchronizes the content with my lessons as I go. This means that I am able to study the class material that I learned right after taking class. There are other study methods, such as using what was taught in class in the real world.

3. Use What Is Learned

To make your studies more effective, it is a great idea to use media to strengthen your Chinese knowledge. While this won't be super effective for novices such as myself, consuming Chinese media will help with learning. Beginners can start by watching TV in Chinese and pick up on words based on the context. More advanced students can read Chinese books and listen to Chinese podcasts. Doing this will strengthen your language skills and is an effective study method. As you advance through your language learning, you could progress to speaking Chinese to people.

4. Take Things Slowly

When starting to learn, it is important to pace yourself. I am by no means saying to take fewer lessons; however, I do think it is possible to overstudy. If you overstudy you’ll get tired of learning and want to stop. This is detrimental to learning Chinese; managing a schedule is paramount.

5. Manage Schedules Well

To avoid fatigue, it is important to figure out a schedule that works best for you. KellynKai allows for learning to fit around your schedule, so that learning does not have to be rushed.

These strategies are some that I learned during my early Chinese learning. Hopefully, they will assist you with your tutoring and make learning Chinese seem more possible.