No one would claim it's easy to learn Chinese, especially if you are starting from scratch as an adult. Yet it may not be as difficult as you think. Like most knowledge building, this particular skill needs to be built by taking it one step at a time. If you are patient and stay the course (and use the suggestions in this article) you shouldn't have any difficulty learning Chinese.
As a beginning Chinese student, one fast way to expose yourself to the language is to watch movies. There are many quality Chinese films to choose from, as well as the silly but fun kung fu movies many people love. Just make sure that the movie you choose uses the dialect that you want to learn: for example, if you are learning Mandarin, skip the older kung fu movies because most of them are in Cantonese. No matter what kind of movies you like, they can get you used to hearing Chinese while they entertain you. You can watch your favorite movies over and over, and try to rely less on the subtitles with every viewing. This can be a fun way to learn Chinese.
One of the best ways to learn Chinese is to travel to China or another country where Chinese is spoken. This is not always possible, of course, but it's something you can have as a goal while you're studying the language. If you are able to take the trip, try to find a language school or to find a touring group that will focus on the language itself--otherwise you will probably discover that most of the people you meet will want to practice their English with you and you won't have the chance to practice your skills. Many Westerners like Hong Kong, but this is a place where most people speak English because of the long period of British rule, and the Chinese spoken there is Cantonese. If you have chosen to study Mandarin, the best place to visit is mainland China.
Many people, as they start to learn Chinese or any foreign language, find that they have certain anxieties about making mistakes. This is a major barrier in learning new languages. Practice is the best way to ingrain a new language which means that you are going to have to make some mistakes before you get good. If you are in a class, or have any chance to talk to Chinese people in their language, try your best and don't worry about being perfect. For the most part, native Chinese speakers will appreciate that you are trying to learn their language and will do what they can to help you learn and feel more comfortable. If you try to wait until you are fluent in Chinese to practice saying the words out loud you are going to have to wait forever; making mistakes is part of the learning process.
In summary, you have to approach learning Chinese like you would any challenging subject. Instead of focusing on fluency (which can take many years) focus on learning little bits each day. Take all of the opportunities you can to learn and to practice, no matter which source your opportunity comes from (book, class, tutor, chance encounter). These tips on learning Chinese can be helpful as you work to learn this challenging but beautiful language.
As a beginning Chinese student, one fast way to expose yourself to the language is to watch movies. There are many quality Chinese films to choose from, as well as the silly but fun kung fu movies many people love. Just make sure that the movie you choose uses the dialect that you want to learn: for example, if you are learning Mandarin, skip the older kung fu movies because most of them are in Cantonese. No matter what kind of movies you like, they can get you used to hearing Chinese while they entertain you. You can watch your favorite movies over and over, and try to rely less on the subtitles with every viewing. This can be a fun way to learn Chinese.
One of the best ways to learn Chinese is to travel to China or another country where Chinese is spoken. This is not always possible, of course, but it's something you can have as a goal while you're studying the language. If you are able to take the trip, try to find a language school or to find a touring group that will focus on the language itself--otherwise you will probably discover that most of the people you meet will want to practice their English with you and you won't have the chance to practice your skills. Many Westerners like Hong Kong, but this is a place where most people speak English because of the long period of British rule, and the Chinese spoken there is Cantonese. If you have chosen to study Mandarin, the best place to visit is mainland China.
Many people, as they start to learn Chinese or any foreign language, find that they have certain anxieties about making mistakes. This is a major barrier in learning new languages. Practice is the best way to ingrain a new language which means that you are going to have to make some mistakes before you get good. If you are in a class, or have any chance to talk to Chinese people in their language, try your best and don't worry about being perfect. For the most part, native Chinese speakers will appreciate that you are trying to learn their language and will do what they can to help you learn and feel more comfortable. If you try to wait until you are fluent in Chinese to practice saying the words out loud you are going to have to wait forever; making mistakes is part of the learning process.
In summary, you have to approach learning Chinese like you would any challenging subject. Instead of focusing on fluency (which can take many years) focus on learning little bits each day. Take all of the opportunities you can to learn and to practice, no matter which source your opportunity comes from (book, class, tutor, chance encounter). These tips on learning Chinese can be helpful as you work to learn this challenging but beautiful language.
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