Learning the Chinese writing system is a massive undertaking, and achieving mastery can take years. For some, it may not seem like it’s worth the effort when typing exists as an easy alternative, but increased dexterity is not the only benefit of learning to write by hand. The process itself of learning to write characters is a tool that will increase your understanding of the Chinese language on both a linguistic and cultural level.

The thought of learning a new writing system may feel like looking up at Mt. Everest, but you’re not alone. This article will provide you with an introduction to the fundamentals of Chinese handwriting and calligraphy, as well as strategies to help you improve your handwriting at any level.

If you’re ready to start, let’s talk about why learning this part of the language is so necessary.

• Why Is the Chinese Writing System Important?
• Components of the Written Chinese Language
• Learning to Write Chinese by Hand: The Tools You’ll Need
• Chinese Writing Practice for Beginner, Intermediate, And Advanced Learners
• A Personal Note: Learning to write Chinese if you’re left-handed
• The common characters practice sheets (PDF)

Why Is the Chinese Writing System Important?

Chinese handwriting is more than just a practical system for conveying information, the form of the characters themselves and the meaning embedded in each component provide insight into Chinese culture, history, and values.

Aesthetically, Chinese characters follow a flow that mirrors nature, a key theme in Chinese culture. The meticulously planned stroke order guides the brush smoothly from one end of the page to the other.

Furthermore, the cultural significance isn’t confined to artistic expression. The visual nature of the language allows the writing system to encapsulate historical perspectives and events. For example, looking at ancient script, the ancestor of the modern Chinese writing system, will allow you to view the world through the lens of the people who were first transcribed the world around them. You’ll see what they considered important, valuable, and beautiful.

Components of the Written Chinese Language

While many refer to Chinese as a pictographic script, only about 4% of characters are actually pictograms（象形字）. The remaining 96% consist of simple ideographs（指事字）, compound ideographs（会意字）, phonetic semantic compounds（形声字）, loanwords（假借字）, and derivative characters（转注字）. What does this mean for you as a learner? It means that written Chinese is a diverse ecosystem, where many different elements come together to create complex meanings and ideas. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the written language, you must first understand its basic components.

Developing an advanced understanding may seem daunting, but it takes time. There are many much smaller and much simpler steps you can take to put yourself on the right track. For example, while pictograms only make up a small number of characters in total, they constitute a significant portion of the characters beginners should learn first. From there, you can grow your vocabulary and build your understanding of the written language progressively.

Learning to Write Chinese by Hand: The Tools You’ll Need

First of all, you’ll need paper, but not just any blank paper. If you’re a beginner or you feel that your handwriting needs a lot of work, your best bet is to use character practice sheets, which provide larger, pre-sectioned boxes for you to write in. Once you can write more precisely and feel comfortable with smaller font, then it’s time to progress to graph paper. Office supply stores often carry graph paper with boxes as big as 1 centimeter each, or as small as ¼ inch each.

When it comes to writing utensils, there’s a major debate on whether pens or pencils are ideal. While pencils are more convenient because you can erase mistakes and try again, many argue that pens encourage you to write more diligently because each mark is permanent. You only have one chance to get it right. Ultimately, the choice will come down to your personal preference or your teacher’s requirement.

Thankfully, these tools are all readily accessible, and you likely already have everything you need at home. Once you have your supplies in front of you, let’s look at some key practice strategies for your level.

Chinese Handwriting Practice for Beginner, Intermediate, And Advanced Learners

Beginners and advanced learners alike can benefit from deliberate handwriting practice. The key is to find strategies that will develop your fine motor skills while also deepening your understanding of the language.

Practice tips for beginner learners

The first step is to familiarize yourself with the basics. Be sure to check out our quick guide to Chinese character stroke order, as it will provide you a clear map to follow. You may ask yourself why we need to bother with tedious things like stroke order. While it may feel quite foreign at first, with practice, you’ll find that writing Chinese characters is actually rather intuitive. The stroke order flows like a river, guiding you from each stroke to the next, and from each character to the next.

When it comes to selecting which characters to practice writing, you don’t need to overdo it. You can select a short list of words that contain all the elements you need to practice. As mentioned earlier, beginners can get ahead by focusing on pictographic characters and radicals.

For example, here is a list of 10 basic vocabulary words composed of the fundamental strokes that will no doubt come up countless times during your studies. Several of them, such as 人, 口, 日, and手, will also appear as radicals in other characters.

If possible, ask a teacher, friend, or language exchange partner to look at your writing and provide feedback. One of the best methods is to have your tutor watch you as you write each character, so they can make sure you’re following the proper order and direction for each stroke. You’ll also be able to correct yourself immediately and try again if they spot an error.

This early stage is crucial because it’s quite easy to develop bad habits that will be much harder to break later on. A bit of additional effort at the beginning can save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Consider different resources you can use to practice:

• Chinese handwriting apps
• specialized character books
• writing-focused online courses – Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Characters.

Practice tips for intermediate learners

When you reach an intermediate stage, you’ll be required to write not only single-element characters, like the ones listed above, but also characters composed of multiple elements. This means paying additional attention to the proportions of each character and ensuring that your handwriting is balanced. While you may be tempted to switch to a smaller size of graph paper or stop using character practice sheets entirely, there are still benefits to writing larger. Start with a larger font, and as you gain confidence writing more complex characters, then begin to scale it down.

The intermediate stage is also when you can progress from intensive practice, focusing on being able to write a small set of characters perfectly, to extensive practice, focusing on being able to write a wide variety of characters well. Many learners find that they can recognize a lot more characters than they can write, and this is normal. Even native speakers sometimes have trouble recalling how to write certain characters, especially ones that come up rarely in everyday life.

When it comes to picking which characters to focus on, it’s logical to start with the characters that you’ll need to use most often, such as common nouns and verbs, grammar particles, and simple adjectives. These are the words that you’ll find on HSK vocabulary lists or Mandarin Chinese frequency lists below. From there, you can start to add words that are important to you specifically, such as terms from the industry you work in or words that are related to your hobbies and interests.

Beginners and intermediate learners should start writing Chinese characters systematically. Courses like the Zero to Hundred Characters Building-up Course help learners explore the characters, their creation, formation, and evolution into modern forms. In each lesson, learners break down characters, learn their origins, use common grammar patterns, and follow a stroke-by-stroke writing tutorial. This deepens your understanding of writing Chinese characters. If interested in writing Chinese characters, you can check the course for more details.

Practice tips for advanced learners

At the advanced stage, you’ve no doubt already become quite an autonomous learner, so this is where you can start to focus on your individual weaknesses and push yourself even further.

But how do you know where your weaknesses lie? Similar to beginners, seeking feedback from native speakers is paramount. The only difference is that you’ll likely need to ask them to look at a longer text written by you, as the errors may be few and far between. They may notice individual characters that need attention, or they may even pick up on larger patterns, such as frequently mixing up the line proportions for characters like 土(tǔ) and 士(shì).

The combination of integrating feedback and extensive practice is what will help you achieve mastery. One of the best ways to see your progress over time is to write every day, each time challenging yourself to write neatly at a steady pace. You can choose to write about a selected topic every day or keep a diary where you write about your daily life. Over time, you should feel your proficiency increasing, and when you look back at previous texts you wrote, you should see a visual difference in the quality of your writing as well.

If you’re already quite confident with your ability to write in standard print, you may want to begin challenging yourself in new ways. You can aim for accuracy by trying to write a 1,000-character text in pen with zero errors. You can also aim for speed, such as seeing how fast you can copy a text. If you want to test your recall abilities, try doing a dictation while listening to a complex piece of audio, such as from a podcast or news announcement.

Finally, the true way to take your Chinese handwriting to the next level is to study how native speakers write by hand, which can look quite different. They may take shortcuts, writing multiple strokes with a single continuous line or simplifying elements. This is how native speakers manage to write both fluidly and more quickly.

The fastest way to start writing like a native speaker is to imitate them. You can begin by watching others. There are many useful online resources, such as the Chinese Handwriting YouTube channel or the Chinese Handwriting community on Reddit, where you can see visual references or simple tutorials for writing in cursive script.

A Personal Note: Learning to write Chinese if you’re left-handed

If learning to write in Chinese is difficult for right-handed learners, it feels impossible for us lefties. As a young student, I was always the only left-handed person in my classes. I attended American public school, where it’s no longer considered acceptable to force left-handed students to use their right hand to write. However, I could tell that my Chinese teachers weren’t quite sure how to teach me proper Chinese handwriting.

I’ll admit that I found it discouraging initially. Training my hand to follow stroke order was a unique challenge because I wanted to write all of my horizontal strokes from right to left, instead of left to right. I also noticed that all of my characters were slanted, a consequence of how I was holding the pencil in my hand. My teachers would stand behind me and look over my shoulder as I wrote, trying to see if I was “cheating” or not.

When I was about three months into my studies, my mid-term exam was coming up, and I felt depressed because I felt that I was doomed to lose points on the handwriting section. I had to sit down with myself and say, “This is more difficult for me than the other students, and it’s not fair, but that doesn’t mean I have to give up. It only means that I need to work harder.”

From that point on, I sat down every day and practiced intentionally. I focused on writing the strokes and characters that felt most unnatural for me. After about a week, I started to see a difference in the quality of my handwriting. After three weeks, my teacher was writing positive notes on my worksheets about the improvement she saw in my writing.

