How to learn Mandarin Chinese from 0-fluency ? (Resources, Methods and Study Plans)

Summary

In this educational video, polyglot Zoe offers an in-depth guide to mastering Mandarin Chinese, debunking its perceived difficulty. She outlines a 20-month study plan from HSK1 to HSK6, focusing on foundational elements like Pinyin and radicals. Zoe recommends resources for each proficiency level, including apps, videos, and podcasts, and emphasizes the importance of consistent practice. Her approach is designed to build a strong foundation, making Mandarin accessible to learners with various language backgrounds.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mandarin Chinese is widely spoken and has over 1.3 billion speakers, making it an important language to learn.
• 📚 Learning Mandarin can be made easier with the right self-learning resources and a structured approach.
• 🗣️ The speaker, Zoe, is a polyglot with native Chinese language skills and experience teaching Mandarin to foreigners.
• 🎯 The HSK (汉语水平考试) is a standard Chinese proficiency test for non-native speakers, divided into 6 levels from elementary to advanced.
• 🔤 Pinyin and Hanzi are fundamental to Mandarin, with Pinyin representing pronunciation using the Latin alphabet and Hanzi being the Chinese characters.
• 📝 Writing practice is emphasized as an effective way to memorize vocabulary and understand Hanzi, which is crucial for mastering Mandarin.
• 📱 Various apps and online resources are recommended for learning Pinyin, tones, and vocabulary, such as SuperChinese and HSK Study.
• 📚 For structured learning, HSK books and配套的 YouTube videos are suggested to guide learners through each level.
• 🎧 Listening and speaking practice is encouraged through the use of podcasts like Chinese Pod and by engaging with Chinese media.
• 📈 The video outlines a study plan to progress from HSK1 to HSK6 in 20 months, requiring motivation, consistency, and discipline.
• 🌟 The journey of learning Mandarin is likened to completing a puzzle, where the early stages are the most challenging, and it becomes easier as one advances.

Q & A

What is the focus of the video, and what language is being discussed?

The video focuses on learning Mandarin Chinese, which is the most widely spoken language in the world with over 1.3 billion speakers.

Why might some people feel intimidated about learning Mandarin Chinese?

People might feel intimidated because of the 4 tones and the thousands of Chinese characters they have to learn.

What is the speaker's background, and why is she qualified to give advice on learning Mandarin?

The speaker, Zoe, is a polyglot who speaks seven languages and is a native Chinese speaker. She has experience in learning new languages and has taught Mandarin to foreigners.

What is the HSK and how is it related to learning Mandarin?

HSK stands for '汉语水平考试' (Chinese Proficiency Test) and is the standard test for non-native speakers of Chinese. It is divided into 6 levels from elementary to advanced.

What is the recommended study plan to go from HSK1 to HSK6 according to the video?

The recommended study plan is to take 20 months, requiring motivation, consistency, and discipline. It involves focusing on tones and pinyin, understanding radicals, and progressively learning vocabulary and grammar points.

Why is it important to learn Pinyin before diving into Chinese characters (Hanzi)?

Pinyin is a system for representing Mandarin pronunciation using the Latin alphabet and is used as a teaching tool for non-native speakers to learn pronunciation and tone before tackling complex characters.

What are radicals in the context of Chinese characters, and why are they important for learning Hanzi?

Radicals are graphical components of a character that give it its meaning and help in classification. Understanding radicals helps in learning and remembering new characters related in meaning.

What resources are suggested for practicing tones and pronunciation in the beginning stages of learning Mandarin?

The video suggests using specific YouTube videos, apps like SuperChinese for Pinyin and tones training, and engaging with a Chinese friend or tandem partner for pronunciation correction.

How does the speaker recommend integrating listening and speaking practice into the study routine?

The speaker recommends repeating words out loud, using YouTube videos that explain vocabulary with meaning and sentence examples, and practicing listening comprehension with resources like Chinese Class 101.

What are some of the resources suggested for learning Mandarin at higher HSK levels?

For higher levels, the speaker suggests using TV shows, series, podcasts, and documentaries like '舌尖上的中国' ('A Bite of China'), as well as platforms like Bilibili and 喜马拉雅 (Ximalaya) for podcasts.

How can learners access the master plan PDF and additional resources mentioned in the video?

Learners can access the master plan PDF and additional resources by joining the Discord group linked in the video description.