Podcast Episodes
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How to Learn to Read Chinese: Developing Fluency Now (Replay)
In this replay of a fan-favorite episode, John and Jared discuss the concept of fluency now as opposed to some distant time in the future and how rea…
5 months ago
Fun First, Fluency Follows: Karl Vilhelmsson’s Chinese Strategy
What happens when a Swedish physics student decides to go all-in on Chinese? Meet Karl Vilhelmsson, a particle physics student at Stanford’s SLAC lab…
5 months, 2 weeks ago
Too Many Chinese Videos, Too Little Progress? Lets Fix That
Chinese learners today are surrounded by video, TikToks from tutors, YouTube explainers, online courses, sitcoms, and AI-powered tools promising to b…
5 months, 4 weeks ago
Burnout, Breakthrough, and Fluency: Chaniece’s Story
Chaniece Chen didn’t just study Chinese, she built her own major, battled burnout in an intensive language program, and came back for more. In this e…
6 months, 1 week ago
Crutch or Catalyst? The Truth About Pinyin
You’re reading Chinese, and there it is, pinyin over every character. It feels helpful, even comforting. But is it actually holding you back? In this…
6 months, 3 weeks ago
Starting Over in China: Chimsy’s Story of Risk, Grit, and Growth
In this episode, Jared sits down with Chimsy—marketer, meme connoisseur, and host of the China University Podcast—to dive deep into his unconventiona…
7 months, 1 week ago
Are AI Tutors the Future of Language Learning?
AI tutors are everywhere—but are they actually good for learning Chinese? In this episode, Jared and John take a deep dive into the fast-evolving wor…
7 months, 3 weeks ago
City 不 City: How Paul Mike Ashton Memed His Way to Fame in China
Meet Paul Mike Ashton, the American content creator who turned a quirky catchphrase into a nationwide sensation with his viral "City 不 City" meme. Gr…
8 months, 1 week ago
Translating: A Tool for Fluency or a Crippling Crutch?
Is translation a necessary tool or a crutch that slows down your Chinese fluency? In this episode, Jared Turner and John Pasden dive deep into the ro…
8 months, 3 weeks ago
How to Pass the HSK and AP Chinese Tests (replay)
In this replay of a fan-favorite episode, Jared chats with Grant Brown, an expert in HSK and AP Chinese test prep. Grant shares why so many students …
9 months ago