Articles in the ‘Speaking’ category
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4, 3, 2, 1: Fluency! A great technique to boost your Mandarin speaking ability
Do you want to speak Mandarin fluently, no matter what your level is? Use the 4/3/2 technique to build confidence and flow!
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The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water is open until November 17
Develop essential Mandarin listening skills with my new course, The Fluent Listener. Enrol by November 17 for lifetime access to video lessons, curated resources, tailored guidance, and a supportive learning community.
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How to talk about Chinese characters in Chinese
How do native speakers talk about Chinese characters? The writing system is not phonetic, so you can’t spell out words, but it is still possible to talk about Chinese characters.
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Learning (or not learning) Chinese slang
Slang and swearing often top the list of what people want to learn in a foreign language. But is this curiosity actually helpful for learners, or just a fun distraction?
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How to improve your Mandarin speaking skills with a tutor
Most Chinese learners want one thing above all: to speak better. Many turn to a teacher for guidance, but that is only the first step. True progress depends on how you work with that teacher.
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Chinese speaking challenge, September 2025
It’s time for a speaking challenge! It starts on September 10th, so enrol, set your goal and improve your speaking ability as much as you can before the end of the month. This article contains more information about the challenge, some important things to keep in mind as well as some advice about improving speaking ability in Chinese.
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Learning Chinese through comprehensible input
Can you really learn Mandarin through listening and reading alone? What is comprehensible input, and how do you get enough of it?And how do speaking, writing, grammar, and flashcards fit in?
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Classroom Mandarin: Essential expressions for learning Chinese in Chinese
The fastest way to learn to communicate in Chinese is to learn classroom expressions first. Master essential phrases that help you learn Mandarin without relying on English!
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Using AI chatbots for low-stress Mandarin speaking practice
You don’t need to be fluent to speak Mandarin with AI. These beginner-friendly chatbot activities offer low-pressure practice that builds confidence, comprehension, and conversation skills.
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7 kinds of tone problems in Mandarin and what to do about them
Tones in Mandarin are tricky, and students face many different kinds of problems. Identifying the type of problem is important for fixing it.
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