So, if you’re also a leftie and you want to know if you can still learn to write in Chinese, I’m living proof that if you put in the work, it will come. It will be harder for you, and it’s not fair. But the only thing standing in the way is your doubt.

A Final Word

If you’ve made it this far, I commend you! The world of the Chinese writing system is so vast, and yet we’ve only scratched the surface here. There are so many cultural and linguistic nuances to explore, many of which are completely new to English speakers. While we do not have the time to look at them all together, I hope that this article encourages you to embark on your own journey. I encourage you to use the strategies laid out here to both help strengthen your connection to the language and improve your fluency at the same time. Keep studying, stay curious, and open yourself up to all that the Chinese language has to offer.

Here is the list of the 150 commonly used Chinese characters that you need to master. Learn to practice your handwriting by downloading the common characters practice sheets.

The post Chinese Handwriting Practice, One Stroke at A Time: A Comprehensive Guide appeared first on .

“Are you sure you want to do that? It’s going to take forever.”

“I could never learn such an intimidating language.”

These are all things that teachers, family members, and friends said to me when I started to learn Mandarin Chinese at the age of 16. Yet despite all the comments I heard about the “extreme difficulty” of the language, I always felt that it was actually quite intuitive to pick up. As much as I would love to pretend to be a genius with an innate gift for Chinese fluency, the fact of the matter is that many people perceive Mandarin Chinese to be more complex and difficult than it really is.

It’s true that there are numerous challenges for native English speakers to overcome when learning Chinese, such as learning a new writing system and mastering the phonetic differences between the two languages. However, there are also a lot of aspects of the Chinese language that make it less complex than English. In this article, I will reveal the features of the language that make it easy to pick up, but I will also address the parts that make it difficult and how you can overcome those obstacles using tried-and-true tools and strategies.

If you’re ready to get started, let’s begin with the reasons why Chinese is quite an easy language to learn.

Three Reasons Why Mandarin Chinese is Easy for English Speakers

1). Mandarin Chinese verbs never change based on context

For native English speakers, verb conjugation is something we do without even thinking about it. We grew up learning to modify verbs based on their subject, for example “I have” or “she has,” but in Chinese, verbs will always remain the same no matter what the subject or object is. Going back to the previous example, in Chinese you can just say 我有(wǒ yǒu, I have) and 她有(tā yǒu, she has), no change required.

Verbs in English also have tense, meaning that the verb’s spelling and pronunciation will change based on the time when something happened, such as “I have” and “I had.” Verb tense also doesn’t exist in Chinese; the language uses syntax or other markers to indicate when something happened.

When it comes to learning a new verb in Chinese, you only need to learn one character and one pronunciation. On the other hand, a native Chinese speaker studying English would have to memorize multiple verb forms based on who is doing the action and when it’s happening. This is just one example of how Mandarin Chinese can be simpler than English.

2). Imperfect pronunciation will not prevent you from being understood

Chinese is a tonal language; words change meaning based on the tone you use while saying them. You’ll often hear that if you mispronounce one word, suddenly you’re saying something completely different than what you meant (oftentimes something wildly inappropriate or silly). However, the missing key here is context. When having a conversation, you can have imperfect pronunciation and incorrect tones, but the person listening will still understand you based on the other words you’re saying and the overall conversation you’re having.

Take the example of the difference between 妈 (mā, mother) and 马 (mǎ, horse). It’s true that the tone is the only thing that differentiates these two words when spoken aloud, but nobody is going to think that you went to your horse’s house last night for dinner.

Accurate pronunciation is a key part of fluency and is something that we should strive for as learners, but many people let the fear of being misunderstood prevent them from even beginning to learn the language. The truth is that tone mastery comes with intentional practice and time. Nobody, except for maybe a lucky few, uses tones like a native from the get go, and that’s perfectly okay!

3). You don’t need to learn to write Chinese characters to use them

Another factor that many English speakers find intimidating is learning to write characters by hand. It can seem like a massive undertaking to train your hand to trace different lines and memorize correct stroke order. It’s like going back to kindergarten and starting from scratch. If you feel that learning to write Chinese characters takes too much time and effort, I have great new for you: you don’t have to!

Similar to English, most people are more comfortable typing in Chinese than actually writing, and this is true of native speakers and learners alike. Learning to type Chinese characters is quite simple and can be as easy as typing the pronunciation and selecting the character from a list. Nowadays, there are very few situations that would require you to write characters by hand, such as sitting for a written Chinese exam.

There are several benefits to practicing handwriting, including improving your ability to memorize new vocabulary words, better understanding the structure of Chinese characters, and making it easier to use Chinese dictionaries and various typing input methods. But being unable to write characters by hand won’t prevent you from being able to reach fluency and communicate in Mandarin.

Part 2: Three Reasons Why Mandarin Chinese is Hard for English Speakers and How to Overcome Them

1). There is a significant learning curve for beginners

There are many factors that make Chinese so different from English, including the writing system, tones, pronunciation, and grammar. Rather than looking at them all individually, let’s step back to see the big picture. When approaching Mandarin Chinese for the first time, there’s a lot of new information to process, and that can intimidate new learners before they even begin. However, it’s important to keep in mind that new concept quickly become familiar, and your fluency will grow exponentially once you get over the initial hump.

How do you get past that point, though? For many languages, not just Chinese, taking time to intentionally concentrate on the foundations of the language will have a massive payoff both in the short and long term. For example, learning the different components of Chinese characters will massively speed up your progress in reading and writing. Familiarizing yourself with the sounds of the language will help you better pick out different words and tones while listening and can boost your speaking skills significantly.

2). Mandarin Chinese has an extremely vast amount of vocabulary to learn

Thinking about the number of Chinese characters required to achieve a high level of fluency can make your head spin. Most native speakers know around 8,000 characters. The highest level of the HSK 3.0, the standard exam used to measure Chinese fluency, requires over 10,000 characters. While it’s true that expanding your Chinese vocabulary will improve your ability to read complex texts, express yourself eloquently, understand complicated speech, and write like a native speaker, in reality, you can know a much smaller number of characters and still function in the language.

For example, by learning the 100 most common Chinese characters, you’ll be able understand almost half of everyday conversations. If you learn the 1,000 most common characters, that number will increase to almost 90%. Taking the time to learn three characters a day could help you reach that level in less than a year.

Learning a new language is always a marathon, not a sprint. But it can be extremely motivating to know that you can make great strides by growing your vocabulary in consistent, small doses.

3). Native Chinese speakers can be very difficult to understand

Mandarin Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Having so many native and non-native speakers from around the world also means that there are many different accents and dialects, each with their own phonetic nuances and particular vocabulary. In fact, the Beijing Mandarin accent is referred to as 儿化 (érhuà) to describe the way that speakers excessively add the 儿(ér) sound at the end of words, sometimes making their speech unintelligible to outsiders.

While there is a whole wide world of accents to attune your ears to, they share many of the same phonetic bases. And like all things, the ability to listen and understand comes with time and targeted practice. If you feel intimidated thinking about how many different accents there are, know that you don’t need to learn them all. You only need to learn the ones that are relevant to you, such as the accent spoken in a region you plan to visit or the dialect that your relatives speak. The internet offers a wealth of resources for standard Mandarin and almost every variation you can think of.

If you find yourself intimidated by the vastness of the language, breaking things down into smaller pieces and focusing on the most essential things first will help you get your bearings and gradually guide you towards mastery.

A Final Word

While my own Chinese experience began with others telling me that I couldn’t do it or it wasn’t worth it, I proved them wrong because I decided to tread my own path.

For many others, that negative voice can come from inside. There may be that part of you that says “oh, that seems too complicated” or “I’m really out of my comfort zone here.” It’s important to question if those thoughts are coming from preconceived notions you have about the challenge ahead or about your own abilities. The difference between thought and reality can be striking.

If you’re interested in starting your Chinese learning journey, but you hear that little voice telling you that you can’t do it, give yourself permission to try. Sometimes we discover that we’ve been standing in our own way.

I hope that this article has shown you that Mandarin Chinese is a unique language with its own challenges but also a language that you can adapt to easily if you approach it with thoughtfulness and openness.

The post Is Chinese Too Hard to Learn? Confronting the Biggest Myths About Mandarin appeared first on .

Among these courses is the AP Chinese Language and Culture course, a unique program that combines Chinese language skills with cultural understanding. This course not only aims to enhance students’ Chinese language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, but also immerses them in the cultural, social, and historical aspects of Chinese-speaking communities. The course aims to enhance language proficiency through a variety of authentic resources and real-world tasks. It’s an ideal choice for students interested in deepening their understanding of Chinese language and culture and gaining valuable skills for global communication, all while earning college credit.

• AP Chinese Course Objectives
• AP Chinese Course Content and Learning Resources
• AP Chinese Exam Format
• Preparing for the AP Chinese Course and Exam
  • Prerequisites for AP Chinese Course
  • Tips for Preparing for the AP Chinese Exam
  • Recommended platforms for AP Chinese exam preparation
  • Recommended books for AP Chinese exam preparation

AP Chinese Course Objectives

The AP Chinese Language and Culture course is designed with specific objectives to enhance students’ Mandarin Chinese proficiency and deepen their understanding of Chinese culture. The primary goal is to develop strong language skills across listening, speaking, reading, and writing, aiming to reach a high level of fluency.

