So here it is, my dear readers, my recommendations of the best Chinese language learning apps that are available right now. Some of these apps may be a surprise, while some are quite popular. Make sure to return to this article from time to time as we will be constantly updating it with the latest apps we will test.

The Best Apps to Learn Chinese ( by function)

1. Chinese Reading Apps
2. Chinese Characters Apps
3. Chinese Dictionary Apps
4. Chinese Listening Apps
5. Gamification Apps
6. Chinese Speaking Apps

Chinese Reading Apps

Du Chinese

Du Chinese is a revolutionary app will help you to improve your Chinese reading skills.

I am impressed by the clean design and user interface. It is easy to use and loading material takes only seconds. You can read by yourself or listen to an audio recording and read along. The characters and pinyin layout look very comfortable. You can easily turn the pinyin on and off and switch Chinese characters between Simplified and Traditional. It supports English translations for single words and sentences. All sentences have been carefully translated and they stay as true as possible to the original Mandarin.

The reading material topics are quite interesting, covering daily conversations, Chinese culture, current events，the latest trends, funny stories, and regular life in China. They are marked by difficulty, ranging from newbie to master. Each session is also labelled from HSK level 1 ~ 6+. It is easy to find material for your level.

Save 10% on your subscriptions to Du Chinese with the promo code “DIG10”.

Chinese Characters Apps

Skritter

Skritter does really well with teaching correct stroke order and focusing on the muscle memory that should be formed when learning new characters. The lists of vocabulary are expansive, and I can really appreciate that the vocabulary are taken straight from textbooks. This would be a useful resource for language learners who are using a particular textbook in their classes. They could look up if their textbook is in the database, and draw vocabulary right from there. It offers lists from 393 different books. The lists are organized by popularity, learner level, and alphabetically. You simply chose a list and start learning.

Another great feature Skritter offers is the ability to track your progress. They keep track of how many characters are introduced, how many are practiced, and how many are memorized. You can also study the words offline, and the progress will be synced when connected again. You can look up your progress by the day, week, month, and year.

Zizzle

If you have trouble memorizing Chinese characters, then Zizzle will definitely help you.

This app breaks down characters into their component parts. Then, they use images and a short story to help you remember these components. Most of the stories are ridiculous or funny enough to be memorable. Each tone is represented by a certain animal which helps you remember the character. It also teaches characters that build up from smaller to more complex characters in a logical way.

I am in love with this app, and its method taught me characters that I have tried and failed to learn in the classroom. It presents an effective, novel, and fun way to learn and memorize Chinese characters. If you are total beginner, I can safely say you will know hundreds of characters in few days and be able to read them confidently.

Use the promo code “DIGMANDARIN10” to save 10% on all three-month and annual subscriptions, as well as packs.

Chinese Dictionary Apps

Pleco

The dictionary app will probably be one of the most useful and frequently used ones for people learning Mandarin; Pleco may be the app most frequently recommended for this function. It allows you to quickly look up a Chinese word or character wherever you are.

Key features:

1. Chinese handwriting recognition: the option to hand write instead of typing in pinyin is very useful when searching for characters you don’t know.
2. OCR: it allows you to look up unknown Chinese words ‘live’ using your device’s camera, or tap-lookup words in a still image.
3. Stroke order guides: to help you find out how to write the Chinese characters in the proper order.
4. Flashcard system: insanely powerful / customizable system, making it extremely easy to add new flashcards from dictionary entries or to import pre-made vocabulary lists.

More translator apps review: the good, the bad, and the absolutely useless

Chinese Listening Apps

Chineseclass101

No doubt that Chineseclass101 is one of the most well-structured podcast Mandarin courses available today. With language instruction podcasts, you can improve your pronunciation and boost your listening comprehension skills.

ChineseClass101 has an extensive collection of audio materials covering all levels. By having access to different levels, you can choose the best one for you. Each lesson has notes that include the key grammar point broken down clearly along with Chinese cultural insights. The lesson dialogue will help you understand real life conversations in China and will definitely help you improve your listening skills. It also offers an interactive voice recorder tool, which lets you record your pronunciation and compare it to that of a native speaker.

Chinesepod

Chinesepod is another example of podcast Mandarin app. The quantity of lessons is pretty big. It even has more interactive exercises for learning new words and phrases. In ChinesePod, the amount of Mandarin speech in each lesson is increased step-by-step. Even lessons for Upper-Intermediate students have  English explanations which are quite helpful! Advanced students may enjoy the Mandarin-only podcast lessons.

Gamification Apps

Hello Chinese

Hello Chinese is a powerful learning tool that can help you overcome the fear of learning Chinese. This app focuses on daily life topics. It starts from basic pinyin, so that even if you are a total beginner or have absolutely no background in Chinese, you can still learn with it. What is special is that this app allows you to listen and record your own voice, and to help you check automatically if your pronunciation is correct. It`s a comparatively easy way to measure your pronunciation. The studying process is not boring. Learners are not overwhelmed with information. Lessons are taught in a very precise and careful manner. What`s more, there are many exercises and quizzes to help you consolidate all that you have learned.

Chinese Speaking Apps

Hello Talk

Have you been learning a new language for a while, and feel like it’s time to start practicing and using it? That’s where Hello Talk can help. It is a language exchange app that has over one million users. It’s easy to find natives from China willing to help you practice Chinese.

Key features:

• Voice and Text chat
• Moments, like the group chatroom
• Translation and Transliteration: Translation allows you to read in English what someone typed in Chinese in case you didn’t understand it. You can use the transliteration option when a native speaker writes Chinese to you, to instantly see the pinyin.
• Voice recognition system: You can simply speak and the system will attempt to convert that to text to send to your language partner.

These are my top Chinese language learning apps. I bet you also have your own picks. What would you recommend to fellow Chinese learners? What apps do you think are worth the time and the money? Just comment below and let us know your favorites. Maybe your picks will make this list one day!

The post The Best Chinese Language Learning Apps (2024) appeared first on .

More and more learners realize that they need more reading practice. They search for newspapers, magazines, and the news to get more reading materials. Except for some advanced learners, very few people can learn productively this way. There are many obstacles, such as too many new words and grammar concepts above their current level. This quickly leads to frustration.

So, their problem is lacking suitable Chinese reading materials, especially content that covers various topics. That’s why we recommend Chinese graded readers (中文分级阅读). They can help build Chinese language skills while providing personalized content. These more suitable reading materials can promote self-teaching to improve language abilities.

Chinese teachers and students alike can all use graded reading materials as a scaffold to help with their Chinese learning. Learners should spend 10-40 minutes per day reading the corresponding level reading materials. It can be skimming or intensive reading, which is an excellent way for learners to cultivate good habits while expanding their target language knowledge.

General Chinese Graded Readers

The concept of graded readers is not only for kids, but for learners of all ages and levels. However, unlike reading materials for kids, adults need more valuable and helpful content to keep them involved and make it feel worth spending the time. Well, these textbooks are well organized and categorized. Whether you’re learning business Chinese, travel Chinese, test-oriented Chinese, or general daily conversation, you can always find the related reading materials classified by language levels.

Books：

• Developing Chinese: Reading Course

The Developing Chinese series is a complete set of Chinese language books. The reading course is divided into two levels (intermediate and advanced). Its writing respects the reading habits of learners in their actual reading. It balances the difficulty very well. This textbook fully considers the learner’s language ability and reading level and reduces reading difficulty by controlling the word level, sentence length, and content complexity. After studying this course, learners will improve their reading ability quickly, and it will enable them to experience and understand contemporary China. This reading course is the perfect match to the Developing Chinese textbook series.

