How To Learn Chinese Faster?
Have you heard about the guy who taught himself to play the piano in a single day? Neither do I.
Learning to play the piano like Beethoven requires time and effort. This applies equally to almost all competence you want to learn, including Chinese.
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That’s right—you won’t be finding any “learn to speak fluently in two weeks!” statements here.
But I can guarantee that you can improve much faster if you have a clear vision and a strong plan.
If you’re thinking about learning Chinese, you’ll find inspiration here to help you along your way.
10 Fast Tips for Learning Chinese
How do you build such a good strategy? I’ve broken it down into ten easy steps below.
1. How To Learn Chinese Faster – Creating Clear Goals:
You should ask yourself why you’re learning Chinese to be most successful. Is it just for fun, or are you planning to move there in six months? Do you want to be able to communicate with business Chinese for a job?
These questions are critical in assisting you in creating a set of specific goals. You may be only interested in speaking Chinese, which will affect how you spend your learning time.
– Long-Term Goals
Set long-term expectations for yourself. Like where you want to be in a year, two years, and five years. Consider how much time you will devote to Chinese learning practically, and use that as a baseline.
You might set a long-term target of achieving advanced fluency in five years, including one-year of spending in China.
– Short-Term Goals
Then move on to short-term targets, which can be weekly or six months in advance. For example, you might want to read a simple Chinese book or understand Chinese radio in six months.
Make sure they’re “SMART” targets when you’re setting them. Goals that are Clear, Observable, Attainable, Practical, and Timely are more likely to be reached.
Tip: At the very least, revisit your short-term objectives once a month, if not once a week. Don’t be afraid to alter your goals depending on your performance. So that you maintain a realistic view of what study techniques are useful for you.
2. How To Learn Chinese Faster – Cantonese or Mandarin:
There are various Chinese dialects, but Mandarin and Cantonese are the most widely spoken.
– Mandarin
Mandarin is Taiwan’s and mainland China’s official language and one of the UN’s five official languages.
Many Chinese primary schools and universities. Besides their mass media, such as radio stations, television shows, and songs, speak Mandarin. So it might be the right choice if you are planning a trip to China or want to communicate with mainland residents.
– Cantonese
Cantonese is a Chinese language use primarily in the southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi. And it was the primary language of Hong Kong until the British handed it over to China in 1997.
Cantonese is also the predominant language of most Chinese communities in Australia, Europe, and other parts of the world.
However, Taiwanese immigrants played a more active role in global culture and economics. The number of Mandarin-speaking Chinese people living abroad has risen rapidly in recent years.
Individuals who are fluent in either language will communicate with one another through the written word. The two languages share a similar vocabulary, with a few exceptions. For example, “hello” in Mandarin is “ni hao” for a casual conversation and “nin hao” for a formal discussion. “Hello” in Cantonese is “Neih hou.”
3. Make a learning plan:
Knowing how you learn will assist you in being a more successful learner.
As part of your study plan, make short- and long-term targets. Make short-term targets for the first 1-2 weeks of your studies, such as mastering simple conversational words.
Make long-term goals for yourself, such as having a full conversation in Chinese with a native speaker after six months of research.
To truly master Chinese, you must practice it regularly. Weekly lessons would be useful, but they will not suffice. Our brains can only absorb so much information at a time, so repetition is vital for long-term retention.
You can increase the amount of time once you’ve developed a routine of regular research. But for now, the most crucial aspect is daily interaction.
Adding a Chinese analysis to your bedtime routine is another way to get regular practice. It will take just a few minutes when brushing your teeth or before turning off the lights in your room.
4. How To Learn Chinese Faster- Practice writing in Pinyin:
Pinyin is a phonetic spelling scheme for writing Chinese characters. It can be a useful way to learn how to write in Chinese without memorizing the language’s thousands of characters.
The word’s tones will determine the Pinyin for words. You’ll have to practice both the tones and the Pinyin at the same time.
Chinese characters can be challenging to read, so start with Pinyin to ease your way into the language. By changing the settings on your Mac or PC, you can write in Pinyin on your screen. Typing Pinyin to others will help you get a better understanding of the system.
5. How To Learn Chinese Faster- Listen to Chinese radio:
Another excellent audio resource for quickly improving your Chinese is Chinese music and songs. Listen to Chinese radio stations in the background so you can sing along with Chinese words and phrases. To develop your pronunciation and sounds, listen to the lyrics in the songs.
Yes, karaoke is a fun way to spend an evening. Don’t let the fear of messing up or your frog-like voice keep you from having a good time at the nearby Chinese karaoke bar with a small group of friends. It’s a lot of fun and a fantastic way to learn the language.
You can also listen to Chinese artists’ CDs or music online to help you learn the language.
6. Watch Chinese films and shows:
Once a day set aside time to watch a Chinese film or television show. In a conversation, pay attention to how the words people speak. Take note of the voices and the phrasing. Limit yourself to one television show at a time. Watch movies with the same actors or actresses over and over, so you remember their dialogue.
For quick dialogue and vocabulary, watch a Chinese anime. For more complicated talks, consider watching a Chinese soap opera or a movie with a lot of dialogue. Chinese films and television shows can be found at your local library or on the internet.
You won’t be able to speak Chinese fluently just by reading about it. You need to hear it as well.
7. Order in Chinese at Chinese restaurants:
Try ordering food and drinks in Chinese at a local Chinese restaurant or cafe to develop your conversational Chinese. Depending on which language you’re learning, make sure the waiter speaks Mandarin or Cantonese. In Chinese, greet the waiter and place your order, listing things on the menu in Chinese.
You may also thank the waiter for their service by asking for the bill in Chinese.
When ordering in Chinese, bear in mind that you might make a mistake. Accept it and keep going, so you’ll learn from your mistakes and order correctly the next time.
8. Make a Chinese friend:
You’ll need to find a regular conversation partner if you want to immerse yourself without leaving your house.
Check with a nearby language school to see if they have any Chinese students willing to practice with you. Place an online ad for a native Chinese speaker with whom you can practice your Chinese. Ask your friends if they know any Chinese people who would be able to converse with you in Chinese.
When you’ve found a Chinese friend to practice with, arrange weekly meetings with them where you only speak Chinese.
9. Traveling in China and Taiwan:
Backpacking through China or Taiwan is a lot of fun and a great way to see the world. It will leave you wanting more, apart from being compelled to speak Mandarin. Accept that simply living in the local area teaches you something new every minute of the day.
It’s more of a journey than a destination. You’re not pretending to be a UN translator or a CIA spy (unless you are, in which case, good luck!). You will see Chinese in all of its glory, including its language, food, culture, and everything else.
10. It’s All About Practice:
Finally, don’t be intimidated by Chinese grammar; it will come with practice. Simple Chinese sentences can be developed similarly to how you think in English at first.
Since Chinese grammar can be challenging, you should concentrate your efforts first on learning the tones, Pinyin, and simple vocabulary.
Learning Chinese does not have to be as tricky as learning Beethoven’s sonatas. Even though it will take time and effort, and regular everyday practice, you will note that you are moving faster than before!
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They will create a curriculum for you that’ll help you learn the essential grammar rules and terms in chronological order.
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Start studying Chinese at TheLanguageDoctors, and you’ll be amazed at how easily your speaking abilities have improved in your everyday life.
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