AP Chinese’s Four Key Language Skills

In addition to the language skills, cultural understanding and communication goals are central. Students are immersed in learning about Chinese traditions, societal norms, and cultural practices, fostering an appreciation for cultural diversity and global perspectives. Furthermore, the course emphasizes the importance of effective and appropriate communication within Chinese-speaking environments. By engaging with various real-life contexts and interactive activities, students improve their ability to express themselves clearly in Mandarin. Preparing for the AP exam is also a key focus, as the course equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed.

AP Chinese Culture Goals

Through this comprehensive approach, the AP Chinese Language and Culture course aims to prepare students not only for academic success but also for meaningful engagement with the Chinese-speaking world.

AP Chinese Course Content and Learning Resources

A wide range of topics are covered in the AP Chinese Language and Culture course, each designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of various aspects of Chinese society and culture. Topics include contemporary life, where students explore current issues and trends in Chinese-speaking communities; families and communities, which explores family structures, social relationships, and community values; science and technology, focusing on advancements and their impact on society; and global challenges, where students discuss environmental, political, and social issues facing the world today.

In terms of materials, the course utilizes a diverse array of texts and resources to support learning. Students engage with authentic materials such as newspaper articles, literary works, and online media, providing a real-world context to their studies. Audio and video materials, including news broadcasts, films, and interviews, are also integral to the course, offering students exposure to various dialects and aspects of spoken Chinese.

Additionally, immersive activities and multimedia presentations are used to enhance language skills and cultural understanding. Interactive tools like language learning apps and online platforms play a significant role in enhancing listening and speaking skills. Websites offering Chinese news, cultural articles, and language exercises are commonly used for up-to-date and relevant content. For writing practice, students might use blogs or forums to engage in discussions in Chinese.

Online resources like Quizlet offer flashcards and study games for vocabulary building, while websites like MandarinBean.com, Du Chinese and BBC Chinese provide additional reading and listening practice.

These varied resources ensure that students not only learn the language but also gain a comprehensive insight into the Chinese-speaking world.

AP Chinese Exam Format

The AP Chinese Language and Culture exam is divided into two main sections: Multiple Choice and Free Response. Each section assesses listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. It is designed to assess students’ ability to understand and use Chinese in a range of contexts, mirroring the kind of proficiency expected in real-world situations.

Preparing for the AP Chinese Course and Exam

Prerequisites for AP Chinese Course

To better prepare for the challenges of the AP Chinese Language and Culture course, allowing students to fully engage with and benefit from the advanced material, some prerequisites are necessary.

1). Chinese language foundation

A solid foundation in Mandarin Chinese is essential. Students should have skills equivalent to at least two to three years of high school Chinese study. This includes a strong grasp of basic grammar, vocabulary, and the ability to comprehend and communicate simple ideas in Chinese.

As this course involves extensive reading and writing, at least 1,000 to 1,500 Chinese characters are required.

The course also includes audio materials in various dialects and accents. Therefore, students should also be able to engage in basic conversations and express their thoughts in spoken Chinese.

2). Cultural Understanding

A basic understanding of Chinese culture, traditions, and societal norms is beneficial. This knowledge supports the cultural components of the course and helps in understanding context.

3). Study Skills and Motivation

The AP Chinese course is rigorous. Students should have strong study habits, time management skills, and a high level of motivation to learn and excel in the course. Actually, this is not only a must for AP Chinese, but for all courses.

Tips for Preparing for the AP Chinese Exam

1). Practice regularly

Consistency is key in language learning. Dedicate time each day to practice various skills like listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

For vocabulary expansion, regularly learn new words and phrases, utilizing tools like flashcards, apps, or online platforms for effective memorization.

Listening skills can be sharpened by engaging with Chinese audio materials, starting with simpler, slower content and gradually progressing to more complex, faster-paced dialogues.

Speaking practice is equally important. Joining language exchange groups or conversation clubs can greatly improve fluency, as regular interaction with native speakers or fellow learners offers practical speaking experience.

2). Use authentic materials

Engage with materials used by native speakers, such as Chinese newspapers, films, TV shows, and podcasts. This exposure helps in understanding real-world language use and cultural nuances.

3). Do more mock exams

Take practice exams to familiarize yourself with the format and time constraints of the AP exam. This helps in identifying areas for improvement and easing your test anxiety.

4). Immerse yourself in Chinese culture

Learn more about Chinese culture, history, and current events, not only from textbooks, but more from media, podcasts, newspapers, movies, etc.

5). Use study guides

Utilize AP Chinese study guides and textbooks that specifically prepare students for the exam format and content.

6). Seek feedback

For a more structured approach, consider working with a professional Chinese tutor. Regularly ask Chinese teachers or native speakers for feedback on your language use, pronunciation, and grammar. This approach is equally effective when it comes to writing.

Recommended platforms for AP Chinese exam preparation

Many platforms provide a range of comprehensive resources and tools beneficial for students preparing for the AP Chinese Language and Culture exam.

• Albert

Albert’s AP Chinese Language exam prep focuses on developing an understanding of Chinese language, culture, and contemporary society. It’s a resource for practicing and enhancing language proficiency along with cultural understanding.

• Stanford Online High School

This site offers a variety of print and online text and audio-visual materials to examine aspects of both traditional and modern Chinese culture. It’s useful for students looking to acquire vocabulary and characters and to sharpen listening, speaking, and composition skills.

• CTY

This resource provides a college-level challenge, covering topics typically found in a university course. It’s geared towards students in Grade 9 and above, offering extensive preparation for the AP Chinese Language and Culture exam.

• Aralia

Aralia focuses on strategies and knowledge necessary to attain a target score on the AP exam. It aids in developing proficiency in reading, translating, speaking, and analyzing Chinese, as well as quickly comprehending and responding to questions.

Recommended books for AP Chinese exam preparation

These books provide comprehensive coverage of the AP curriculum with exercises tailored to exam preparation.

• Integrated Chinese

• Barron’s AP Chinese Language and Culture Premium

• 5 Steps to a 5: AP Chinese Language and Culture

• Strive for a 5: Preparing for the AP Chinese Language and Culture Examination

Final Remarks

The AP Chinese Language and Culture course offers significant value and importance for students. Firstly, it provides an opportunity to earn college credit and achieve advanced standing in universities, potentially saving time and money. Beyond academic benefits, the course significantly enhances language proficiency. Students develop comprehensive skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin Chinese, which is invaluable in an increasingly globalized world.

Furthermore, the course deepens students’ understanding of Chinese culture, history, and societal norms, enriching their cultural knowledge and global awareness. This cultural immersion aids in fostering better communication and understanding in diverse environments. Additionally, mastering Chinese through this course opens doors to various career opportunities in international business, diplomacy, and more, as China plays a pivotal role in global affairs. The AP Chinese course, therefore, not only prepares students academically but also equips them with vital skills and insights for personal and professional growth in a multicultural world.

The post AP Chinese: A Comprehensive Course and Exam Overview appeared first on .

Fortunately, you don’t have to rely on brute memorization to expand your vocabulary and meet your learning goals. You can rely on the writing system’s surprisingly intuitive structure, expertly developed learning strategies, and even more creative approaches to associating characters with their corresponding pronunciations and meanings.

In this article, we’ll look at ways to establish a strong foundation and then build from there to help you develop a vocabulary that is both rich and authentic. While a lot of this content is geared towards helping beginners find their way to get over the initial hurdle of adapting to a new writing system, the learning strategies and resources provided below are suitable for learners of all levels, especially those aiming to expand their vocabulary and enhance their ability to memorize Chinese characters effectively.

• Step One: Learn How the Chinese Writing System Works
• Step Two: Build Your Chinese Vocabulary Through Repeated Exposure and Practice
• Step Three: Test Your Knowledge Regularly
• Key Resources for Learning Chinese Characters

Step One: Learn How the Chinese Writing System Works

The first major step to solving these little puzzles is to understand the different components they’re made of and how those components are arranged. This may sound like a major investment of time and energy, but it’s a lot easier than it seems at first glance.

While we already have a quite comprehensive article on the fundamentals of character structure and how to write them, I really want to emphasize the importance of two common components: radicals and phonetic components.

Radicals, also known as 部首(bùshǒu), are the most essential part of understanding the meaning of characters. Take 女(nǚ) for example; by itself, it means “woman” or “female” but can be combined with other pieces to create words like 妈妈(māmā, mother)，姐姐(jiějiě, older sister)，and 妹妹(mèimèi, younger sister). There are 189 radicals in simplified Chinese, but Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is fluency. You can focus on the most common, most fundamental radicals and still see major payoff in your studies.

The next key piece of the puzzle is phonetic components. Going back to the three words we looked at earlier, you’ll notice the pieces added to the radical, 马(mǎ, horse), 且(qiě, even/moreover), and 未(wèi, not), have nothing to do with the meaning, BUT the pronunciation does match closely or exactly. These phonetic components do not add anything to the definition of the character, but rather they provide a clue to indicate how you should say it out loud.

This is just a taste of what the Chinese writing system looks like when you break it down, but can you already see the mystery of these characters starting to dissipate? If you want to keep going more in-depth, you can also check out these two courses that provide an in-depth overview of the writing system to help you find your footing and become more confident both reading and writing Chinese characters.

Once you feel you have a solid foundation, then it’s time to start building.

Step Two: Build Your Chinese Vocabulary Through Repeated Exposure and Practice

This is the stage where you can start to have more independence when it comes to choosing both the content that you want to study and the strategies you want to use. This is the stage in my own learning journey where I felt lost at sea, adrift with no real direction and nobody to help me. And while I can’t tell you exactly what to study and how, I can provide some of my own insights to set you off on the right path.