• LEDU

Ledu（乐读）is a set of very new reading textbooks. They’re designed to cultivate the reading ability of Chinese learners. The lessons follow a specific sequence (strokes – characters – words – sentences – paragraphs) to comprehensively improve reading skills. There are six volumes in total. Whether you are a beginner or advanced learner, there is a volume for you. This textbook series emphasizes diversification in the choice of subject matter. In the “Live Reading” section, students are also provided with signs, posters, enlightenments, online posts, and other text materials that can be seen everywhere in their daily lives.

Digital materials：

Textbook dialogues and texts are excellent for acquiring basic language knowledge. But alongside that learning, you might feel unsatisfied because some materials in your textbooks are too basic and sometimes outdated. Especially when you get beyond the beginner level and need to communicate with others in daily life or in a work setting, the vocabulary and topics covered in textbooks are pretty limited. Here are some recommendations for supplemental Chinese graded reading materials.

• Mandarin Bean

With Mandarin Bean, you can easily find your ideal reading content by searching by HSK levels or various tags. The level of each piece is determined by if a learner at that level can understand 70% or more of the text. You can acquire new words and expressions while reading the topics that interest you—news, business, lifestyle, travel, culture, etc. Mandarin Bean rewrites many trending stories with words to match your level so that you can practice reading while learning something new. It’s perfect for independent reading since they provide the Pinyin, translation, and even new vocabulary practice exercises. Since it’s not entirely written based on the HSK vocabulary list, you can also learn the latest buzzwords and concepts, which are excellent for daily communication with Chinese people.

• Du Chinese

If you are looking for a reading app, Du Chinese is quite an excellent choice. There are six levels from Newbie to Master. Each increasing level makes the sentences and vocabulary more and more challenging. There are also many conversations to read as well. If you are stuck on a new word, a simple tap gives you the word’s meaning and pronunciation, and you can save it as a flashcard for later.

Chinese Graded Reading for kids

There are many similar concepts seen in all the Chinese graded readers for kids. As the level increases, the reading materials gradually become more and more challenging, and the sentence structures will be more complex. Many high-frequency words are used in the books to help kids memorize them. Also, there are many repeated sentences and phrases at the beginning that correspond with kids’ learning patterns.

Online Graded Readers:

• Little Fox Chinese

Little Fox Chinese is quite popular among Chinese teachers and kids. This site releases a number of Chinese stories, songs, and games for kids. There are five content levels, from basic vocabulary and sentence forming practice to simple sentences about thoughts and feelings. All the topics are pretty common, which makes them suitable for lessons and after-class independent reading. The stories are presented in videos, which draw kids’ attention. The transcription, pinyin, and translation are also provided in text format. This after-class reading comprehension and vocabulary practice can be checked by taking quizzes and playing games.

• eChineseWorld

There is a specific category for reading at eChineseWorld. It’s designed for K-12 Chinese learners according to ACTFL’s proficiency guidance, AP, and IB themes. It also satisfies the Common Core State Standards. There are three levels: novice, intermediate, and advanced. Each levels has three grades. Its reading collection includes elementary level eBooks, eFunland, Animated/Comic Reading, Secondary Social Studies Reading, and Secondary Leveled Readings. Chinese culture is integrated into the entire collection. Students can do independent reading and listen to it. But the post-lesson exercises and activities need to be assigned by the teacher.

Printed Graded Readers

• Rainbow Dragon 七色龙

The whole Rainbow Dragon series is about theme-based Chinese learning, including 15 common themes, such as family, body, food, time, etc. The stories are diverse and interesting, with lovely illustrations. For better learning, the content is scientifically graded by three levels of difficulty, targeting Chinese learners at overseas mainstream primary and junior high schools and international K-6 schools. After studying this series, kids will master around 2000 common Chinese words and be ready for daily communication. Besides the books, there are also mobile gaming apps and evaluation tools as a supplementary resource.

• Smart Cat 轻松猫

Smart Cat has two series: one for youth (10-18 years old) and one for kids (under ten years old). There are three grades at the youth stage and four grades at the kid stage. Reading is the critical skill it focuses on while listening, speaking, writing, and presenting are expanded skills. The books cover most HSK & YCT level 1-4 vocabulary, grammar, and topics. Books are constructed based on two related 10~12 sentence stories. It builds Chinese language and culture skills in a spiral-up approach. There are also supplementary audio resources and flashcards on its website. 

Graded Reader Apps:

• WaWaYaYa Joy Reader

Apple App Store and Google Play Store

There are 12 levels in the WaWaYaYa Joy Reader app, which cater to K-6 Chinese learners. This app is more like a digital library where you can find many familiar book series, such as Cool Panda, Rainbow Dragon, and I Read & I Learn. The full display of the books and friendly interface is quite neat and organized. The narration function is also authentic and pleasing. The variety of topics also adapts to the features of each age. They won’t be bored easily. And the price is also very reasonable for such a significant number of books. 

With so many websites, apps, and books to choose from, there’s no shortage of excellent graded readers to take your Chinese to the next level. These resources can be beneficial for learners of all levels and ages. Consistent reading practice not only helps with passive understanding of Chinese, it also strengthens your vocabulary and understanding of grammar concepts.

If you’re looking to try out graded readers for the first time, pick one or two resources to check out, and see which best suits your needs. You may quickly discover your new favorite Chinese learning resources and revolutionize your study routine!

The post Where To Find the Best Chinese Graded Readers appeared first on .

Q1: “Jing, do I really need to learn how to write in Chinese?”

Because of technology, nowadays more and more people tend to just learn Pinyin and then type Chinese characters instead of writing them down. It indeed seems more convenient and easier. However, for a Chinese learner, writing can help you remember the characters more accurately and systematically. If you just type on a computer of a cellphone, you might go through a period when you will suddenly stop using Chinese, then it becomes so easy to forget the words because many characters are just too similar. With actual writing, your muscle memory will help you remember and master these characters much longer because they become a part of your brain. Besides, writing is also a part of understanding Chinese culture. So, my answer is YES, I recommend that you learn how to write in Chinese.

Q2: “Do you have any suggestions on how to write Chinese characters?”

Answering this question is not that simple, so I`ll use the rest of this article to give my best thoughts about this.

1. A basic introduction of Chinese characters

Chinese characters are relatively independent from the phonetic system. There are about 80,000 characters in total and about 6,500 which are used daily. Each character has its own pronunciation, though many of them share the same pinyin syllables. The large number may make many beginners feel scared and overwhelmed. Actually, after knowing the principle of making characters and the rules behind it, mastering the writing of characters should be quite easy. It`s like a “one formula fits all” method.

Traditional or Simplified characters?

We all know that there are two versions of Chinese characters in us nowadays: traditional Chinese characters （繁体字）and simplified Chinese characters （简体字）. The traditional version is mainly used in Hongkong, Taiwan, Singapore, and a several other places. The simplified version is mainly used in mainland China. No matter which version you choose to learn, the rules of writing are the same. So, in learning how to write, the version you wish to learn doesn’t really matter.

2. Character formation

Obviously, such a large number of characters cannot be made randomly. Following certain rules, these characters which have grown over  thousands of years are still very dynamic.

The formation of characters seems just like a “LEGO” game! There are many small components, and you just need to put the small components together and give them order. Each of the components are made of smaller strokes.

