What I would do differently if I started learning Chinese in 2024
嗨 Chinese learners,
I’m writing this while listening to my favorite Chinese podcast in the background 😊.
As we enter 2024, I’m feeling inspired to share how I would study Chinese if I could do it all over again and start in 2024. I want to share some of my biggest mistakes and what I would do differently to help you make big strides in 2024.
Let’s get started!
PS. This month I am helping 2 more students get conversational fast with personalized feedback on your speaking and pronunciation. Reply or email me at danyopang@gmail.com to join.
1. Learn the Foundations of Pronunciation Early
A big mistake that many learners make is they don’t focus on practicing proper pronunciation. I, like many learners, thought that it would eventually improve if I spoke more and other people would understand me even with my messy tones.
This was a mistake. Chinese is a tonal language. Thus, learning the basics of proper pronunciation including pinyin and tones is critical for comprehension.
But don’t get confused. This doesn’t mean you need to have perfect and proper pronunciation yourself at the beginning. It just means that you should learn it and understand what good proper pronunciation sounds like so you can work towards it.
If you don’t know what proper pronunciation sounds like, you won’t be able to distinguish different sounds that make up different characters and words in the language. You will also have difficulty understanding sentences and meaning.
Mandarin has 4 main tones plus one neutral tone. Understanding these tones is essential, as they can drastically alter the meaning of a word. Check out my free Chinese crash course for tips on how to learn the basics of pronunciation.
Pinyin, the romanization of the Chinese language, in addition to helping your pronunciation, is also how most Chinese people type on their computers and phones these days and it’s the way you look up new words in dictionaries. It’s like the alphabet of the English language. So it is critical to have a good grasp on it.
2. Focus on Listening from Day 1
Another mistake I made was I didn’t focus on listening enough in the beginning.
A large part of learning a new language in the beginning, especially a tonal language like Mandarin, is getting used to the sounds and the rhythms of the language.
I distinctly remember listening to my first native Chinese podcast and not understanding everything. I couldn’t even figure out when a sentence started and ended. It just sounded like a stream of complexity. I had no signposts to help me.
As I listened more, I got used to the rhythm of the Mandarin language. I learned how the language flowed.
If I started learning Chinese in 2024 I would train my ears early on by immersing myself in Chinese audio content. I would listen to radio programs, podcasts, and watch videos in Mandarin.
Even if you don’t understand it, this exposure will not only familiarize you with the rhythm and melody of the language but will also help you distinguish tones and recognize new words more easily.
The more you expose yourself to the language, the more attuned your ears become to its nuances. This is precisely how I quickly improved my listening comprehension and improved my pronunciation too. I show you how to find the best listening material to improve your listening in the Copy Paste Speaking Course.
3. Don't Worry About Perfect Pronunciation
This might seem counter to the first point I made, where I encourage you to learn proper pronunciation, but it’s not.
You should still learn the basics of proper pronunciation but at the same time, you shouldn’t let poor pronunciation stop you from starting to speak.
A common stumbling block for many learners, including me, is the fear of imperfect pronunciation. As a result, I waited far too long to start speaking and it slowed my progress.
However, no one ever starts speaking with perfect pronunciation. The road to good pronunciation starts with poor pronunciation in the beginning.
Instead of trying to sound flawless, embrace the learning process.
Record yourself speaking Mandarin and listen for areas of improvement. Practice speaking in a comfortable and supportive environment, allowing yourself to make mistakes without judgment. This approach builds confidence and enhances your ability to express yourself in Chinese. I show you how to do this in the Copy Paste Speaking Course.
4. Get Feedback Early
Another mistake I made was I clung to wanting to “self-study” Chinese to the extent that I thought I could do everything by myself.
However because of this, I was inconsistent with my studying, I lost motivation many times and eventually gave up many times.
It’s like going to the gym or working towards your fitness goals. You can watch free content online and try to do everything yourself, but you will inevitably make mistakes and build bad habits without personalized feedback.
Moreover, even if you know exactly what to do, implementing and executing that consistently and without burning out is another big challenge.
Thus, if I were to start learning Chinese in 2024, I would find a good teacher or coach who can give me personalized feedback and keep me motivated and consistent to work towards my goals.
A good coach provides valuable feedback, prevents bad habits, and offers support and guidance that will save you frustration and time.
The only failure with language learning is giving up altogether. A coach who has learned the language before and knows the ropes is critical so you don’t feel overwhelmed and give up.
If you feel stuck and want a coach who has been through it to help you, I can help you. Email me at danyopang@gmail.com.
Practical Tips
Don’t make the same mistakes as I did. If your goal is to use the language in the real world, get conversational, speak with locals and make friends, this is what I would have done differently:
Learn the foundations of Mandarin pronunciation
Listen from day 1
Don’t worry about perfect pronunciation when speaking
Get feedback early to fix mistakes
I show you how to do this practically with the best resources and tools to use in the Copy Paste Speaking Course.
But having the framework is only one part of what it takes to improve your pronunciation, listening, and conversational skills. Getting constructive feedback and having a structured curriculum to help you grow and support your studies is also very important. I am helping 2 more students this month with personalized feedback. If you’d like help, message me at danyopang@gmail.com
循序渐进，
Danyo
PS Here are some ways I can help you level up your Chinese:
Copy Paste Speaking Course: The exact system I used to learn to get conversational, improve my listening and pronunciation and speak Chinese like native speakers
Language Learner OS: This is a digital system to help organize your language studies, track vocabulary, build connections, stay productive, and learn faster!
Refer friends, get free rewards!
If you’re enjoying The Mando Press, will you take 6 seconds and forward this edition to a friend?