Let’s first answer the question of WHAT to study. The answer here is going to look very different depending on your learning level. Quite frankly, for beginners, there’s a very straightforward answer: learn the words that are used most often. Chinese character frequency lists will provide you with the characters you hear most often in daily life, or you can always refer to the classic HSK vocabulary lists.

As you become more advanced and feel confident with the words you hear on a daily basis, you may need to look at specializing based on your own interests and learning goals. For example, if you’ve been learning business Chinese for several years and you plan on putting that knowledge to use working with a software company, then naturally it would serve you to learn the specialized terminology of your field. Or if you don’t have any professional aspirations, you can merely focus on areas of interest. If you’re a literature fanatic, then you may even choose to learn some archaic Chinese words to help you understand classical works and poetry. The only limit here is your imagination.

Next comes an even bigger question. Once you have a list of words you want to learn, HOW do you learn them without feeling like your brain is completely overloaded? The first key is based on the Chengyu 锲而不舍(qiè ér bù shě)，persevere, and keep chipping away at it. The second key is to find the learning strategies that work for you.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways to make memorizing Chinese characters easier.

– Strategy 1: Flashcards and Spaced Repetition

We all know them, and we all have a love-hate relationship with them. Flashcards have remained one of the most common strategies for character memorization because they allow you to quickly check whether or not you can remember the meaning of a character. It’s also quite easy to find a spare 10 minutes for flashcards as opposed to sitting down for an intensive study session.

However, just doing flashcards doesn’t always guarantee results. It’s also hard to know how many times you should study a card before moving on, and what happens if you forget a word that you previously studied? This is where the concept of spaced repetition comes in.

Spaced repetition is an evidence-based study technique that is used by linguists, medical professionals, law school students, and more. This system is based around the concept of studying new terms more frequently and familiar terms less frequently. It focuses your attention on the words that are less familiar but still prompts you to return to words that you’ve already study, which strengthens your recall and makes you less likely to forget it.

While spaced repetition systems (SRS) can be difficult to manage with hand-made flashcards, many popular flashcard apps, such as Anki, already have an SRS baked into their code, making this strategy readily accessible to anyone.

– Strategy 2: Visual Cues

Do you consider yourself a visual learner? Then why not take advantage of the fact that many Chinese characters are based on pictograms. Radicals such as 口(kǒu) and 目(mù) pictorially represent the mouth and eyes, so they serve as visual cues to remind you of the meaning of words like 喝(hē, to drink) and 眼睛(yǎnjing, eyes). I’ve always found that making visual associations strengthens my memory more than anything else.

You can choose to draw these connections by yourself during your regular reading and writing practice, or you can do intentional visual association using an established guide, like Chineasy, designed to help visual learners memorize characters more effectively.

– Strategy 3: Storytelling and Mnemonics

Another strategy that is based around making external connections is storytelling. By creating a narrative around a new word, it can help you more effectively remember its meaning and importance in the language. You don’t have to write a novel. Even just writing a few short sentences can help your brain grasp a foreign term more strongly and more quickly.

This strategy is extremely effective for learning Chengyu, four-character idiomatic phrases that are often based on traditional fables. Learning the story behind these complex expressions makes a world of difference, and it’s truly inspiring to be able to learn more about Chinese history and culture while also expanding your practical knowledge of the language.

Mnemonic devices are a slightly more abstract strategy to remember the pronunciation and meaning of characters. These are often personal ideas or opinions that we assign to a specific character because it helps us recall more effectively and faster. Let’s look at one example together. I’ve been trying to learn the word 单独(dāndú, alone, singlehanded), and I have a coworker named Dan who recently quit. So now, when I see this character, I think of the fact that due to Dan, I now need to handle my work alone.

Personally, I have mixed feelings about this strategy because sometimes it can be very difficult to find a way to meaningfully link a character to a phrase in my native language. However, when you do find a solid mnemonic device, it can be extremely effective in helping you recognize the character later on.

– Strategy 4: Learning in Context

Sometimes the most effective way to pick up new terms is through learning on the job, which means learning new characters when you come across them while reading. Many linguists would say that this lines up with the strategy called Comprehensible Input, which is currently one of the most popular methods of learning a new language.

The reason why learning in context is so important is that it exposes you to the characters you will need most often in your day-to-day life, plus it adds additional insights about the word’s usage and cultural implications. Learning characters in isolation can teach you how to recognize and write them, but learning through real-life scenarios will help you turn passive understanding into active usage, which has a much higher impact on your fluency.

This strategy is one of the easiest to implement into your studies because it can be applied to any scenario where you are reading Chinese characters as part of a larger story or conversation, such as texting friends, reading books or manhua, and browsing social media.

When you come across a character that you don’t recognize, it’s important that you take note of its structure and components, plus the pronunciation and meaning. Thankfully, many popular reading apps like MandarinBean, DuChinese allow you to see a word’s pinyin and definition by tapping on it, or you can install a browser extension that will allow you to do the same on any website.

Step Three: Test Your Knowledge Regularly

No matter how you choose to go about memorizing characters, you need to ensure that you’re actually retaining the knowledge over time if you want to get the maximum benefit. There are a few different ways you can go about testing to see if you really remember all those words you studied.

– Test 1: Reading Comprehension

The first test is the easiest because reading only relies on recognizing characters and remembering their meaning. If you’re studying HSK-related vocabulary, then look at reading materials or mock tests that are aimed at your current level (or the one above!) and see if you are able to read through a passage smoothly, or if you feel like you’re hitting speedbumps in every sentence. Perhaps some words come back to you immediately, others you can figure out by looking at them for a minute, and some won’t come back to you at all. If you want to give yourself a grade, you can count how many characters fall into each of those three categories, but I find that you can most often intuitively get a sense of your performance just by going through the passage.

– Test 2: Written Expression

Now comes the real challenge. Can you both think of the character you want to use and then remember how to write it? If you’ve been studying vocabulary around a specific topic, such as how to order food, writing business emails, or describing a movie you saw, you can try to write a short paragraph or dialogue to demonstrate your knowledge. This will not only reinforce your knowledge of characters but also all of the grammar points you have studied. Don’t worry if you can write fewer characters than you can recognize, that’s completely natural and is even true of native speakers.

If you want to try this test but feel like your writing skills aren’t up to par, you can also consider typing your text. Different typing input methods can test your character recognition in different ways, such as inputs based on pronunciation, radicals, or stroke order. It isn’t as rigorous as handwriting everything, but it will still allow you to see if you’re retaining the information that you studied.

Key Resources for Learning Chinese Characters

Having the right tools to support your practice can often make the difference between finding success or falling short. This is a curated collection of apps, books, and courses designed to boost your Chinese vocabulary in ways that are extremely helpful, streamlined, and fun.

DigMandarin’s Chinese Character Courses

These courses are an extremely valuable resource for any student looking to familiarize themselves with the fundamentals of Chinese characters. I found that the instructor broke down complex concepts into digestible pieces, allowing me to learn without feeling overwhelmed. They’re also extremely affordable, and the format allowed me to access the course when it was convenient for me.

Pleco

Pleco is by far the best Chinese dictionary app you will ever use. It offers an extremely comprehensive database of terms and phrases. You can also use any input method you want: Chinese, English, Pinyin, handwriting, or simply taking a picture. Certain add-ons can be purchased to add additional features, such as a flashcard system, but they are very low-cost and are a one-time purchase instead of an ongoing subscription.

Anki

Anki is an extremely well-known SRS (spaced repetition system) app used to create and manage flashcard decks. While its interface is still stuck in the 90s, it can be learned fairly quickly and lends itself to being used creatively. You can create your own flashcards and add supplements like audio and images to improve retention, or you can download existing flashcard decks created by other users. I’m currently using this extensive HSK 3.0 vocabulary deck, which includes writing and stroke order practice.

Chineasy

This series originally hit the scene as a book with an innovative take on learning Chinese characters through drawings, and it now one of the most popular methods for learning characters intuitively. They also now have an app that makes it even more accessible.

Du Chinese

This app was a key piece for me when it came to learning characters in context. The interface is extremely intuitive, and it makes reading practice more engaging by offering a huge variety of content at different HSK levels. The premium subscription is quite expensive, but the free version is still very high quality.

Mandarin Bean

The website offers graded reading material organized by HSK levels, all available for free. Each article features a variety of types, including news, business, stories, fun, and culture, among others. The selection of vocabulary lists tailored to each level is an exceptionally convenient method to learn words that match your proficiency. Engaging and progressively challenging content ensures a stimulating and effective learning experience.

Final Thoughts

Learning a new language can be a daunting task, let alone tackling a new writing system with its own extensive history and specific nuances. However, many have treaded this path before you and are ready to offer their expertise and tips to help you navigate the language with both curiosity and a hunger for learning.

Characters are the most basic foundation of the Chinese language, and learning them, especially how to memorize Chinese characters, is a unique task that challenges your brain to think in new ways. We are all unique individuals, and we learn in different ways. I invite you to try the strategies laid out in this article and see if they spark something new for you. It may just be the thing that ignites your passion.

The post Rise to the Challenge: How to Memorize Chinese Characters Like A Pro appeared first on .

Introduction

Why has tutoring shifted to online in recent years?