Strokes

The strokes of Chinese characters refer to one uninterrupted dot or line, such as  “一”（横）、“丨”（竖）、 “丿”（撇）、“丶”（点）、“乛”（折）, etc. A stroke is the smallest component of a character. There are 8 traditional fundamental strokes, which are  “丶”（点）、“一”（横）、“丨”（竖）、 “丿”（撇）、 “乀” （捺）、 “㇀”（提）、 “乛” （折） and “亅” （钩）.It`s also called “’永’字八法” （yǒngzìbāfǎ）. The character “永” basically represents the common stroke types of the Chinese character system.

The modern modular strokes are regulated as the 5 one’s, “一”（横）、“丨”（竖）、 “丿”（撇）、“丶”（点）and“乛” （折）, and they are called “’札’字法” （zházìfǎ）. It`s a simpler version of “’永’字八法”.

• Full Chinese Character Strokes List

Radicals

Radicals in Chinese characters are called 部首[bùshǒu]. They are used to classify the character patterns which are commonly used in Chinese dictionaries. There are mainly two types of radicals depending on their different functions and properties. One is based on the principles of the six categories of Chinese characters (which we will illustrate more in the content that follows), and the other is based on the shapes of the structures.

Once you understand the relations among strokes, radicals, and characters, writing characters becomes a piece of cake. Moreover, you can not only imitate drawing the shapes, but also understand the underlying rules and reasons behind the characters. Of course, practicing with understanding would be a much better way than mechanical imitation.

Let`s take “女” as an example. “女” is not only a independent character which means female, but it is also a radical which can be combined with other Chinese components and indicates some certain meanings. As the following picture shows, “妈”“姐”“妹” are all females, thus they share the same radical while the right sides are diversified because of the phonetics.

• Most Common Chinese Characters List by Radical

The categories of Chinese characters

There are six main categories of Chinese characters: Pictographs （象形字）, Pictophonetic characters （形声字）, Simple ideograms（指示字）, Compound ideographs （会意字）, Phonetic loan characters （假借字）, and Derivative cognates （转注字）.  Here, I will introduce the four commonly used categories:

1). Pictographs （象形字）

These are stylised drawings of the objects they represent. Many Chinese learners feel that they are “drawing” Chinese characters, and in this case, they are! Most of the single characters and radicals are from this category.

2) Pictophonetic characters （形声字）

They are also called radical-phonetic characters. Over 70% of Chinese characters were created by this method. There are mainly two components: the phonetic component and the semantic component. The “女” radical we mentioned before is a typical example of this category.

e.g.

女 à the meaning part (also the radical), “female”

“妈”“姐”“妹” à“马” “且” “未” indicate the phonetic part.

3) Simple ideograms（指示字）

These express an abstract idea through an iconic form. For example, the numbers in Chinese, “一” “二” “三”, are represented by the appropriate number of strokes which means “one” “two” “three”.

4) Compound ideographs （会意字）

These are the combination of two or more pictographic characters to suggest the meaning of the character to be represented.

e.g.

木（mù） à  wood

林（lín）  à  woods  (two 木)

森（sēn） à  forest  (three 木)

3. The Basic Writing Order

Stroke order really matters if you want to learn writing characters. Using the wrong stroke order or direction would cause the ink to fall differently on the page. The Chinese stroke order system was designed to produce the most aesthetical, symmetrical, and balanced characters on a piece of paper. Furthermore, it was also designed to be efficient – creating the most strokes with the least amount of hand movement across the page. Here, I`ll quote the rules that Sara once wrote in the article Why Chinese Stroke Order is Important and How to Master it at DigMandarin to show you the proper stroke orders.

Here are some tips on mastering stroke order.

1). 从上到下Top to bottom

When a Chinese character is “stacked” vertically, like the character 立 (lì) which means to stand, the rule is to write from top to bottom.

2). 从左到右Left to right

When a Chinese character has a radical, the character is written left to right. The same rule applies to characters that are stacked horizontally.

3). 先中间后两边Symmetry counts

When you are writing a character that is centered and more or less symmetrical (but not stacked from top to bottom) the general rule is to write the center stroke first.

4). 先横后竖Horizontal first, vertical second

Horizontal strokes are always written before vertical strokes.  Here is how to write the character “十(shí)” or “ten.”

5). Enclosures before content

You want to create the frame of the character before you fill it in. Check out how to write the character 日(rì) or “sun.”

6). Close frames last

Make a frame then fill in some of the components inside. After you write the middle strokes, close the frame, such as in the character “回(huí)” or “to return.”

7). Character spanning strokes are last

For strokes that cut across many other strokes, they are often written last. For example, the character 半 (bàn), which means “half.” The vertical line is written last.

There are always small exceptions to the rule, and Chinese stroke order can vary slightly from region to region. However, these variations are very miniscule; so by following these general tips, you’ll have an astute grasp on Chinese character`s writing order.

From strokes to characters, this is the way Chinese characters are formed. And it should also be the way you learn to write them. Writing is not the final goal, but understanding and using them correctly. Following the order of the writing will help you remember the characters better.

Related Course: Essential Courses – Pinyin, Characters, Grammar and more

So, I hope you like this guide to learning how to write Chinese characters! get your pen and let`s start writing!

The post How to Write Chinese Characters (Quick Start Guide) appeared first on .

Touch Chinese

TouchChinese is a leading Chinese school that offers live one-on-one online classes. All classes are handled by professional teachers.

As you set out to learn Mandarin, it is essential that you get a native Chinese teacher who can converse with you and give feedback. You’ll need one who can pinpoint your weak points and help speed up your learning process.

Course Structure:

TouchChinese doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach. All lessons are customizable according to the student’s needs. When you sign up for a lesson, you’ll be evaluated based on your level of proficiency and learning goals.

Online Chinese classes are conducted via Skype or Zoom as both are easy and convenient to use. Teachers use online materials and present them via screen sharing so that both teacher and student can watch and discuss the topic. This technique also helps students learn to write Chinese characters.

TouchChinese has highly qualified teachers, each with a bachelor’s degree at the minimum. They are bilingual and speak English fluently. Before they can take on students, they undergo extensive training to maintain high quality teaching.

The schedule of classes is flexible, allowing you to take lessons depending on your availability. You may also cancel or reschedule with a 12-hour notice without getting charged.

Courses Content:

TouchChinese offers a wide range of structured-approach and needs-based Chinese lessons. For example:

• General Chinese
• Spoken Chinese
• Chinese for Kids/Teens
• Chinese Test Preparation/HSK
• Business Chinese
• Daily Chinese

You could also customize or choose a different Chinese lesson other than those listed above.

Price:

The cost of each lesson depends on the number of topics and length of class. Typically, you’ll spend somewhere between $13 and $18 per lesson. (view pricing detail)

Get one trial class for FREE (click to schedule)

Yoyo Chinese

Yoyo Chinese was started in 2007, more than 10 years ago. It`s easy to find free video episodes of Yoyo Chinese on YouTube that cover pinyin, grammar, and conversational lessons. Yoyo Chinese was founded by Yoyo Cheng, the main host of the video Chinese courses. She is probably the most well-known and productive Chinese online course teacher. Her courses are mainly designed from zero to upper-intermediate level learners.

Course Structure:

The free episodes contain individual knowledge points while the paid packages are organized in a systematic level by level progression.

The levels contain a Beginner Conversational Course, an Intermediate Conversational Course, and an Upper Intermediate Conversational Course. You can learn from the beginning and onward.

You can also focus on specific parts to study, such as the Grammar Serial Course, Chinese Characters Course, or even Chinese Learning Tips Course.

