What Is The Best Way to Learn Mandarin Chinese?
by John Davies
July 11, 2024
According to the US State Department, Mandarin Chinese is a Category Four language, which is in the most difficult "super-hard language" category. The State Department estimates that it takes more than 88 weeks of full time study to become proficient.
Don't let this discourage you. There are as many ways to learn Chinese as there are Chinese characters. You can learn Chinese, however you can end up wasting countless hours trying to learn Chinese the wrong way. This article will explain the steps and process to follow to learn Chinese in the most efficient and effective right way.
Carefully choose the best learning program: One-to-one tutor
There are many programs you can choose to help you learn Chinese. You can join a group class offered by your local community. You can self-study using a Chinese textbook. You can join an online language exchange site. You can try using a phone app such as DuoLingo.
In my experience, all of these options will be far less effective than a one to one tutor. An online one-to-one tutor is even more effective than an in person live tutor because there is no travel required and both you and the tutor will be viewing the same material face to face. If your time is important to you, go with an online one-to-one tutor.
Curriculum: Be selective
Whatever your level, a good Mandarin Chinese curriculum is essential to your learning. Before you make a decision, check the tutor's curriculum. The tutor should have a deep and comprehensive curriculum that will take you from Pinyin, beginning conversation, intermediate conversation, advanced conversation, AP Chinese (for high school kids), and Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) levels one to six.
Start with the fundamentals: Pinyin
To learn Chinese, every student must be grounded in the fundamentals. The fundamentals of Mandarin Chinese learning is Pinyin. Pinyin is the standardized way to depict all Chinese characters using the western Roman alphabet in combination with a four tone pronunciation system.
Pinyin is not hard to learn, and if you have any background in French, the four tone system should be easy to pick up.
If you want to build a solid foundation for your Chinese learning journey, you must start by mastering Pinyin.
Build on the foundation: Learn common words
Pinyin is often taught in conjunction with a few dozen common words. For example some common words that are taught early in a student's journey are:
- you, nǐ, 你
- I, wǒ, 我
- is, shì, 是
Setup your computer and phone: Master the Pinyin input system
The next step in your Chinese learning journey is to set up your computer and phone so that you can learn how to enter Chinese characters using Pinyin. There are several guides on the internet that explain how to do this. Follow the steps in this guide on your computer and phone to enable you to enter Chinese characters.
Start chatting: Find a Chinese buddy and start to type characters
Now you have the foundation in place you can start to practice with a buddy that can speak Chinese. You will find this incredibly empowering, being able to send messages to a native speaker. Non-speaking bystanders will think that you are communicating in some weird secret code and will be totally blown away.
Consistency: Schedule your learning routine
A consistent learning routine is essential to progressing towards your goal. Schedule at least two hour long classes in advance into your weekly routine to make a consistent study habit.
Repetition: Use flashcards between classes
Language teachers always emphasize that repetition is the key to learning and retention. You have to repeat each character at least three times in order to remember them.
A good Mandarin Chinese flashcard app is very useful to help with repetition and retention between classes. Look for a flashcard app that will automatically incorporate new words as you progress through your curriculum.