During the past three years, due to the effects of Covid, lots of language learners have switched from offline to online schooling. Yet, along with the easing of various restrictions in most areas, some learners have gone back to offline learning again, but most of them have decided to remain online. The same is true for Chinese language learning.

It’s easy to understand why an adult learner would choose online learning now. It’s more convenient and flexible. Learners can have their Chinese class out of town, even in other countries. It’s up to the learners to decide when to hold the class, such as during their lunch or early coffee break. And, especially for Chinese, there are few choices for parents and children to learn offline in their own town. If they want professional Chinese tutoring, they would prefer a native professional tutor. Online tutors come into their sights.

What are parent’s concerns with online tutoring?

But many parents are still worried if online tutoring is effective or sufficient for their children.

Children have their own needs and learning paces. Especially for younger kids, it’s a little hard to keep them facing a screen for a long time. After half an hour, they easily lose focus. And many parents don’t want their kids to have so much screen time in a day. No wonder why so many parents have concerns about online tutoring.

Actually, it depends on which subject they are taking. If it’s sports or playground activities, it’s really hard to keep it online. But if we are talking about language learning, then online tutoring is quite a viable choice.

The pros and cons

The benefits of learning Chinese with an online tutor

1. Online class schedules are often much more flexible than offline. You can decide when to take the class and adjust the schedule as you need.
2. No matter where the students are, the class can still be held. Parents don’t need to bring their children to the classroom. It’s quite time-saving. Without the added time of dropping and picking up kids from a physical classroom, parents’ have more time on their hands.   
3. It’s more convenient and easier to find a native professional Chinese teacher online who suits your children’s needs.
4. Online Chinese classes are affordable. It’s often much cheaper than offline classes.
5. Audio and video content online can be very enjoyable.
6. It’s okay to record online classes. Children can review the class again or practice any time after class at home.
7. If parents want, they are free to observe and be around when children take online classes in case they get distracted. Parents can also monitor the lesson quality..
8. With private online tutors, the study plan can be very personalized. They can even help with school homework or other special Chinese language requirements.

Potential issues of learning Chinese with an online tutor

1. During school years, children need more interaction with peers. Classroom time can provide them with a neutral environment for social interaction and real communication. If the class goes online, then real-life interactions get harder.
2. Online language classes need a quiet place and a stable internet connection. If you can’t assure these basic requirements, then your children cannot learn as easily.
3. For younger kids, it’s easy to get bored or distracted if the online class is not very appealing to them. And sometimes the tutor can’t find out what they are thinking or doing immediately.
4. Too much screen time is not ideal or healthy for children.
5. Children have an easier time developing a relationship with offline tutors, which may help cultivate enthusiasm for learning. But online tutors it may take a long time and a lot of patience to get the same result.

What to pay attention to when choosing an online tutor or class

It truly depends on what your needs are and what circumstances you are in. For children, if you are able to keep learning in a classroom, that would be terrific. They need more interactions and lessons with language partners and tutors. In addition to social interaction skills such as cooperation, empathy, and leadership, if you focus more on the language learning itself, then here are some tips.

1. You need to verify the teacher’s credentials

What is the tutor’s teaching experience? How long have they been teaching Chinese? Have they taught children before? Is this tutor familiar with online teaching? Does this tutor have related Mandarin teaching degrees and certifications? Are they a native mandarin Chinese speaker?

Check out more detailed suggestions to help you find an excellent Chinese teacher: How to Find a Really Good Chinese Teacher to Guide Your Learning

2. Make sure your children are learning content that fits their language skills and level

If your children are beyond the current classroom level, then they might be very comfortable in the lessons, but the problem is that it’s hard to continue progressing and keep going. On the contrary, if your children are learning content beyond their own level, then it’s very easy to get tired of learning the language, and they may lack confidence. Private tutoring can help with this problem. No matter whether you want an online tutor or an offline tutor, the right teacher can make a very personalized study plan, which will help your children to progress at the right speed.    

3. The tutor’s ratings and reviews are very important

Ratings and reviews from other students and organizations are very important for you to consider. The tutor’s reliability, patience, clarity, and accuracy are the factors you should pay the most attention to.

Some online schools have their top recommended tutors. You can ask for their professional advice and tell them your biggest needs. These schools often have various tutors who have different strong points which could help them adapt to each child’s special requirements. 

If your friends have Chinese tutors for their children who have excellent feedback, then don’t hesitate to ask for their recommendation. Feel free to ask your friends about your concerns.  

4. An independent freelance teacher VS A teacher who works for a school

Thanks to the internet, there are countless options for you all around the world when you want something, and it’s the same with Chinese tutors. There are mainly two kinds of teachers online.

One is working as a freelancer who often posts themself on language exchange websites, such as italki, preply, verbalplanet, etc. Teaching Chinese is often their part-time job or hobby. Most of them are Chinese native speakers. Some of them also have professional Chinese language teaching certifications, some don’t. They are often quite flexible, but you need to book the class every single time. If you are looking for a spoken Chinese partner, then this is a good choice. You can communicate a different native speaker in every single class. And some of them are with quite low cost. If you have limited access to Chinese immersion, this can help teach more about Chinese people. 

The other is working for an online language school and is often a professional mandarin Chinese teacher with rich teaching experience. The schools often have free trial classes so that learners can find a good fit, but after that, you can’t only buy one class at a time. There are often different class packages, and you’ll need to ask for more details about the school’s class services. The advantages are obvious: parents don’t need to worry about the class plan, reliability, and consistency. It’s easy for parents to communicate with the teacher and administers and keep track of their children’s progress.

Learning Mandarin Online: Teacher Vs. School

5. Online live class VS Recorded video class

When choosing online tutoring, you may find that there are not only one-on-one live Chinese tutors, but also systematically recorded video classes. Generally speaking, recorded video classes can be a supplement for children. It’s okay for reviewing or practicing content after class. Live class tutors are more suitable for children since the real tutor can draw their attention instantly and have more interactions during the class. The tutor can adjust the lesson content and teaching style along with the children’s feedback. If there are any questions or problems that come up, the tutor can explain immediately.  

Chinese learning resources for kids

Amazing Books for Kids Learning Chinese

In addition to a Chinese tutor, Chinese learning materials are also very essential and necessary. For kids, learning materials need to meet higher requirements and different needs, for example if it’s informative, entertaining, appealing, suitable, etc. It has to guarantee that kids won’t be bored while acquiring the language knowledge.  

YCT (Youth Chinese Test)

YCT is the Youth Chinese Test, which was launched to encourage young second language learners to learn Chinese and test their current proficiency. You can find the corresponding test structure, learning books, vocabulary list, sample tests and other resources you may need here.  

GCSE / IGCSE Chinese

If you are based in the UK, Singapore, Canada, Australia, or India, then GCSE and IGCSE are there for your children to develop their Chinese skills and understand Chinese culture. There are more details about the assessment themes and intros here.  

Chinese Flashcards for kids

Chinese songs for kids

Chinese poems for kids

These Chinese word flashcards, songs, and poems are all supplemental learning materials for kids. These materials can be an introduction to the Chinese language, which might help motivate their passion for learning or broaden their understanding and interest in this language and culture.   

Parental Strategies in Supporting Their Children to Learn Chinese

You can never just leave the children to their tutors only. Parents are always the key to children’s studies. When it comes to learning the Chinese language, some parents feel lost and confused about tutoring and parenting. They have no idea where to start and how to deal with their studies. There are also some parental strategies for you to support your kids’ learning.

Conclusion

As with the world becomes more and more digitized, it’s inevitable to let internet-based learning step into your children’s study, no matter whether it’s the main method or just a supplement. For Chinese language learning, online tutoring is a great opportunity to meet professional native teachers from all around the world, which opens your choices widely. The variety of learning materials online can enrich their learning content and broaden their knowledge too. Learning with an online Chinese tutor is more effective and convenient than you may have thought. To cater to children’s learning needs and their special requirements, it’s best to use online and offline learning resources together.

Common online class expressions (PDF download)

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• What is the BCT?
• Why should I take the BCT?
• BCT levels and content
  • The BCT(A) structure
  • The BCT(B) structure
  • The BCT (Oral iBT) structure
  • BCT, HSK and YCT
• How to register for the BCT?
• BCT dates and registration deadlines
• BCT passing scores and report
• How to prepare for the BCT?
• Conclusion

What is the BCT?

The Business Chinese Test (BCT) is an internationally standardized test designed to assess the Chinese language proficiency of non-native Chinese speakers in business-related communications or working environments. The BCT focuses on real business settings, and its content pertains more to practical language use, rather than professional business knowledge.

Why should I take the BCT?

As a standardized test, the BCT can provide several intuitive benefits, as follows:

• Improving employment opportunities: If you plan to work in a Chinese-speaking business environment, taking the BCT can help you stand out as a qualified candidate. More and more companies and organizations require Chinese language proficiency and may prefer or require candidates with a BCT certificate.
• Demonstrating proficiency in Chinese and business communication: The BCT assesses practical language skills necessary for conducting business, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. By taking the test and achieving a high score, you can demonstrate both your language proficiency and your ability to communicate effectively in a business setting.
• Improving business relationships: In preparation for doing business with Chinese companies or clients, taking the BCT can help you better understand Chinese business practices, communication styles, and cultural norms. This can not only enhance your language skills and cultural awareness, but also help you more easily engage with Chinese people, ultimately building stronger relationships.