There are various useful tools that you can download, such as PDF files like worksheets, e-books, and lecture notes. The Pinyin Chart of Yoyo Chinese even contains videos for each featured letter.

Yoyo has clearly put a lot of time into how to teach Chinese. The videos break down the topics very clearly. Since Yoyo was working as a TV show host in English, her language background and hosting style are outstanding. Her English expressions and accents are better than many other Chinese native teachers.

Course Content:

• Conversational Courses:

The Conversational Courses are packaged from beginner level to upper intermediate level. In each level, hundreds of videos are included as well as quizzes and practice parts. It`s recommended to take this course so that you can lay a good foundation, especially on grammar.

• Chinese Character Course:

Unlike other online character course, this course is more systematic and includes more than 300 essential characters which equals to HSK level 2 requirement. Furthermore, you can use interactive flashcards to type and review the characters. Each character has its own images & animations, memorable explanations, with story and cultural notes, which can help you memorize the characters in a better way.

All of these courses are comprised of video lessons, audio reviews, flashcards, and quizzes.

Price:

There are two payment options for gaining access to Yoyo Chinese:

Subscription: starting 11.99USD/month

One-time Payment: 299USD for lifetime access.

Save 10% on a sale to Yoyo Chinese with the promo code “DIGMANDARIN10”.

ChineseClass101

Class 101 serial courses include not only Mandarin Chinese, but also Cantonese, English, Korean, and other languages. The ChineseClass101 course targets your language levels. Choosing your own level is one of the registration steps. Once you enter your home page, you can start your course and track your learning steps.

Course Structure:

The level you choose after registering determines your corresponding content. You can also add a pathway through the library to enrich your learning content. Besides the pathways, you will also have the latest lessons on the page so that you can learn something new.

Unlike other video course websites, there are many audio lessons, but the video lessons are also plentiful.

In each lesson, there are simplified and traditional Chinese characters to read. Pinyin, lesson notes, and translations are also presented. You can also take lesson notes online if you need them.

Course Content:

The free courses are mainly from elementary to intermediate level. Each level includes different categories, such as listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and everyday dialogue. There are also vocabulary and culture courses for you to pick from.

There are several paid course packages. If you subscribe to the premium courses, you can get different paid services, such as personal word banks, bonus vocabulary, convenient downloads, and even professional assessments.

Price:

ChineseClass101 is paid for by the month. The 1 USD dollar special offer is only for new members. It`s more like a trial month for you to see if this course fits your needs. You can also just skip the trial step to enter your home page to try the free courses or upgrade to premium membership. The monthly prices are all below 30USD.

ChineseFor.us

ChineseFor.us is a relatively young website which was founded by Lili and Chuck who are now based in the US. The main host is Lili herself, though sometimes Chuck appears as a cartoon figure. You can also find many free lessons on YouTube.

Course Structure:

The lessons of ChineseFor.us are not very long. The knowledge points are divided into small units. The advantage with these kinds of lessons is they are easy to digest and just take you a few minutes.

The main content of this site now focuses on the beginner level. There is the elementary introduction course, beginning & HSK 1 level course, pinyin drills course, and the common words learning course.

The teaching style of Lili is clear: relaxed and simple. It`s recommended to use your spare time to watch her videos.

Course Content:

For beginners, the Chinese Characters Writing course from Chinese For.us is a really good start. With this course, you can learn how to write from zero to thousands of characters. With this comprehensive guide, you will find writing in Chinese can be quite easy and understandable. The course’s clear instructions will show you the inner logic behind character construction, and will teach you the HOW’s and WHY’s behind the Chinese writing system.

Price:

The payment of ChineseFor.us is also by the month. Unlike ChineseClass101, there are 3 time-periods to choose: 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year. The prices range from 19~110USD.

Save 15% on a subscription to Chinesefor.us with the promo code “DigMandarin”.

DigMandarin

DigMandarin distinguishes itself as a premier online resource for Chinese language learning. It provides an extensive selection of online courses and materials, designed to meet the needs of learners at every level.

The curriculum of its online courses is thoughtfully crafted to progressively enhance language skills in a structured and effective manner. Covering key components of the language such as pronunciation, grammar, Chinese characters, and vocabulary, the courses offer a thorough and well-rounded approach to learning.

Course Structure:

Distinct from other online course platforms, DigMandarin offers a unique array of courses from various teachers and websites, all conveniently accessible in one location. It provides more than just video content; it’s a comprehensive network for Chinese language learning. Take, for instance, the HSK series courses: these include not only tutorials based on the HSK Standard Course but also detailed HSK mock paper analysis for each level, complete with free downloadable papers.

Additionally, DigMandarin provides extensive resources for the HSK tests, including introductions to the tests, tips and suggestions, information on registration and test dates, vocabulary lists, as well as reading and listening practice materials. This specialized subject matter is continually expanding and regularly updated.

Furthermore, DigMandarin caters to diverse learning preferences with its variety of teaching styles. Whether you favor a relaxed and easy-going approach or a more serious, academic style, there is a wide range of hosts and courses to suit your preferences.

To enhance the learning experience, DigMandarin provides a wealth of additional materials. Each course comes with its corresponding downloadable PDF notes. Some courses also offer online quizzes to assess your learning progress or a free e-book for added convenience in your studies.

Course Content:

DigMandarin’s curriculum includes a detailed Chinese Pronunciation Course, which is crucial for beginners to master the sounds of Mandarin.

For those interested in writing, the Chinese Characters Courses enable students to learn and write Chinese characters independently.

Vocabulary building is covered extensively in the Chinese Vocabulary Courses, aimed at quickly and effectively expanding the learner’s word bank.

The Chinese Grammar Courses provide an in-depth understanding of essential grammar points, making it easier for students to grasp complex language structures.

For practical communication skills, the Chinese Made Simple Courses progress learners from basic to intermediate levels, aligning well with HSK standards.

The Step by Step Chinese Courses, based on the New Practical Chinese Reader, offer a traditional textbook approach to learning.

Additionally, for those preparing for proficiency tests, the HSK Mock Test Courses provide valuable practice and insights.

DigMandarin’s content is updated on a regular basis. Therefore, you can always find something new and worth learning here.

Price:

There are various pricing plans, including individual course purchases and membership plans. The Essential Plan covers basic courses and ebooks, while the HSK Plan and NPCR Plan offer more comprehensive options suited to specific needs.

DigMandarin provides a 7-day money-back guarantee policy for unsatisfied learners, ensuring a risk-free trial for new users.

The post The Most Recommended Online Chinese Courses appeared first on .

No matter which level are you in, making sure your pronunciation correctly is definitely necessary and never too late. All in all, a good beginning is half the battle. With this guide, you can learn Chinese pronunciation easier in a correct way.

Part 1: What is Pinyin?

Chinese is not a phonetic language. The pronunciation is not related to the writing of Chinese words (characters). Pinyin is the special system, created for people to learn Mandarin pronunciation. Pinyin transcribes the Chinese characters so people can pronounce it. It may be used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into computers or electronics as well.

The writing of Pinyin is similar to English alphabet. You can pronounce every single sound out in Chinese using pinyin. However, you should aware that the Chinese pronunciation and spelling of pinyin letters are different from English letters. The sounds, which the letters of pinyin represent, do not correspond exactly to the sounds that the letters of English represent. So you can`t pronounce pinyin as if they were English. E.g

One Chinese sound is associated with one syllable and each Chinese character has its own pinyin syllable.

