Podcast Episodes

210 - The 10 best free Chinese listening resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners

Season 1 Episode 210

Listening is the most important skill of all, because it accelerates all other learning and is crucial for social integration. What are the best free Chinese listening resources out there for beginne…

Published on 6 months, 3 weeks ago

209 - Student Q&A, August 2024: Avoiding mental translation, untranslatable words and why practising translation is good

Season 1 Episode 204

How can you stop translating in your head? What are some Chinese words that can’t be translated? And why is translation a worthwhile learning activity?

#learnchinese #translation #mentaltranslation

P…

Published on 7 months ago

208 - Insights from my recent trip to China: The importance of top-down listening

Season 1 Episode 208

Understanding Chinese involves more than just knowing words and phrases; it's about using context to interpret meaning. My recent trip to China highlighted the crucial role of top-down listening in n…

Published on 7 months, 2 weeks ago

207 - Chinese character variants and font differences for language learners

Season 1 Episode 207

Small details sometimes matter when writing Chinese characters, but sometimes they don't. Figuring out which details to pay attention to is made harder by character variants and font differences!

#le…

Published on 7 months, 2 weeks ago

206 - Why you should preview before every Chinese lesson

Season 1 Episode 206

Previewing before Chinese lessons is a simple yet frequently overlooked method to enhance learning. By previewing, you maximise the benefits of each lesson, allowing you to focus on areas where you t…

Published on 7 months, 3 weeks ago

205 - How I used a notebook to learn more Chinese, and why you should too

Season 1 Episode 205

The humble notebook is a powerful tool for learners of Chinese. Whether an exquisite leather-bound journal or a digital text file, a notebook offers more than a space to record information about voca…

Published on 8 months ago

204 - Student Q&A, July 2024: Reading speed, children’s books and Chinese literature

Season 1 Episode 204

How can you read Chinese faster? Which children's books are best for second-language learners? And what's the ideal entry point into Chinese literature?

#learnchinese #reading #q&a #speed #genre

Link…

Published on 8 months, 1 week ago

203 - The three factors that determine how much Chinese you learn

Season 1 Episode 203

When learning Chinese, your progress depends on three factors: the content you study, the methods you use, and the time you dedicate. To achieve your goals quickly and efficiently, strive to optimise…

Published on 8 months, 2 weeks ago

202 - Habit hacking for language learners

Season 1 Episode 202

Habits are routines that become smooth and effortless with repetition. By developing the right habits for learning Chinese, you can learn more with less effort!

#learnchinese #habit #routine #studyma…

Published on 8 months, 3 weeks ago

201 - Should you learn the pronunciation of radicals?

Season 1 Episode 201

Learning the building blocks of Chinese characters is a great idea, but what should learn about each character component? And more specifically, should you learn the pronunciation of radicals?

#learn…

Published on 9 months ago