BCT levels and content

The BCT is made up of two independent parts: a writing test and a speaking test. The writing test is divided into two levels: the BCT (A) and the BCT (B).

 The BCT(A) Structure

The BCT (A) is conducted on paper or online. It includes three sections: listening, reading, and writing. The test consists of 70 questions in total and is based on a reference vocabulary of 600 words.

*The entire test will take approximately 70 minutes, including 5 minutes for filling out personal information.

Description:

• Listening：

Part 1: 10 questions. Each clip is played twice. Test takers should determine whether the words or phrases heard match the pictures provided.

Part 2: 10 questions. Each clip is played twice. Test takers will listen to a sentence and should then choose the corresponding picture from three options. Part 3: 10 questions. Each clip is played twice. Test takers will listen to a short dialogue and should then choose the corresponding answer from three options.

• Reading:

Part 1: 10 questions. For the first 5 questions, test takers are provided with a few sentences or a short dialogue, and they should choose the correct answer to complete the sentence. For the remaining 5 questions, there are 5 blanks in a chart or short essay, and test takers should choose the correct options to fill them.

Part 2: 20 questions. Test takers will be provided with reading materials, such as pictures, charts, short paragraphs, or articles. Each example will have one to three corresponding questions. Each question will have three answer options to choose from.

• Writing:

10 questions. Test takers should write the correct Chinese characters based on the Pinyin provided in each sentence.

The BCT(B) structure

BCT (B) is conducted on paper or online. It includes three sections: listening, reading, and writing. It consists of 92 questions in total and is based on a reference vocabulary of 4,000 words.

* The entire test takes approximately 145 minutes, including 5 minutes for filling out personal information.

Description:

• Listening：

Part 1: 20 questions. Each question is based on a two-sentence dialogue, which is played once. Test takers should choose the correct answer from four options.

Part 2: 15 questions. Each question is based on a four-sentence dialogue, which is played once. Test takers should choose the correct answer from four options.

Part 3: 15 questions. There are five dialogues, each played once. After each dialogue, several questions will be provided, and test takers should choose the corresponding answer from four options.

• Reading:

Part 1: 20 questions. Test takers will be provided with reading material, such as  a picture, chart, paragraph, or article. Each example will have several questions. Test takers should choose the correct answer from four options for each question.

Part 2: 10 questions. This section contains two short articles with five blanks each. Test takers should choose the correct answers based on the context from seven sentences provided under each article.

Part 3: 10 questions. Four examples and several questions or sentences will be provided. Test takers should match the questions or sentences with the corresponding materials.

• Writing:

2 questions. In the first part, test takers must write a short article of at least 80 characters according to the provided materials and requirements. In the second part, test takers must write a short article of at least 150 characters based on the provided materials and requirements.

The BCT (Oral iBT) Structure

The BCT (Oral iBT) is a language proficiency test designed to evaluate the speaking ability of non-native speakers of Chinese. It is conducted entirely online and is based on a reference vocabulary of 4000 words.

Test takers are provided with a detailed report of their speaking proficiency, which can be used to assess their language skills for academic, professional, or personal purposes.

Description:

Part 1: 4 questions. Each clip can be heard once, with an additional opportunity to rehear. For each clip, there is a question and a corresponding picture. Test takers should answer the question based on the picture.

Part 2: 4 questions. Each clip can be heard once, with an additional opportunity to rehear. Test takers should answer each question according to the requirements of each clip.

Part 3: 3 questions. Each clipcan be heard once, with an additional opportunity to rehear. For each clip, there is a situational illustration and a requirement or question, along with a picture. Test takers should answer based on the picture.

Part 4: 3 questions. Each clip can be heard once, with an additional opportunity to rehear. For each clip, there is a background illustration and a requirement or question. Test takers should answer based on the requirements.

Part 5: 1 question. It can be heard once, with an additional opportunity to rehear. For this part, there is a background illustration and a requirement or question, along with four pictures. Test takers should answer based on these pictures.

BCT, HSK and YCT

This information is a helpful reference for individuals planning to take the BCT test. The BCT levels align with the HSK and YCT levels as follows:

* the BCT(A) is aimed at the elementary level, while the BCT(B) is oriented towards intermediate and advanced levels.

It is important to note that while there is some overlap in the vocabulary between the BCT and HSK/YCT, there are also business-related words that are unique to the BCT and do not appear in any other test.

How to register for the BCT?

Before registering for the BCT, it is important to know the test date and location. You can visit the official website to check the updated schedule and location of testing centers where the BCT will be conducted.

2024 BCT dates and registration deadlines

There are two ways to register:

• Register in a local test center according to its own requirements.
• Register online on the official website as follows:

Please note that:

• Online registration is managed by local test centers. In some cases, this function is not available and visiting the center in person to register is the only option
• The test fee varies in different locations
• Keep your registration ticket safe for future use
• Contact your local test center ahead of time to obtain precise details

BCT passing scores and report

There is no exact passing score for the BCT, but test takers will receive a report that shows their score for each skill and total score, along with a corresponding description of their capabilities. The score report is usually available within a month, although in some places it may take longer.

For the BCT(A) and BCT(B), the total maximum score is 300.

BCT(A) Score Structure

BCT(B) Score Structure

For the BCT (Oral iBT), the total maximum score is 500.

BCT (Oral iBT) Score Structure

Note that you can check your results on the official website’s homepage by entering your registration ticket number and name.

How to prepare for the BCT?

As the building blocks of language, words are crucial for success in an exam like the BCT. To prepare, you should first focus on mastering business-related vocabulary. However, with so many words to learn, it is important to quickly filter out words you already know and focus on unfamiliar words or those with multiple meanings.

To be successful, practice is essential. Once you have mastered the necessary vocabulary, you can try various methods to practice, such as watching Chinese dramas and videos related to business, practicing with Chinese-speaking colleagues, or taking BCT mock exams.

Watching dramas and videos is a particularly effective way to become familiar with Chinese business practices, communication styles, and cultural norms in an engaging and enjoyable way. For those taking the BCT(A) exam, dramas may be too challenging, but there are many short business-related videos online that can help you practice listening and speaking skills.

Here are some Chinse dramas and practice videos to get you started:

• 《理想之城》The Ideal City
• 《玫瑰之战》Rose War
• 《猎场》Game of Hunting
• 高级商务中文 Advanced Business Chinese
• Business Mandarin For Beginners 2019 Part 1
• Business Mandarin for Beginners 2019 Part 2

Since the BCT evaluates language ability in a business setting, practicing what you have learned while at work can be extremely helpful. By being immersed in a business context, you can receive real-time feedback when using new vocabulary and phrases, helping you correct mistakes and reinforcing your understanding of these terms until you have a good grasp of them.

Mock tests are crucial for any exam, as they not only help you become familiar with the structure, style, and question types in advance, but they also provide an opportunity to simulate the exam environment and time constraints. The more you know about BCT, the more comfortable you will be during the actual exam.

Here are two mock tests for the BCT:

• BCT(A) PDF with audio
• BCT(B) PDF with audio

In addition to studying independently, signing up for formal BCT lessons with a professional teacher can be highly beneficial. With an organized course and an experienced guide, you can focus on the areas where you need more help and receive precise feedback on your progress.

Here are some related Business Chinese culture and books for you to prepare:

• Recommended Business Chinese Textbooks For Different Levels
• Top 100 Common Business Chinese Phrases & Expressions
• 12 Tips for Chinese Business Etiquette and Culture
• 12 Essential Phrases to Speak Professional Business Chinese in a Social Setting
• Business Chinese: Essential Mandarin Expressions for Online Meetings

Conclusion

Now that you have all the information you need on the BCT, it’s up to you to choose an appropriate level and get started. If this is all new to you, don’t worry. Just get the ball rolling and keep practicing. Progress will come naturally. If you aim high and put in the work, you will become a Chinese-speaking business pro. Best of luck!

References：

1. 官网: 汉语考试服务网 (chinesetest.cn)
2. 商务汉语考试BCT(A)大纲
3. 商务汉语考试BCT(B)大纲
4. 商务汉语考试BCT(口语)大纲

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Topic 1

“I’m still a bit hesitant to practice speaking.”

“Not spent so much time trying to learn EVERY single 汉字 I came across. And less time actually learning how to listen and speak.”

Editor’s opinions:

Many learners have been learning a language for a period of time, and it’s easy to forget that the goal of mastering a language is communication. They struggled with some details and factors of learning the whole language. Although some of those factors are essential and necessary, such as characters, tones and intonations, vocabulary, etc., you can’t ignore practicing speaking and listening. After some time, you might find that even though you have lots of grammar rules or character writing skills in mind, you still can’t talk with people in Chinese. You might even doubt yourself, wondering why you have spent so much time and energy on this language when you can’t actually use it in daily life with people. So, never forget to leave enough time to practice speaking and listening from the very beginning. It will bring you more confidence and determination to keep learning this language.

But how do you improve Chinese speaking and listening skills?

1). Speak out loud and frequently.

Talk to your Chinese friends, coworkers, or classmates in Chinese. Chase every opportunity you have to speak in your target language. You have no idea how precious it is that you can talk to native speakers since many learners have no one around them. They have to pay tutors to speak and listen.

If you have a Chinese teacher, that’s perfect. Try to avoid English when you are with your teacher. They know how to help you practice in a professional and efficient way.