There are three parts in a pinyin syllable, which are the Initial, Final and Tone. Initial and final represent the segmental phonetic portion of the language, rather than letter by letter.

Chinese PinYin Chart with Audio (click here)

Part 2: What is Tones?

Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language, which means that the way a sound is pronounced directly affects the meaning of what is said. Mandarin’s tones give the language a very distinctive quality, but the tones can also be a source of miscommunication if not given due attention.

There are four main tones and one neutral tone in mandarin Chinese (or, as some say, five tones). Each tone has a distinctive pitch contour, which can be graphed using the following Chinese 5-level system.

I’ve seen some posts claim that the Chinese tones are just like English, which convey the attitude or feeling of a speaker, however, it`s not the case. This idea is mixing up two different concepts. English doesn`t have tones since words don`t change the meanings when you pronounce them with different intonations. However, in Chinese, even with the same initial and final, different tones represent different characters and meanings. There are many Chinese characters with the same initials and finals. E.g.

Common Tone Rules

• Third Tone Sandhi

When a third tone followed by another third tone, it should be pronounced as a second tone automatically. But the writing script should remain unchanged as the third tone mark. For example:
你好 (nǐ + hǎo)  ->  你好 (ní hǎo)

我很好 (wǒ + hěn + hǎo)  ->  我很好 (wó hén hǎo) 

• Tone sandhi of “不”

“不” becomes a second tone when followed by a fourth tone character. It is a fourth tone syllable by itself and when followed by other four tones then the following will happen.

• Tone sandhi of “一”

“一” is pronounced in first tone when it`s by itself, at the end of a word, or used as a number. When it is followed by a first tone, second tone, or third tone character though, “一” changes to the fourth tone. It is pronounced in the second tone when it precedes a fourth tone.

Part 3: Why Tones Matter?

If you can`t recognize the tone, you might always struggle figuring out what Chinese people said. And there are also many embarrassing situations you will encounter when communicating with Chinese people.

I met many Chinese learning quitters. They told me that they did want to learn mandarin. After they read the pinyin chart for two or three times in the first two lessons, they thought these Romanization letters were a piece of cake and it was time to move forward to learn more “real Chinese“. As a result of spending too little time on mastering the tones and proper pronunciations, the subsequent overload of similar vocabulary ruined their confidence, so they had to quit. Enough practice on your ears and mouth will help you survive, even though the beginning might be tedious and tough. Once you go through this essential part, you will lay an unbreakable foundation for your Chinese learning.

That`s why the tones matter.

Common Difficulties You Might meet

The purpose of this section is to clarify some common mistakes and difficulties you might meet when learning mandarin Chinese pronunciations. There are some distinct sounds in Chinese that are tricky to non-native speakers. Let`s conquer them one by one, thus there is less barrier in your pronunciation path.

Most of the difficult pinyin sounds are initials, like zh/ch/sh, z/c/s, j/q/x and r.

There is also a final “ü” that most foreigners can`t pronounce very well.

Part 4: Tips and Suggestions: How to improve your Chinese pronunciation

1. Master the basic rules of pronunciation and tones.

Knowing basic greetings like “你好” “你好吗” in Chinese is not hard, but advancing beyond the warm up greetings is quite different endeavor. As a beginner, the most important thing is be familiar with all pinyin sounds, spelling rules and tone changing rules. If possible, you`d better find a professional teacher who can speak standard mandarin Chinese and explain the differences among those similar sounds properly.

There are many learning experiences sharing about how to improve your Chinese pronunciation. Regarding the tones, besides the regular tones practice, there are some learners who share their methods like mastering without using tone marks.

2. Having Enough input: Make your own language environment

If you are learning Chinese in China or luckily be surrounded by a group of native speakers, just try to talk to them with what you`ve learnt. If you can`t follow them at the beginning, don`t feel embarrassed or upset. It`s a quite common phase. What you need to do is at least distinguishing the words you`ve learnt and be more familiar with the intonation Chinese language make. Gradually you can connect all the words and figure out what they are talking about.

If you don`t have the language environment, make it yourself! There are tons of online learning resources (well, surely you can find them at Dig Mandarin. :) ) No matter Chinese learning audios or videos, you can make use of your fragment time to listen. Sometimes, the learning content is a little bit tedious, afterwards you can find some Chinese songs to perfect your accent.   Also, learning from movies and TV shows is also a great way to train your sense of the language, and know more about Chinese culture as well.

3. Having Enough output

i. Practice in words, phrases and sentences

Don`t just practice the individual characters. There is phonetic change in the flow of speech, especially the tones. When you first begin to study Mandarin Chinese pronunciation, it is beneficial to practice pairs of tones. Begin with a word you already know, such as很好(hěnhǎo, very good). This phrase uses the second then the third tone. Say this phrase out loud several times and listen for the tone and rhythm of the syllables. Studying this natural rhythm of the language will help you pronounce new words you come across. Also, the increased accuracy of your Mandarin pronunciation will help you say sentences more smoothly.The start is of course tough, however after going through it; the longer sentences will be much easier for you.

ii. Slow down and be clear

Pay attention that you do not speak too fast. It`s very natural to speak in a normal speed just like the native speaker. But you are just a beginner who might not pronounce the standard sound. Speed is the last thing you should care about. Just SLOW DOWN! Make your sounds clear and correct. If people can`t even understand you, do you seriously care about your speaking speed? After all, a successful communication is the goal and accuracy is the most important thing.

iii. Practice makes perfect

As we mentioned above, you need to cultivate a keen sense of Chinese language by enough input. Some when you are practice by yourself and not with others, you are creating the illusion that you are speaking Chinese well. The truth might be only you yourself can understand or of course your teacher can guess what you are trying to say exactly. So the only key is practice, practice and practice. If once doesn`t work, then do it twice, triple…… You will finally get it.

4. Learn from your mistakes

As you know, Chinese people are very kind, so encouragement and compliment will be the main trend of their comments to your speaking. Confidence is necessary, but their kindness is not your reason to ignore the mistakes and your foreign pronunciation. Ask your Chinese friends to point out your inaccuracy and specific problems directly. Of course, it can`t be better if the one friend is a professional teacher. Then take down the notes of your common mistakes and analyze them one by one. This process will help you conquer your problems. It may be discouraging sometimes to hear about so many mistakes, but you will learn a lot from them quickly and it will help you to improve much faster than you think.

You also can observe if other people understand you. Regardless their kindness, understanding is a good start anyhow. In addition you can try to prepare a paragraph on a specific topic, then record your own speech. Listen to it several times to see if it`s weird in your perspective. Then ask your Chinese friends or teacher help you checking it. If possible, you can also compare your own recordings with the native speaker`s. It`s very clear to hear the differences of sounds, rhythms and intonation. Adjusting and improving your pronunciation is what you can do naturally. Focusing on the difficulties and repeat it slower. Just make sure you are pronouncing the right way.

5. Review all the time

Acquiring accurate pronunciation is a long-tern battle. Don`t be naïve as if you can master the authentic pronunciation in one shot. Record all your mistakes and misunderstanding of some specific concepts. Review your notes from time to time. It will call your attention and remind you the right way you should act. One day you will finally master them all.

