We've all wanted to learn a new language, especially as a new years resolution. But, how do we start? What should our focus be? And how do I find the materials? Today we'll discuss the art of starting the journey to learning Mandarin Chinese. What your first steps should be, what you should be looking for, and how to find them.
Learning a new language is a rewarding journey! It is good for your brain, opens you up to new books, TV shows, and movies, and you may make a few friends along the way.
Set Your Goals.
Setting your goals before you start will help you figure out what material fits your needs most.
Ask yourself why you want to learn Chinese. This simple question will help you figure out your course of action for finding materials, for example, If it is for travel, you would want to learn vocabulary for scenarios such as boarding a plane, booking a hotel, and asking for directions. Luckily there is no shortage of travel materials through books, audiobooks, and apps.
Then ask yourself how far you want to learn. What are your goals? This will help you determine how long you might be studying for, and how much material you should study. For example, if you are studying for business, you may want to learn basic vocabulary, such as greetings, business vocabulary, and possibly the HSK if it is required (Read more on the HSK).
Finding Materials.
This is honestly the easiest part of your journey. You can find learning material everywhere you look. What kind of material you search for can also depend on a few factors including how much time you have, how much money you'd like to invest, and your preference of learning. I always like to remind people that no two brains are alike, and not to compare your progress to others.
Below are a few learning material ideas. Some people tend to lean towards one or two but I recommend mixing and matching a few of them to improve your learning experience.
Apps (HelloChinese, Duolingo, ChineseSkill, Skritter, Ninchanese)
Dictionaries (Book: Collins Beginner's Chinese Dictionary, App: Hanping Lite, App: Pleco, App (HanBook Chinese Dictionary)
Books
Audiobook (iSpeak Chinese Mandarin)
Reading (App: M Mandarin, App: Du Chinese, Book: Chinese Stories For Language Learners - Tuttle)
Flashcards (Make them at home, App: Duocards, App: AnkiDroid)
Podcasts (Everyday Easy Chinese, Talk Chineasy, ChinesePod, Takeaway Chinese)
Teaching/Tutoring (italki)
Language exchange (HelloTalk, Tandem, Speaky)
Calligraphy/Learning Character (Book: Learn Chinese By Radicals - Sinolingua, Book: What's in a Chinese Character - New World Press, App: Skritter)
Materials In Action.
Language is like a big puzzle, and the materials listed above are the pieces to complete this puzzle. No two pieces of the puzzle are like one another, each has pros and cons. An audiobook can teach you how to speak, but can't teach you how to read. A book can teach you grammar, but not how to pronounce the words written. A teacher can teach you everything but is not as available as an app. To sum up, choose many methods instead of just one.
Remember to mix and match methods. Use flashcards for vocabulary, an app for practice, hire a teacher or tutor to help you speak, listen to a podcast or audiobook to study passively (See my blog on Passive Learning).
Fitting Chinese Into Your Schedule.
Fitting language learning into the schedule of the average adult is probably the number one reason I hear people not wanting to work on their language goals. There are many ways to fit learning a new language into your schedule, it is just a matter of what fits.
For busy individuals, I might recommend podcasts and audiobooks as a regular method of learning. Listening is easy to do when you are driving, folding laundry, washing dishes, or exercising. I also encourage busy learners to try to fit in 5 to 10 minutes a day of studying on an app or book. An app might be easier for tight schedules because the lessons are pre-planned and fast-paced.
Planning Your Study Sessions.
Making a study plan can be tricky at first but later will come naturally with habit. Remember the word Habit, Habit is your goal when planning your sessions. Forming a habit is difficult but will help you in the long run. Once you form a habit of studying Chinese often, consistency will follow.
Depending on your day-to-day schedule, you might prefer to study in the morning or at night before bedtime. Or listen to Chinese lessons vie podcast or audiobook while you relax, or do housework. Or you may want to review flashcards while waiting for an appointment, or during a commercial break. And if you are busy during the week, it might be easier to schedule time with your teacher, tutor, or language exchange partner (if available) during the weekend.
Don't be afraid to play with your study schedule a bit. Try finding a time of day you feel most focused, or the house is at its quietest, or you find yourself just trying to pass time.
The important thing is that you find a time that you can focus on your studying without being bothered too much and your mind can concentrate.
Burnout.
Avoiding burnout is just as important as studying itself. It is best to miss a few days of studying as opposed to missing a few months. If you begin to feel overwhelmed by Chinese, then it's time for a break.
Here are a few ideas to help you avoid burning out.
Take a day off.
lower the number of words to learn a day.
Reduce the amount of time to study a day.
Adjust your goal.
Take a few days to review what you know instead of learning something new.
If you are experiencing burnout, here are a few things I found that help.
Take frequent breaks.
Focus on reviewing instead of learning until you feel better.
Meditate.
Try learning with Chinese TV (Viki, DramaFever).
Reaching Your Goals.
Reaching your goals can feel impossible at times, but it is important to not give up. Learning a language is something that can take years. Remember to enjoy the journey.
Thanks for reading!!!
Holly.
Comments