Speaking of this, if you don’t know anyone who can talk with you in Chinese, try to get language exchange partners through apps and websites. Create a language environment for yourself.

2). Never be shy or fear making mistakes.

Try every new word and phrase you’ve just learned while chatting. It’s a great chance to know if you are using them correctly. If you are corrected face to face, be cheerful! You will remember this word for quite a long time or forever, which means you’ve nailed it. No one would laugh at you, especially native Chinese speakers. If you know one, you will find out that native speakers are more patient and tolerant than you might have thought. Don’t be afraid of asking“什么？” or “你可以再说一遍吗？” It’s okay to ask for it. And when you get used to listening to them in Chinese, your listening skills will improve quickly before you even notice.

3). Compare yourself to your old self, rather than classmates.

Even though you are learning in the same class as others, you may find that they are beyond your level. They might have learned this language a long time ago, which makes them seem gifted at learning this language. But your learning goal is not being better than your classmates or others, but mastering the Chinese language. So just look at yourself, if you are doing better than yesterday. Be more patient with your own progress. In the end, you will reach your finish line.

Related reading:

• Chinese Speaking Practice Guide for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced learners
• Chinese Listening Practice Guide for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Learners

Topic 2

“I feel like I should have focused more on writing and grammar rather than vocabulary building.”

“Paid more attention to elementary level grammar. “

Editor’s opinions:

Grammar matters. Even though you have memorized thousands of vocabulary words, you can’t produce meaningful full sentences without grammar rules. Grammar is like the architectural blueprint, while vocabulary is the bricks and tiles. There are 210 grammar points at the elementary level, 214 grammar points at the intermediate level, and 148 grammar points at the advanced level in the New HSK. Obviously, the elementary level and intermediate level cover about 80% of Chinese grammar. The more you have learned, the more you will find that the most commonly used grammar rules are from the beginning level, rather than the high level. So even if you just started learning Chinese, do not think that you can leave grammar for the future. Constantly learning from the very beginning can build a firm foundation. And it will ease your future study burden.

Related reading:

• All grammar points
• The New HSK: An Overview and What’s Changed

Topic 3

“Honestly, I should have focused more on pronunciation at the start, but I didn’t really have any money at the time to hire a professional teacher and (very obviously) was not able to figure it out on my own. Leading to me later having to fix some pronunciation issues.”

Editor’s opinions:

When you can converse about some basic daily topics with Chinese people, you may find that they seem to understand all you want to say, even though your pronunciation may not be correct. Is pronunciation so important? Do tones matter? The answer is definitely positive. The daily topics are limited, such as the weather, the time, simple greetings, food, holidays, home countries, etc. For these basic casual chats, native speakers can easily figure out what you want to say. And it might make you feel like “I’m good enough.” The truth is, if you want to go any deeper or more complex in your conversations, they might get lost in your speaking.

At some point when you look back, you just recall that “z/c/s”, “zh/ch/sh” or “j/q/x” really can make big differences in speaking. The four tones and the light tone can easily twist your meanings without noticing. The acquisition of pronunciation is a process of constant intensified practice in speaking and listening. There is a phenomenon called fossilization in linguistics. When you get used to the wrong pronunciation, it is very hard to correct, or you need to make a hundred times the effort to alter them. In most cases, learners get discouraged and feel frustrated when confronted with misunderstanding and confusing faces. Then they don’t want to continue anymore. After all, just a few of us have the courage and patience to start all over again. So, don’t mess around with your beginning pronunciation practice.

There are many online Chinese language videos and courses. Many learners can learn through them until the intermediate-high level. It’s convenient since you can learn Chinese anytime, anywhere for as many times as you want. However, speaking is a bit special among all the essential skills. It needs instant feedback to know if you are doing well.

So, if you can have a real tutor to coach your pronunciation from the beginning, that would be perfect. You are walking on the shortest path. But, if you don’t have the time or money for it, don’t worry. There are many great fundamental pronunciation video courses and drills online. You can learn by yourself at first. Watch and practice them again and again. When you are done halfway or the whole way, book a session with a professional Chinese teacher to analyze your pronunciation and give you suggestions for improvement. You will know what your weaknesses are and how to strengthen them.

Just remember, the later you start, the more effort you need to make.

Related reading:

• Chinese Pronunciation: The Complete Guide for Beginner
• 5 Practical Tips to Find the Best Online Chinese Tutor

Conclusion:

But note that, this is not to say that other essential skills are not important or could be given up. All speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary skills are very fundamental and indispensable. The time allocation is flexible and varies on your current learning state. It’s a game of how to plan your learning time smartly and practically. So, it’s important to know when you need to focus more on certain areas than others. You may wonder, what if I just don’t know it? Check your quiz paper! That’s the easiest way to know which part you need to improve more. Or more directly, just ask your teacher. I believe they will be more than happy to help you analyze your learning plan.

You are more than welcome to share your own experience and tips with other learners about what you wish you would have done when you started learning Chinese. Let us know!

The post Things I wish I could’ve done differently when I started learning Chinese appeared first on .

1. Take Chinese Classes

Never doubt the power of a good teacher and regular Chinese lessons. Having Chinese lessons weekly or even more often will also keep you accountable for studying and practicing your Chinese regularly. As they say, practice really does make perfect.

If your teacher follows the HSK or another curriculum, this will also be a good way to measure your progress. You can use the textbook or mock HSK exams to gauge how your fluency in Chinese is improving.

I highly recommend that you check around for a school or private teacher that meets your needs and style and start studying. You will want to make sure you choose a good Chinese teacher！

2. Get a (one-sided) language partner

Do not fall into the trap of a language exchange. Often, speaking Chinese part of the time and another language for the rest of the time means that neither you nor your language exchange partner will improve very much.

Instead, find someone who is willing to speak only Chinese with you. This will ensure that you will have plenty of opportunities to speak Chinese, make mistakes, and learn from them.

Having a language partner also gives you a safe space in which you can practice new vocabulary and grammar that you learned in your Chinese classes.

3. Immersion!

Yes, you have almost certainly heard the immersion recommendation before. However, I do not mean simply traveling to China. I mean full-on, total immersion. For everything you do, do it in Chinese.

Listening to music? Choose Chinese songs. Want to watch some Netflix? Pick a Chinese series. Reading a book? Pick up a Chinese one for your level. Even try changing your phone settings into Chinese if you are feeling brave enough!

If you are already located in China, avoid going to areas that are popular among foreigners. If you go to spend time where all the foreigners in your city hang out, you will inevitably end up speaking a language other than Chinese, which will certainly not help you achieve your goal of Chinese fluency.  It may be difficult at first to speak to strangers completely in Chinese, but if you try your best, you will find that people are friendly and often very happy to chat with you.

If you see other opportunities in your life where you can use Chinese, go ahead and make the switch. The more you immerse yourself in a Chinese environment, the more your Chinese fluency will increase.

4. Take notes

Remember all the Chinese music, television, books, and friends you will be immersing yourself with? Make sure to keep a notebook and pen on hand to jot down the new information you come across.

Do not trust yourself to remember every new word or phrase you encounter; there will be too many, and you will forget them all very quickly.

This also means it is very important that you learn how to handwrite Chinese characters.

Review your notes at the end of the day or go through them at the end of the week and practice the new Chinese words or grammar structures with your Chinese teacher or language partner for maximum retention.

5. Be consistent

People can often underestimate the power of consistency when it comes to achieving fluency in a language, especially Chinese.

Staying consistent with your studies means that you will constantly be progressing and improving. Some days you might be able to do more, and some days you might do less, but the trick is to keep Chinese fresh in your mind.

Even if you do not have a lot of time in which to learn Chinese, make sure that you are studying and reviewing at least a little bit every day. It is important to keep your brain primed and in learning mode.

If you are struggling to find motivation to study Chinese consistently, you want to consider some more ways in which you can integrate Chinese into your daily life.

6. Don’t give up

Learning a language can be difficult, and Chinese is definitely not a language for the faint of heart!

There will be days when you speak Chinese with little to no difficulty. On those days, you will feel unbeatable! However, there will also be days when you struggle to string a sentence together, even with words you mastered long ago.

This is a natural phenomenon and to be expected during the language-learning process. It will take determination and a stiff upper lip to power through the hard days.

The difficult days may be disappointing, but if you remember that there will be ups and downs along the way, it will help you to push through the tough times. Eventually, the hard days will grow fewer and farther between, and those moments of triumph will happen more and more often as you become more fluent in Chinese.

These are some of the tricks that helped me achieve fluency in Chinese. While there is still a lot that I do not know when it comes to Chinese, I am continuing to use these methods to improve and maintain my Chinese fluency.

If you can take Chinese lessons, get a language partner, immerse yourself completely, and take notes on all you learn, you are certain to see an improvement in your fluency in Chinese. If you can only do one or two of these suggestions, that is also fine.

What is most important is to stay consistent in your studies and never give up! Now get out there and get fluent!

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First of all, what is the HSKK?

The HSKK stands for “Hànyǔ shuǐpíng kǒuyǔ kǎoshì (汉语水平口语考试)”, which means “Chinese Speaking Test”. This exam is a standardized test that evaluates students’ spoken Chinese abilities. The HSKK is divided into three levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced).

This is different from the regular HSK exam, which is the “Hànyǔ shuǐpíng kǎoshì (汉语水平考试)”. The regular HSK exam is a written exam divided into six levels, with HSK 1 being the lowest and HSK 6 the highest.