Part 5: Resources

1. Video Lessons

a) Learn Complete Chinese Pronunciation in 16 Days! – This pronunciation course is produced by DigMandarin. With this course, you will:

• Know how to pronounce every Chinese sound clearly with the proper accent.
• Understand the phonetic alphabet (Pinyin) and how it relates to pronunciation.
• Learn each of the 21 Pinyin Initials.
• Learn each of the basic 6 Finals, as well as the 30 compound Finals.
• Know how to reduce your accent and sound more like a native.
• Learn and understand the trickiest letters that trip up most beginners, including the dreaded Mandarin tones.
• Experience detailed explanations which show you how to shape your mouth, place your tongue, and produce the required sounds.

b) Fluent Forever – Just as I illustrated above, these 3 videos provide instructions to lead you get basic understanding about Chinese pronunciation, tones and spelling rules. Its whiteboard illustrating way is quite clear and easy to follow.

c) Yoyo Chinese – With an interview by Dig Mandarin. This group offers over 100 YouTube videos designed to help you learn Mandarin more easily. An addition 300-400 videos are available if you pay for the premium membership on the website. Beginners can make great strides in language learning with the systemic video organization that naturally builds world knowledge and pronunciation skills.

2. Audio Lessons

 ChineseClass101 – ChineseClass101`s lesson number is pretty big. Regarding the pronunciation part, they provide the learners 5 episodes to illustrate the Chinese word construction, tones, related tone rules and difficult sounds. It basically covers the main idea of mandarin Chinese pronunciation.

3. Tools & APP

a) Pinyin Tools – If you want to learn about how to use Pinyin to aid your Chinese verbal language acquisition, Dig Mandarin recommends for apps: pinyin chart, tone chart, Pinyin to Chinese character converter app.

b) Pleco – This dictionary is one of the most useful and frequently used ones for people learning Mandarin. You can search by either the Chinese character or pinyin spelling. If you have heard a new Chinese word that you do not understand, you can easily search through this site to figure out what it is. There is a premium version as well which includes audio pronunciations.

4. Book

New Practice Chinese Readers – This Mandarin Chinese textbook is my personal favorite. It combines a carefully laid-out learning structure ideal for language with audio files for better pronunciation and understanding. The lessons include vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and sentence structure and even cultural information. New Practice for Chinese Readers is available on Amazon and from major book retailers.

The post Chinese Pronunciation: The Complete Guide for Beginner appeared first on .

Let’s look at a few of the benefits of using podcasts for learning:

Relevance: Podcasts often focus on topics that interest you, which can make the learning experience more engaging compared to traditional textbooks.

Portability: You can download episodes and listen to them while jogging, commuting, doing chores, running errands, or whenever it’s convenient for you.

Affordability: Many podcasts are free or offer free episodes and additional resources.

With many Chinese learning podcasts available, each with its own unique characteristics, how do you choose the right one for you? Instead of trying out each podcast to find the perfect fit, we’ve reviewed some of the most popular ones to help you decide.

Here are the best Mandarin Chinese learning podcasts:

• Topical Podcasts for Learning Chinese
• Chinese Podcasts for Beginners
• Podcasts for Learning About Taiwanese Culture

Topical Podcasts for Learning Chinese

#1 Mandarin Bean

Mandarin Bean is an excellent online resource that offers Chinese podcasts suitable for learners of all levels. The podcasts are categorized by HSK level, and you can explore various tags like business, culture, food, history, news, travel, and lifestyle. This diversity allows you to find content that matches your interests.

Mandarin Bean’s podcasts follow a simple format with no hosts or teachers. You listen to stories or dialogues and have access to transcripts in simplified characters, traditional characters, and pinyin. They also provide English translations. One valuable feature is the vocabulary list, which includes key words from the podcast, and you can easily create Quizlet flashcards from these words.

These podcasts are especially useful for independent learners looking to enhance their listening and reading skills. Mandarin Bean helps you acquire vocabulary and grasp grammar within real-life contexts, similar to immersive learning. Instead of traditional teaching methods, these podcasts empower you to teach yourself and prepare for real conversations.

Click and Listen to Mandarin Bean here.

#2 Mandarin Pod

Mandarin Pod is made by a Chinese language school in New York City called Sishu Mandarin. The man running the show is Zhou Tian, who is also the brains behind the school. In each episode, he brings in one or two other teachers from the school to chat about all sorts of stuff, meaning that the podcast has a more casual tone.

These episodes are around 30 minutes long, which I find is just the right amount of time. They pick topics that hit close to home, like what it’s like being an international student in the Big Apple or giving their take on the live-action Mulan movie.

The best part is, since they’re all teachers, they know how to talk in a way that is comprehensible. So, you can actually understand what they’re saying. Although, be warned, the topics might go over the heads of absolute beginners.

There are only 14 episodes in this series. I think that’s a plus because they don’t stretch things out, and each episode keeps you hooked. So, give it a listen if you’re into learning Mandarin or just want to hear some interesting chats.

Click and Listen to Mandarin Pod here.

#3 Chill Chat

Welcome to another engaging podcast designed to boost your language skills! In the Chill Chat series, they follow a more traditional format, where a Chinese teacher teams up with an American Chinese learner. You’ll notice some peppy music kicking off each episode, setting the mood for an exciting language learning journey. The conversation pace is brisk yet manageable, and English is thoughtfully used to clarify key points throughout the episodes.

What sets this podcast apart is the hosts’ contagious high energy, making the entire series an invigorating experience. To help learners gauge their level, each episode is tagged with the corresponding Chinese proficiency level. However, it appears that this series primarily caters to those at the lower intermediate level and above.

One of the standout features of this podcast is its diverse range of topics. The hosts dive into everything from essential grammar points to must-have apps for navigating China. If you’re planning a trip to China, this podcast is a gem, as it’s packed with invaluable tips and advice, such as how to smoothly check into a hotel.

In terms of duration, each episode varies, offering flexibility to fit into your schedule, with runtimes spanning from 10 to 25 minutes. Whether you’re on the go or enjoying a leisurely afternoon, this podcast is a fantastic resource to enhance your Chinese language skills.

Click and Listen to Chill Chat here.

#4 Tea Time Chinese

You can find the Tea Time Chinese podcast on both YouTube and Spotify, but I recommend visiting the website for easy access to transcripts. As you engage with the content, you’ll notice that hovering over characters and grammar points will provide you with helpful explanations, greatly enhancing your understanding.

The host of this podcast, Nathan, hails from Shanghai and now calls France his home. Tea Time Chinese is his brainchild, and it boasts a straightforward structure, complete with delightful music and a concise introduction at the beginning of each episode. Nathan isn’t just a podcast host; he’s also a passionate language enthusiast who loves drawing parallels between Chinese and European languages. Throughout the show, he’ll take you on a journey through his experiences living in China and delve into thought-provoking global topics.

One of the standout features of Tea Time Chinese is its steady pacing, which makes it highly accessible when used in conjunction with the transcripts. While beginners might need to invest a bit more concentration, this podcast is an excellent choice for lower intermediate learners and beyond. Plus, each episode clocks in at a manageable 10-15 minutes, fitting seamlessly into your daily routine.

Click and Listen to Tea Time Chinese here.

#5 Talk Chineasy

Talk Chineasy is an excellent option for busy individuals. They release short daily lessons designed to help learners at all levels gradually expand their vocabulary and understanding of Chinese culture. These podcasts are hosted by ShaoLan and feature various guest stars, whose profiles are available on their website.

While these podcasts introduce new information in each lesson, they are not meant to be complete courses. They provide concise and engaging lessons, making them perfect for learners looking to gain extra practice or learn common phrases for various situations. The presence of guest stars speaking Chinese helps you get used to different Chinese accents, preparing you for interactions with native speakers. These episodes serve as valuable supplements, allowing you to incorporate daily Chinese practice into your routine, aiding in vocabulary retention, listening and speaking practice, and cultural understanding.

