Podcast Episodes

92 - Obligatory and optional tone change rules in Mandarin

Season 1 Episode 92

As if learning basic tones wasn't enough, tones in Mandarin also influence each other and change depending on context. Some of these tone change rules you have to learn, but others are better left al…

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

91 - How to find more time to practise Chinese listening

Season 1 Episode 91

Listening is probably the most important skill when learning Chinese, and the more you practise, the better. In order to listen as much as you should, you need to stop thinking about listening as a s…

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

90 - Are authentic texts good for learning Chinese or is graded content better?

Season 1 Episode 90

Authentic texts not written specifically for second language learners are rich, varied, interesting and engaging, but they can also be terribly difficult and confusing. Should you use such texts for …

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

89 - What to read to improve your Chinese and why

Season 1 Episode 89

Reading in Chinese has many benefits, but why you read should also inform your choice of what to read.

Link to article: What to read to improve your Chinese and why: https://www.hackingchinese.com/wh…

Published on 3 years, 6 months ago

88 - How to learn Chinese pronunciation as a beginner

Season 1 Episode 88

Tones in Chinese can be hard to master, but did you know that most of what you need is contained in just twenty words?

Link to article: How to learn Chinese pronunciation as a beginner: https://www.h…

Published on 3 years, 6 months ago

87 - Focusing on tone pairs to improve your Mandarin pronunciation

Season 1 Episode 87

Tones in Chinese can be hard to master, but did you know that most of what you need is contained in just twenty words?

Link to article: Focusing on tone pairs to improve your Mandarin pronunciation: …

Published on 3 years, 6 months ago

86 - Time quality: Studying the right thing at the right time

Season 1 Episode 86

Many students think that learning a language is limited to going to class, working your way through difficult texts or having conversations with native speakers. These all contribute to your learning…

Published on 3 years, 6 months ago

85 - 500 resources for learning and teaching Chinese, tagged by level, topic and type

Season 1 Episode 85

Finding the right resources for learning and teaching Chinese can be tricky considering how much there is on offer. How do you find resources suitable for your level, apps designed to help you meet a…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

84 - How to start learning Chinese again after a break

Season 1 Episode 84

Are you picking up Chinese again after a break, and struggle to find the words and characters? Does spoken Mandarin sound vaguely familiar but incomprehensible? Then this guide will help you get back…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

83 - Is it necessary to learn the stroke order of Chinese characters?

Season 1 Episode 83

Stroke order can feel difficult and pointless for beginners, but if you want to be able to write Chinese characters, it's important to get it right from the start. Instead of taking my word for it, l…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago