Articles in the ‘Listening’ category
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How to nail dictation tests in Chinese: The ultimate guide to 听写/聽寫 (tīngxiě)
Dictation tests, or 听写/聽寫 (tīngxiě), are common in Chinese courses, but many students struggle with them. Here is a guide for how to nail any dictation test!
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The Chinese iceberg: Why speaking more isn’t enough to speak better
90% of an iceberg is underwater, yet we mostly pay attention to the bit that sticks up. The same is true for proficiency in Chinese: speaking ability is easy to see, but relies on a much larger system underneath.
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30 minutes of podcast, 3 minutes of Chinese
Most learners know they should “listen more”, but what they listen to matters. To improve, you need to make sense of spoken Mandarin, not listen to people explain Mandarin in English.
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How much Chinese should you listen to every day?
Listening is the most important skill. To improve your listening ability in Chinese, you need to listen a lot, but how much should you listen every day?
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The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water is open!
Develop essential Mandarin listening skills with my course, The Fluent Listener. Enrol now for lifetime access to video lessons, curated resources, tailored guidance, and a supportive learning community.
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Chinese listening challenge, June 2026
Enrol in this month’s Chinese listening challenge, starting June 10th! Listen more and learn more through daily practice and friendly competition. This article contains more information about the challenge, as well as tips for what to listen to and how to get the most out of it.
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The best podcasts for learning Chinese in 2026
Podcasts let you create your own Chinese immersion experience, with level-appropriate stories and authentic conversations. Learn flexibly on the go with the best podcasts for beginners, intermediate and advanced students!
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Effective progress or experience points? The double-edged sword of measuring your Chinese learning
Measuring your Chinese progress is a double-edged sword: it can keep you motivated, but it can also tempt you to chase numbers that don’t reflect real progress.
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The best time to start learning Chinese is now: A guide for expats
The best time to start learning Chinese might be behind you, but the second-best time is now. If you’ve been surrounded by Mandarin for years and keep putting off learning the language, this guide is for you!
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Improve your Chinese conversations by listening to the listener
The obvious way to learn Mandarin is to listen to a person speaking the language. The less obvious way is to listen to the person who isn’t speaking in a conversation. What can you learn by listening to the listener?
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