5 Tips for learning Mandarin Chinese

With the development of china’s economy, learning mandarin Chinese is increasing around the world. In 2009, about 60,000 American college students were studying mandarin Chinese. That is three times as many as in 1990. But Chinese can seem alien at first to an English speaker. Here are five essential tips to master Chinese language, hope it will help you!

1, Identify Short-term and Long-term Goals 

A, Create Long-term Goals
Why are you learning Mandarin Chinese? Long-term goals are important to ensure that you always keep the big picture in your mind. It could be as general as becoming fully fluent in the conversational aspect of the language, or more specific as someday being able to do business in China completely in Mandarin.

B. Create Short-term Goals
How long do you need to study to achieve goals for learning Chinese language course? The important thing is to be realistic, short-term goals will help you a lot.

To the end of this year, what proficiency level do you hope you will be able to speak, read, or write in learing mandarin Chinese? Or reach a higher HSK level? Assessing language-learning goals can be tough, one way to do so is by identifying a concrete example that proves you have reached a certain milestone. You may create Short-term goals, a specific plan by daily, weekly, monthly etc.. Join Chinese language programs or take Chinese language course in a mandarin language school.
Start off slowly, but study regularly. Use material that is challenging, but not too difficult. Find out what works for you. After you have studied for a few weeks, adjust your study schedule accordingly.

Learning mandarin Chinese requires a lot of motivation. If you already have a learning goal in Mandarin Chinese, make a commitment.

2, Speak first, then decide if you need to read and write.

Unlike many Western languages, Chinese character or Chinese written language, contrasted to the comparative simplicity of the grammar, students would do well to focus on learning to speak first, and only then tackle the written language.

While the tonal character of the spoken language is a challenge, this can be mastered quickly, in contrast to the many years needed to achieve a working familiarity with the several thousand written characters that most educated Chinese adults have learned.
Of course, most Chinese language programs simultaneously teach both the spoken and written language. It is up to the individual student to decide where to emphasize his or her needs.

3, Keep Practicing Everyday

Just like learning any foreign language, you might feel shy and afraid of making mistakes when you speak Chinese. Don’t worry about that, practice with your Chinese friends. If you find them correcting you too often, don’t get discouraged; it’s because they see your persistence.
It is a ‘Long March’ to learn Chinese. However, if you set aside even 15 minutes a day for learning, you will have big success in learning Chinese after one year. The most difficult thing is to persist. Please take a few minutes in learning Chinese everyday, you may watch Chinese TV or write a diary in Chinese. As long as you practice, you can make progress.
Studying Chinese can come in many different forms, especially when living in China. Practicing every day, whether it be coffee shop studying for hours, or memorizing one word on the subway, make sure to do something, anything, every single day, until it becomes routine.

4, Take the HSK, a standardized Mandarin exam for non-native speakers.

HSK ( Chinese Proficiency Test ), an international standardized test of Chinese language proficiency, assesses non-native Chinese speakers’ abilities in using the Chinese language in their daily, academic and professional lives. HSK consists of six levels, namely HSK (level I), HSK (level II), HSK (level III), HSK (level IV), HSK (level V), and HSK (level VI). The most elementary testing you on 150 words, and the most advanced testing your knowledge of up to 5000 words. You might have more questions about HSK, check  HSK Frequently Asked Questions.

Some people take the HSK for Chinese university admission, others because they are hoping for a short-term language study scholarship. For those of us with only vague plans what to do with our Mandarin skills, I suggest taking it as an end goal. It’s often easier to push yourself if you’re working towards something concrete.

HSK Speaking Test (HSKK) assesses the test takers’ oral Chinese abilities. HSKK consists of three levels, HSKK (Primary level), HSKK (Intermediate level) and HSKK (Advanced level). HSKK is conducted in the form of audio recording.

5, Don’t immerse yourself in English-speaking expat circles.

Mandarin, its pronunciation is based on the Beijing dialect. If you want to study Chinese language in China, choose a Chinese language school in Beijing is the first choice.
The best way to learn Mandarin Chinese is to immerse oneself totally into Chinese language environment.  Getting yourself completely immersed in Chinese language environment is like that dive into the deep water, your Chinese level will be improved quickly.
But lots of westerners and other learners of the Chinese language often immersed themselves in English-speaking expat circles, this will prevent your progress in Chinese study! Learning Chinese mandarin well takes effort everyday and requires one to make Chinese friends and spend time with them regularly.

One of those very famous Chinese sayings says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step (qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú jiǎoxià 千里在之行，始于足下）.” It is the time to take that first step!