Talk Chineasy is especially suitable for those on the move, as it is accessible on various platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Soundcloud. It is an excellent choice if you enjoy listening to podcasts during your commute or workouts, as you can easily access it on your mobile device. Their website provides access to the latest lessons, allowing you to explore topics that align with your interests or complement your ongoing studies.

Click and Listen to Talk Chineasy here.

Chinese Podcasts for Beginners

#1 ChinesePod

ChinesePod offers a variety of resources across different platforms, including Soundcloud and Spotify. While their podcasts are divided into main levels, their playlists are somewhat disorganized, requiring scrolling to find the first episode. Furthermore, sublevels within the playlists lack any order.

I explored the intermediate playlist, where you’ll typically find two hosts – Jenny, a Chinese teacher, and an American named Ken. The podcasts maintain a casual conversational tone without a strict structure. After playing an audio clip, Ken translates the sentences, and both hosts dissect word definitions and grammar, focusing on tones. They also provide additional grammar examples not covered in the audio segment. However, some topics may seem less relevant, like discussing New York City without firsthand experience. Each episode is around 15 minutes long, offering a good pace for learners.

Click and Listen to ChinesePod here.

#2 ChineseClass101

ChineseClass101 is one of the most popular and accessible Chinese podcasts available. You can access it on their website and app, which works on Android, Apple, and Kindle Fire devices. When you sign up, ChineseClass101 helps you determine your proficiency level and gives you access to a library of lessons tailored to your needs. You can explore various course playlists covering topics like conversations, reading and writing, vocabulary, grammar, and culture.

Each lesson starts with a dialogue played at regular speed and then at a slower pace. The hosts dive into the dialogue, offering detailed explanations of the vocabulary and grammar. These explanations are valuable, addressing specific nuances in the language, such as idiomatic expressions and tones. Despite their educational nature, these podcasts maintain an engaging and friendly atmosphere, making you feel like you’re chatting with friends.

Click and Listen to ChineseClass101 here.

#3 Learn Chinese with CoffeeBean Chinese 

If you’re eager to start your Chinese learning journey, check out CoffeeBean Chinese, available on Spotify. This podcast is hosted by Mark, a fellow learner, and Cristal, a seasoned Chinese teacher. The pace here is deliberately slow, creating a relaxed conversational atmosphere. What sets this podcast apart is Cristal’s dedication to explaining both the meaning and direct translations of the vocabulary, which is a big help for beginners. However, this thorough approach might suit those who prefer a more leisurely learning experience. The content is practical and relevant, although currently they only offer podcasts for beginners. In each episode, you’ll find detailed breakdowns of grammar points and new vocabulary. Mark provides translations and literal meanings, a valuable feature, especially since study notes come at an additional cost. Expect longer episodes compared to other podcasts, averaging around 23 minutes. You can access CoffeeBean Chinese on Google and Apple Podcasts besides Spotify.

Click and Listen to CoffeeBean Chinese here.

#4 Melnyks Chinese

Melnyks Chinese is a comprehensive podcast tailored for serious learners. Hosted by a single teacher, Serge Melnyk, it adopts a more structured approach similar to a classroom setting. However, it remains a valuable resource for students seeking gradual improvement in fluency. Melnyks Chinese podcasts are designed to build upon vocabulary and grammar from previous lessons, with earlier lessons being easier and later ones becoming more challenging. The concept is to allow beginners to start with lesson 1 and progress to a point where they can confidently handle everyday situations in Chinese.

Each lesson lasts around 20 minutes and covers various daily scenarios or topics. They start with an introduction to the lesson’s vocabulary, with each word repeated multiple times to aid memorization and correct pronunciation. Next, a situational dialogue is presented, repeated in Chinese and later analyzed in English. As the host reviews the dialogue, he explains critical grammar points and demonstrates how vocabulary functions within that context. This approach is particularly useful, as it introduces words before showing how they can be used to construct meaningful sentences.

Click and Listen to Melnyks Chinese here.

#5 I Love Learning Chinese  

“I Love Learning Chinese” is designed for busy individuals seeking short daily lessons. Their website and iTunes offer several hundred free lessons, divided into six levels, each with about 25 lessons. Similar to Melnyks Chinese, this series is designed for beginners to start from level 1, episode 1, and progress through level 6, episode 25. Review lessons are also available to revisit key points from previous episodes.

Each lesson lasts 10-15 minutes and focuses on specific grammar concepts or vocabulary terms. The host, Ashley, begins each lesson with an overview of relevant vocabulary, making it easy to follow along and practice pronunciation. The lessons include short, straightforward dialogues that apply the newly introduced vocabulary and grammar concepts. “I Love Learning Chinese” is ideal for learners who appreciate repetition of vocabulary and want to understand Chinese grammar in practical contexts.

Their website offers supplementary resources tailored to beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners. These resources include PDF notes, flashcard reviews, and writing exercises. For absolute beginners, the Level 0 lesson is invaluable, teaching pinyin pronunciation and tone comprehension. The podcast lessons and online materials are a great fit for beginners looking to dedicate just 15 minutes a day to learning Chinese.

Click and Listen to I Love Learning Chinese here.

#6 Mandarin Monkey

If you prefer longer podcasts, Mandarin Monkey’s Chinglish podcast may interest you. With over 100 episodes, each lasting over an hour, these podcasts are available on Soundcloud, Youtube, and Apple Podcasts. Their Youtube channel also offers supplementary listening practice videos.

Differing from the typical lesson format, this podcast features a fluid conversation between two hosts, often switching between Chinese and English. Their approach mirrors that of bilingual books, promoting learning through immersion and comparison. Instead of providing direct Chinese-to-English translations, the English context helps you understand the Chinese dialogue. This approach offers a more relaxed alternative to podcasts that exclusively use Chinese, making it suitable for multitasking during chores, errands, or exercise.

To support their podcast, Mandarin Monkey offers a Patreon with three subscription tiers: $5, $10, and $25. Each tier provides different benefits, with higher tiers also including perks from lower ones. The entry tier gives you access to their Whatsapp discussion group. The mid-tier offers invitations to weekly hangout sessions for practicing Chinese, while the top tier includes a complimentary private lesson each month. Mandarin Monkey emphasizes building a community of Chinese learners, fostering an ideal environment for practicing and connecting with fellow learners.

Click and Listen to Mandarin Monkey here.

Podcasts for Learning About Taiwanese Culture

#1 Learn Chinese the Taiwanese Way with 台味中文  

This solo venture podcast is currently free and can be found on various platforms like Youtube and Spotify. The host describes himself as an “online language tutor.” While this podcast doesn’t explain vocabulary, it’s delivered at a comprehensible pace and uses highly relevant and useful language. Keep in mind that it lacks background music, which some might find disengaging.

However, accompanying transcripts provide assistance, displaying characters and grammar used. Note that there’s no English spoken, which may feel like being thrown into the deep end. But the good news is that each episode is relatively short, around 10-15 minutes, making it manageable.

Click and Listen to 台味中文 here.

#2 Learn Mandarin in Mandarin with Huimin 

This Taiwan-based self-hosted podcast offers a music introduction to set the tone. The host, Huimin, provides key vocabulary in the episode descriptions. Topics start with basics like self-introductions and describing interests, without translations or grammar explanations. It’s a light and easy-listening podcast suitable for multitasking, but the speaking speed can be inconsistent, which may not be suitable for all learners. Episodes typically range from 10 to 15 minutes. Huimin caters to different levels of learners, labeling episodes with vocabulary levels. As the series progresses, you’ll learn more about Taiwanese culture, enriching your language and cultural knowledge.

