Articles in the ‘Attitude and mentality’ category

Student Q&A, December 2023: How many words to learn, if it’s good to learn radicals, and whether to learn simplified or traditional characters

How many words is reasonable to learn in a day? Will focusing on radicals make learning characters easier? And should you learn simplified or traditional characters, or maybe both?
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Is learning things by heart good for improving your Chinese?

Learning things by heart used to be a mainstay of language education but is now often frowned upon. Is learning things by heart good for improving your Chinese or just a waste of time
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You won’t learn Chinese simply by living abroad

A widespread myth about learning Chinese is that you will master the language simply by moving abroad to live in an immersion environment. However, how much you learn is determined by how much you engage with the language, not by your geographical location.
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100 hours of Chinese listening in 3 weeks: What I learnt and how to apply it

The more you listen, the more you learn. That’s why I listened to one hundred hours of Chinese in just three weeks. Here’s what I learnt and how you can apply that to your own learning.
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Student Q&A, October 2023: Expanding vocabulary quickly, learning by watching videos and nailing dictation tests

How do you build a broad vocabulary in Chinese quickly? How do you best use video-sharing platforms to boost your learning? And how should you study to nail all your 听写 or dictation?
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How long do you have to study Chinese to make it useful?

For some, the allure of Chinese lies in language and culture, but for many, practical utility is more important. So, how long do you have to study Chinese to make it useful?
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Should you throw away your Chinese textbook?

Many students rely on textbooks to learn Chinese, but is this a good idea? Some people say that to unleash your full potential, you should throw your textbook away.
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Is Chinese difficult to learn?

Is Chinese difficult to learn, even impossible? Or is it in fact quite easy? The answer is that learning Chinese is difficult, but not in the way most people think!
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Insights from the new HSK 7-9: Interview with Sara Jaaksola

Are you curious about the new HSK? Do you want to know what it’s really like to take and pass the advanced level? And how should you prepare to ace your own exams?
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Learning Chinese is more like walking a thousand miles than running 100-metre dash

Learning Chinese is more like walking a thousand miles than running 100-metre dash. Make sure that your strategy works in the long term!
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