Podcast Episodes

273 - What a big Rubik’s Cube taught me about Chinese characters

Season 1 Episode 273

How small can Chinese characters be while still being legible? How much information do they contain per unit area? And what can a big Rubik’s cube teach us about Chinese characters?

#learnchinese #han…

Published on 22 hours ago

272 - Learning (or not learning) Chinese slang

Season 1 Episode 272

Slang and swearing often top the list of what people want to learn in a foreign language. But is this curiosity actually helpful for learners, or just a fun distraction?

#learnchinese #slang #vocabula…

Published on 1 week, 1 day ago

271 - 7 ways to learn to write Chinese characters

Season 1 Episode 271

Learning to write characters is an integral part of learning Chinese, but how do you practise writing them? Do you type? Write on paper? Or… on the canvas of your mind?

#learnchinese #chinesecharacter…

Published on 2 weeks, 1 day ago

270 - How to not teach Chinese characters to beginners: A 12-step approach

Season 1 Episode 270

I started learning Chinese well over a decade ago, and I have encountered many great teachers. But I have also seen truly terrible teaching, especially when it comes to Chinese characters.

#learnchine…

Published on 3 weeks, 1 day ago

269 - Same building blocks, different characters: How component placement changes meaning in Chinese

Season 1 Episode 269

Chinese character components are usually placed in predictable ways, so if you remember the components, you can often write the character. But not always. Some characters share components but differ …

Published on 4 weeks ago

268 - 16 myths about learning Chinese that are holding you back

Season 1 Episode 268

Believing the wrong things about learning Chinese can waste time and lead you astray. Let's explore 8 more myths that might be holding you back!

#learnchinese #myths #hanzi #input #study

Link to the ar…

Published on 1 month ago

267 - How to improve your Mandarin speaking skills with a tutor

Season 1 Episode 267

Most Chinese learners want one thing above all: to speak better. Many turn to a teacher for guidance, but that is only the first step. True progress depends on how you work with that teacher.

#learnch…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

266 - What important words are missing from HSK?

Season 1 Episode 266

HSK is the most widely used proficiency test for Chinese, and many learners aim to master the vocabulary at each level. Yet some of the most important words are missing from the HSK.

#learnchinese #hs…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

265 - 5 common challenges in Mandarin listening comprehension and how to overcome them

Season 1 Episode 265

Can you ask questions in Mandarin but struggle to understand the answers? Do you feel that you know the words, but people just speak too fast? And why do words in Chinese sound so similar?

#learnchine…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

264 - Learning Chinese through comprehensible input

Season 1 Episode 264

Can you really learn Mandarin through listening and reading alone? What is comprehensible input, and how do you get enough of it?And how do speaking, writing, grammar, and flashcards fit in?

#learnchi…

Published on 2 months ago