Hacking Chinese

A better way of learning Mandarin

Articles in the ‘Immersion and integration’ category

  1. How to find the perfect Mandarin tutor for you: A complete guide

    A great tutor can accelerate your learning, but finding one isn’t easy. To get the best results, you need to be patient and try many options. Here is how!

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  2. 7 characteristics of a great Chinese tutor or private teacher

    A great tutor can transform your Chinese learning, but how do you know if a tutor is good? Let’s explore the key qualities that make a tutor truly effective.

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  3. 8 myths about learning Chinese that are holding you back

    Believing the wrong things about learning Chinese can waste time and lead you astray. Let’s explore eight myths that might be holding you back!

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  4. Beyond tīng bu dǒng, part 7: How to navigate different types of listening in Mandarin

    Listening is an essential skill in language learning, but not all listening situations are the same. By recognising different types of listening situations and understanding what each requires, you can improve your chances of successfully navigating spoken Mandarin.

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  5. Welcome to The Fluent Listener, a new course from Hacking Chinese!

    Develop essential Mandarin listening skills with my new course, The Fluent Listener. Enrol by June 6 for lifetime access to video lessons, curated resources, tailored guidance, and a supportive learning community.

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  6. The 10 best free Chinese reading resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners

    Reading is the best way to expand vocabulary and learn new things in Chinese. What are the best free resources out there for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners? This article collects and introduces the ten best free reading resources in each category!

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  7. Don’t be a tourist if you want to learn Chinese

    Immersion abroad can boost language learning, and travelling where the language is spoken can help too. Yet how much you benefit depends on your attitude. To truly learn, stop being a tourist!

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  8. Student Q&A: March, 2025: Chinese slang, leaving expat bubbles, and competing with other learners

    Is learning Chinese slang worth your time? What do you do when someone with less study time speaks better than you? And how can you escape the expat bubble and start learning Mandarin?

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  9. Learning Chinese by playing board games

    Board games are more than just fun, they’re a powerful way to learn Chinese, boosting vocabulary, fluency, and communication skills!

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  10. Love and language: Challenges and opportunities in learning Chinese with a partner

    Some say that dating a native speaker is the ultimate shortcut to fluency. “You’ll learn effortlessly with a teacher always by your side!” But is learning Chinese with a partner really the silver bullet it’s often made out to be?

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