Learn Chinese at home: how to learn Mandarin if you can’t go to China?

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

It is widely accepted that living in a nation where the language is spoken is the greatest and most effective approach to become proficient in any language. This is somewhat accurate, and the main reason for this is that it is much simpler to become fluent in a language when you live in the nation where it is spoken than if you only learn it in a classroom. However, despite the fact that a large number of individuals reside overseas, they are only able to speak their original tongue. So in the end, how does this operate?

So how can one study Chinese at home? The secret is to purposefully and consciously immerse yourself in the language. You don’t have to live overseas to do that! Naturally, visiting China could be quite beneficial to your Chinese language learning process, so if you can spend even a week or two there, do so! However, don’t give up if you don’t get this chance. We’ve outlined five things you can take to become more fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

Watch, read, and listen to Chinese

All people know that reading, watching, and listening are the best ways to acquire a language, thus this suggestion should come as no surprise. However, many kids only perform things in the classroom for some reason. Try to immerse yourself in Chinese films, TV shows, or podcasts after your major classes to differentiate yourself from them. If you’re not a beginner anymore, you can still study Chinese (听故事学中文) or Chinese with DaPeng (大鹏说中文) by listening to stories. You can also discover wonderful podcasts on Spotify, such Coffee Break Chinese and ChinesePod – Beginner.

No matter what level of learner you are, from novice to advanced, you are sure to discover something in the enormous world of podcasts. whether you are a voracious reader and an advanced student, check to see whether any of your favorite novels have been translated into Chinese. Check see the original editions of Chinese authors’ books if you enjoy reading them! Could you perhaps ask your Chinese teacher for suggestions? If you find this too daunting, keep in mind that you don’t have to memorize every new word you read or hear; instead, just make an effort to grasp the main idea and just write down the terms you anticipate using in the future.

Use websites in Chinese

Choose a Chinese website over your old friend’s YouTube channel if you want to watch a TV show or movie in Chinese. Take Sougou, iQiyi, or Youku, for example. To begin with, compared to YouTube, Chinese websites have a far greater number of Chinese videos. Second, even if it’s simply a website, you will be able to acquaint yourself with Chinese in a real-life setting.

Using the websites you normally use and changing their language options to Chinese is a slightly safer option. Given that you are probably already accustomed to YouTube or Facebook to the point where you click without reading, it might be less “shocking” than utilizing a brand-new Chinese website.

Therefore, there is a low possibility of getting lost – and if you do get lost, you can always quickly change the settings back to the English language. Try doing that with other websites too, even with your mobile phone settings.

Find Chinese friends

Speaking with a friend who speaks Chinese fluently will greatly improve your speaking abilities. Above all, it will enable you to become more conversant in a language other than your Chinese handbook—that is, a language used in everyday situations. Making Chinese friends will help you beyond just your language skills if you learn the language.

You will gain additional knowledge about Chinese society, culture, and mentality. Furthermore, you will learn how diverse Chinese people may be despite coming from the same country if you get the opportunity to make numerous Chinese friends.

Speaking with a friend who speaks Chinese fluently will greatly improve your speaking abilities. Above all, it will enable you to become more conversant in a language other than your Chinese handbook—that is, a language used in everyday situations. Making Chinese friends will help you beyond just your language skills if you learn the language.

You will learn more about the society, customs, and mindset of the Chinese people. Furthermore, if you get the chance to make a lot of Chinese friends, you will discover how diverse Chinese individuals may be even though they are from the same nation.

Write a journal

Maintaining a journal is an easy yet effective method to improve your language abilities. You can practice speaking and discover which vocabulary words and grammatical constructions work best for you. It’s an excellent method to review because those are typically words that are used in everyday life and can also be used in a conversation.

Simultaneously, you will observe what you find difficult – perhaps creating lengthy phrases or not having certain words? You can work on that and improve your Chinese when you’ve identified that. Not to mention that journaling is a highly good way to get things off your chest.

Find a Chinese teacher

You may not require a teacher, depending on your objectives; still, locating a qualified Chinese teacher will greatly enhance your Chinese language learning process. You won’t be learning “in the dark,” having no idea what you’re doing, because an instructor will provide a thorough study plan.

A instructor will also identify and fix any errors you make, even if you’re not even aware that you’re making them. Not to mention, a shrewd teacher will know how to keep you motivated even if all you want to do is learn Chinese by providing you with appropriate study materials or saying the correct things.

Make an appointment for a trial lesson with an learn language store Chinese teacher if you truly want to learn Chinese as quickly and effectively as possible despite not living in China! You can save time (you’ll learn things you truly need), money (you’ll only spend in materials you’ll actually use), and effort (you’ll concentrate solely on things that will help you develop) by working with an expert teacher.