Note: While both exams are organized by the Hanban, the HSKK is a not just the “speaking section” of the HSK. The HSKK is a separate exam, and you will need to register for it separately if you want to take it. You do not need to take the HSK in order to take the HSKK.

Why should I take the HSKK?

If you are applying to a Chinese university or a job that requires you to speak Mandarin often, having an HSKK certificate will set your application apart from the rest. Some universities and workplaces may even require foreign candidates to hold an HSKK certification, in addition to the HSK.

Even if you are not applying for a university or job, you may want to take the HSKK just to measure your progress. Sometimes it is not always easy to see how far your own Chinese has progressed, and the HSKK can be a useful tool to measure how much progress you have made in your studies.

From Jan 2023, if you take the HSK （Chinese Proficiency Test）test in China (including the mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), the HSKK (Chinese Proficiency Speaking Test) has to be completed at the same time. This new change has revealed that the speaking part in Chinese proficiency tests is now valued more than ever. You can no longer prefer writing and reading over speaking. It will gradually become a must when evaluating your Chinese level.

HSKK Exam Levels and Content

HSKK Beginner

The Beginner HSKK exam is 17 minutes long. There are 27 questions in total, making up three sections of the exam.

Section 1 is four minutes long and comprised of 15 questions, in which you must listen to a recording and repeat the sentence back (听后重复).

Section 2 is three minutes long and comprised of 10 questions, in which you must listen to a question and respond appropriately (听后回答).

Section 3 is three minutes long and consists of two open-ended response questions (回答问题). Students must answer both questions with at least five sentences for each answer.

Chinese characters are not required.

HSKK Intermediate

The Intermediate level is 21 minutes long (this includes 10 minutes of preparation time). There are 14 questions in total, making up three sections of the exam.

Section 1 is three minutes long and comprised of four questions, in which you listen to a recording and repeat it back (听后重复).

Section 2 is four minutes long and comprised of two questions, in which you describe an image (看图说话).

Section 3 is four minutes long and consists of two open-ended response questions (回答问题).

Again, Chinese characters are not required.

HSKK Advanced

The Advanced level takes 24 minutes (this again includes 10 minutes of preparation time) and is broken into three sections.

Section 1 is seven minutes long and consists of three questions in which you listen to a recording and repeat it back (听后重复).

Section 2 is two minutes long and consists of reading a single passage aloud (朗读).

Section 3 is five minutes long and consists of two open-ended response questions (回答问题).

What HSKK level should I take?

According to the Hanban, the Beginner HSKK is suitable for students who know around 200 common words and who can hold basic conversations on a variety of daily topics. This level is suitable for HSK 1 and HSK 2 students.

The Intermediate HSKK is suitable for students who know approximately 900 common words and who can speak quiet fluently on a range of topics. This level is suitable for HSK 3 and HSK 4 students.

Finally, the Advanced HSKK is suitable for students who know over 3000 words and who can express themselves fluently in spoken Chinese on most topics. As part of the Advanced HSKK involves reading a passage aloud, the Hanban suggests that Advanced HSKK students should know about 1000 characters. This level is suitable for HSK 5 and HSK 6 students.

HSKK Test Dates(2024) and Fees

Fees for the HSKK depend on the level you wish to take.

• The Beginner HSKK costs 200RMB.
• The Intermediate HSKK costs 400RMB.
• The Advanced HSKK costs 600RMB.

How to Register for the HSKK

Visit the Hanban website and create an account. Log in and select “HSKK (HSK Speaking Tests)” from the Registration menu.

Select your level, test location, and date from the form. Next, fill out your personal information. You will need to confirm your phone number with a code via text message. Upload a photo of yourself for identification purposes. Then, pay for the exam.

HSKK Passing Score

All HSKK exams are graded out of 100 points, with a passing score of at least 60. Students will receive their HSKK results approximately one month after the exam.

HSKK Exam Results

HSKK results are released one month after your test date. While technically your results never expire, if you are using your HSKK for university admission, your HSKK results are valid for two years after your exam date.

How to prepare for the HSKK

The best way to prepare for the HSKK exam is lots of practice. The more listening practice you can get, the better you will perform on the test. Whether you watch Chinese television, chat with friends, or do mock HSKK exams, the more you listen to Chinese, the easier the HSKK exam will be.

Besides being good for listening practice, mock exams are also a useful tool for familiarizing yourself with the HSKK question formats. The more you know about what type of questions to expect on the HSKK, the easier the test will be. You can access mock exam materials for your level:

• HSKK Beginner (PDF)
• HSKK Intermediate (PDF)
• HSKK Advanced (PDF)

Another measure you can take is to memorize several grammar structures appropriate for your level, such as 因为…所以 (because… so), 首先…其次…最后… (first…next…last), or 只要…就 (as long as…then). This will help you to organize your thoughts in a logical way and express yourself clearly during the exam.

Finally, consider signing up for formal HSKK lessons with a teacher who is familiar with the exam. In formal HSKK prep classes, you will be able to practice mock HSKK exams with your teacher, who can give you feedback on the areas in which you need to improve. This will save you time by allowing you to focus more on the questions or content with which you struggle, while putting less emphasis on the material you have already mastered.

Conclusion

If you decide that taking the HSKK exam is something you want to do, make sure you do it right! First, find the most suitable HSKK level for you, pick a date and register well in advance, and then practice, practice, practice. Now that you know everything there is to know about the HSKK, we wish you the best of luck in your exam. Jiāyóu 加油!

The post The Overall HSKK (Chinese Speaking Test) Guide appeared first on .

Improving pronunciation

I recommend using Anki as a platform. This software is a bit less intuitive and user-friendly than Quizlet, but it is geared towards building one’s long-term memory, which is crucial for language learning and more efficient in the long run. It is free to download on your computer, and if it becomes part of your study routine, it may be worth paying to download it on your mobile device too.

Like most flashcard platforms, Anki has pre-made decks in addition to ones you can make yourself. Other language learners can upload decks of flashcards they have made, saving you time and effort! One deck that I love is Spoonfed Chinese, which has thousands of example sentences in Chinese at various levels with native-speaker audio. Learning words in context is much more effective than simply memorizing words in isolation, and the clearly enunciated audio coupled with characters and pinyin allows you to practice listening and reading in one go! To work on pronunciation, I listen and repeat the sentences as I study them. Another benefit of this deck is that it has content suitable for all levels. There are beginner and intermediate level sentences like, ”我喜欢游泳 – I like swimming.“ Once you get more advanced, you can learn more specific vocab and grammar patterns, such as those related to economics or politics. For example, “如何克服日元升高是个大问题 – How to overcome the high value of yen is a big problem.” To customize these cards, you can add extra information about the definitions of words used in the sentence or pictures.

Expanding your vocabulary

Next, I would like to share my method of making my own flashcards to expand my Chinese vocabulary and work on my pronunciation. Studying one’s own flashcards is not only a great way to review vocab words, but the actual process of making the cards can help you better acquire the words in and of themselves. I use the word “误区(wù qū) – mistaken ideas” as an example; it was a vocab word I learned in one of my readings from class. On the front side, I have the characters (in both simplified and traditional since my goal is to be able to read both). The second side has the pinyin, a definition in Chinese (but for beginners or intermediate learners it could be in English), the part(s) of speech, example sentence(s) or phrase(s), and a picture. I record the audio for my example sentences myself so that I can practice saying the words––both in isolation and in the context of a sentence. I can compare my pronunciation to how I know the tones should sound. It is an especially great way to track your progress in pronunciation since you can listen back to recordings from a few months ago to see how you’ve improved! For learners just starting out, it is important to have feedback from a native speaker to ensure that you are practicing the correct pronunciation, otherwise you may be practicing bad pronunciation habits. You can also find audio from native speakers for example sentences to record or imitate on websites like Youglish.

Although it can take a while to find all the information to make these cards, they have helped me improve my vocabulary tremendously, which is the key for advancing your Chinese to an even higher level. Furthermore, including information like the part of speech and example sentences helps ensure that you are able to use these words correctly and actively in Chinese, rather than perhaps only being able to recognize the words. As Chinese words tend to be used in very specific environments, this is a good way to acquire the correct Chinese word associations and to think in Chinese!

Working on listening skills

In addition to memorizing vocab and practicing pronunciation, I recommend increasing quality input in the target language to work on listening skills. Podcasts are a fun and convenient way to do this. Whether it be walking to class or driving to work, everyone has a bit of time in their day to listen to a podcast! There are many different programs geared towards beginners, so I will focus on recommending some intermediate and advanced ones, since it can be hard to find podcasts challenging enough and yet not too hard for Chinese learners at these levels. Learn Taiwanese Mandarin has more episodes suited for intermediate speakers, while Chinese Colloquialized is more advanced. Talk Taiwanese Mandarin with Abby and 瞎扯学中文 Convo Chinese have a mix of some more intermediate and some more advanced episodes. These two shows often consist of the host interviewing a friend, so the level of difficulty depends on how fast or clearly the other person speaks, and the difficulty of the content of course. Finally, Chinese Pod has beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, so anyone can find something to practice their listening skills with this podcast! There are so many other great Chinese podcasts, including those about grammar, news, culture, and stories, so you are sure to be able to find a suitable podcast for you––it just may require some digging around!

While we all have different study habits and learning styles, these are the ones that have worked for me and gotten me to where I am with Chinese today––so I hope they can be of help to others too!

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