Click and Listen to Learn Mandarin in Mandarin with Huimin here.

#3 Haike Chinese 还可中文  

This podcast breaks from the traditional learner-teacher structure, featuring two Taiwan-based friends, Li Yi and Shian Shian. This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and offers corresponding transcripts on their website. Their friendly dynamic makes listening more engaging, feeling like a daily conversation between language partners. However, this podcast is more suitable for post-beginner learners due to the somewhat complex topics, such as the Olympics and favorite films. Despite this, it remains light and easy to follow, thanks to a good pace. You’ll also learn about Taiwanese culture, from convenience stores to local customs. Early episodes are around 10 minutes, while later ones extend to about 30 minutes.

Click and Listen to Haike Chinese here.

#4 Talk Mandarin Chinese with Abbey

This Taiwan-based podcast, available on YouTube and Apple Podcasts, is designed for intermediate and advanced learners. Host Abbey speaks at a faster pace, tackling complex and engaging topics. Episodes up to number 65 include free worksheets that explain new vocabulary and grammar in detail. Beyond that, you’ll need to sign up on the website’s Patreon to access the worksheets. While the podcast is enjoyable, I wish the experience lasted longer, as each episode is typically just under 10 minutes.

Click and Listen to Talk Mandarin Chinese with Abbey here.

Conclusion

With so many diverse options, there are sure to be some podcasts that fit your unique learning needs. There are podcasts that act like complete courses, such as ChinesePod, Melnkys Chinese, and Coffee Break Chinese. Then there are also podcasts that act as a supplement. They help you expand your Chinese knowledge with short daily lessons, like Tea Time Chinese and Haike Chinese. If you want to try an immersion-based approach, consider Mandarin Bean and Mandarin Monkey. With so many wonderful options, it can be hard to choose just one.

You don’t have to stop with just one podcast though. You can use one as your main course and another as a supplement. For example, if you listen to ChineseClass101 to learn HSK material, you can also use Mandarin Bean for extra listening practice on topics that you are interested in. Chinese is a complex language, and it can be helpful to learn from multiple sources to truly understand the vocabulary and grammar. Plus listening to multiple hosts speak Chinese will improve your listening comprehension significantly and prepare you to have conversations with native speakers.

With the surge in podcast popularity, many options have emerged on various platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or individual websites. Each offers a unique approach, so you’re sure to find one that suits your level and pace. Podcast series provide an excellent way to explore subjects of interest, such as learning Mandarin Chinese. Happy listening and learning!

The post Supercharge Your Learning with These 15 Mandarin Chinese Podcasts appeared first on .

1. Internet Connection

Learning from a quality instructor is easy in a quiet classroom environment. What if you had static in your ears, words cutting out or not being able to see what was being taught? Make sure you have an adequate internet connection on your Skype Chinese lessons that’s reliable so you won’t miss any part of your classes due to a dropped call.

2. Free Trial Class

What you’re obviously looking for is the quality of the class, the professionalism of the teacher; their experience, education majors, etc. What is the teaching method the instructor uses along with their preferred style? When you satisfactorily pass the class and the teacher’s expectations, will the teacher commit to working with you on regular classes? You should also check to see if there is a study plan to follow after your trial class is completed.

3. Booking Policy

You should check to see how long you can book the Skype Chinese lessons for in total. Also, how many hours in advance you will have to cancel or reschedule the class without a penalty being applied.

4. Flexibility

Many of us lead busy lives with work, family and fun. What is the time you’re willing to commit to doing this? Sometimes you might have a completely open schedule while others will leave you just enough time to look at the lesson and when your work is due. Be certain to check the class information to see if there are weekly or monthly minimum participation requirements you must meet for satisfaction of the class.

5. Validation

How long do you have to complete the Skype Chinese lessons? A month, a year, or no validation at all. It’s up to you to choose the frequency for each week that you want to participate at.

6. Good Support

Should it be all about the classroom? No, if there are concerns or questions about the certification or if a technical issue occurred, how are you going to get those questions answered. A support team behind the class to help you is key for a good learning experience.

7. Refund policy

Sometimes things happen and you’re not able to commit to the class schedule as you planned, emergencies or work or life can conspire to get in the way and having the option to cancel and receive a refund or credit applied to a future class is something you should know in advance in case you need to cancel and not be surprised with non-refundable fees or charges.

8. What is your goal?

Everyone knows there can be a difference between ‘classroom language’ and ‘street language’. Are you interested in a formal education with an instructor that will walk you through every detail and nuance of the Chinese language? Do you only need a native speaker to coach you through practicing your spoken Chinese for an acting part or Firefly convention? The costs and time involved obviously are different so knowing how much you need to or want to learn is important.

9. Costs

What are you paying for the time in class or with a speaker? On average you should expect a class to be between $15 and $25 dollars. This should also be adjusted by the factors mentioned above that you should take into consideration.

Some of online Chinese schools by Skype:

• TouchChinese
• AllMandarin

If you have any other suggestion for having Skype Chinese lessons, just leave your comment below.

The post 9 Tips to Help You Choose Chinese Lessons by Skype appeared first on .

DIY and BIY

The most simple (and I suppose the oldest) method is creating paper Mandarin flashcards. Many learners already know that doing your own Mandarin flashcards helps to memorize what you are writing. However, regarding Mandarin, there may be an additional issue. You need flashcards from the very beginning of your studies when you can’t write characters yet. In this case, you can buy a printed set of Mandarin flashcards. The advantage is that those Mandarin flashcards are usually more long-lived. They also contain some useful additional information (like radicals, number of strokes, and so on).

Besides the online resource, you can also have your substantive flashcards offline. There are many exquisite designs on sale. If you want to learn HSK series words, you can get the flashcards from the HSK Kit. If you are looking for the flashcards for kids, then Language Together is a good choice, which is for children ages 3-8 who are beginning to learn Chinese. And the famous Chineasy series is great for the beginners of characters.

On your electronic devices

Here is the point where the Internet helps you. After your first class in Mandarin, you can use the Chinese flashcards online that were already prepared for you by YellowBridge and ArchChinese. There are amazing collections of flashcards for words from the most popular textbooks. Of course, the vast majority of the beginner’s lexicon is covered there. The Chinese flashcards online are gathered into sets so you can easily find the vocabulary of the lesson you have just studied. You can review them in either studying or exam modes.

If you still need to create your own Mandarin Chinese flashcards, please check Quizlet websites or APP. Modern technologies let you create cards that look very professional. You can upload images making your learning materials more attractive and helpful.

Quizlet even makes audio for you! After just entering a Mandarin phrase you get its pronunciation. It is not perfect but still much better than nothing.

The range of tasks you can do with your sets is very big and includes learning in a straight order as it was initially presented, shuffling, flipping and checking your knowledge in different “exam”/”game” modes (Scatter, Test, Space Race, etc.)

There are also hundreds of exciting apps for creating your very own Mandarin flashcards. For mobile devices, my favorite two are AnkiDroid that allows you to customize flashcards in so many ways and StudyBlue that just has a very pleasant modern look (without compromising on options).

Some online services for creating flashcards work like social networks so you can easily find friends and deal with those learning Mandarin all over the world. You can share your Chinese flashcards online and use the learning materials that were created by other users.

If you run your blog about learning Mandarin, it is also possible to embed your Mandarin flashcards sets into your website.

Related Course: Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Characters

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