Introduction
In an age when translation apps can solve almost everything, why do we still choose to learn a language?
For Emma, learning Chinese in Shanghai is not about grand declarations. She simply wants to be able to answer, without immediately reaching for her phone, when someone starts talking to her in Shanghai. Emma comes from Haarlem in the Netherlands, has a background in manufacturing and supply chain, moved to Shanghai in 2025, and has studied from HSK1 to HSK3 at Mandarin Inn.
There is no “life-changing” declaration in her story – only the slow, real, sometimes interrupted rhythm of an adult learning a language. Perhaps that is what makes language moving: it is not a performance, but a connection.
Self-Introduction
My name is Emma. I’m from Haarlem, the Netherlands, and I moved to Shanghai in August 2025 – just over a year ago now.
My engineering background is in manufacturing, and I have worked in production and supply chain management for several FMCG companies. I’ve always liked seeing how raw materials can be turned into finished products through different techniques. That interest started when I was young, though I don’t really know where that interest came from. Before coming to China, I had only ever lived in the Netherlands, but the Netherlands is already quite international.
At university we studied in English, and at work we mostly spoke English too, because there are many international students and expats there. But I always had a desire to experience living abroad myself, and to see what everyday life in another country can be like.
Why China?
My husband works for a French company and was offered an internal opportunity to manage the regional business. He could be based in Amsterdam, New York or Shanghai. We both wanted to live abroad for a while, and China was the place we were most curious about. So we chose Shanghai.
I first came to Shanghai in January 2025 to look for an apartment. That was my first time in China. When I moved later, I brought my cat from the Netherlands, which immediately made it feel more like home.
One of the first things that surprised me in Shanghai was how big everything is. The buildings, malls, roads and infrastructure can feel enormous. At the same time, the city is very well set up, with plenty of services and people around to help when you need something.
I also quickly noticed how much hot food and drinks are part of daily life here – even plain water. In the Netherlands, breakfast and lunch are often cold. Hot water is not really a thing unless you ask for tea.
I used to think I did not like tea. It turns out I had just never had very good tea before.
Is It Useful to Learn Chinese?
If you live in China for a longer period, learning at least some Mandarin is necessary to participate in daily life. That said, you can actually manage daily life surprisingly well without much Chinese.
People usually find a way to communicate with translation apps, and you can arrange an enormous amount through Alipay. But I wouldn’t want to rely on that completely.
Once you understand some Chinese, you notice much more of what is happening around you.
I also love how easily people start talking to you here. People are often very open and chatty, and I just want to be able to answer back and express myself well without immediately reaching for my phone.
Chinese is also considered one of the more difficult languages to learn, especially for European language speakers. And that is part of what makes it so interesting to me.
I don’t know yet where Chinese will take me, but I’m quite sure it will be useful to have.
Learning Hacks
Languages have never come naturally to me, so it took time to find what works. What I appreciate about Chinese is its straightforward grammar: verbs don’t change much for person or tense, and nouns don’t change for plural.
Books work best for me. I need to see words, read them aloud, write them down, and visualize them. Later, I recognize the same patterns in daily life, which puts learning into context.
My partner is the opposite. He speaks five languages, has a good ear, and speaks even when unsure. I’m not like that. Outside class, I study in chunks—sometimes intensively, then less. Sometimes I get busy, lose focus, forget. These days, I no longer worry; I just go back and repeat. Often, things are easier the second or third time.
Coming back with fresh attention beats forcing yourself. My advice: figure out how you learn best, make repetition easy, and once vocabulary and grammar feel familiar, practise in different ways. Use what you learn daily, or speak with someone who corrects you. Build a feedback loop to track progress and what needs more practice.
About the Teacher
What I appreciate about the teachers at Mandarin Inn is that they are well prepared and really make you participate in class.
I also like that I can ask a lot of questions: what something means, how it is used, or in what context. And if I still don’t understand it, I can just ask again. That’s useful if you want to understand how the language works, not just use it.
With Teacher Emily, one small question could easily lead to learning something completely new about the language. You only had to mention a word and she would write it out immediately, Chinese characters included, incredibly fast. She also shared a lot about the history and origins of Chinese characters and explained things as they came up, so the class often became much more than just the HSK unit.
Teacher Summer is very good at keeping you on track through a whole unit. If you start to get lost, she notices it quickly and checks whether everything is still clear. Her classes are very structured, so I can follow the process well, and she makes sure we cover what we need to cover. The class can move quite fast, but there is enough repetition to get familiar with the HSK material, while the active practice makes it feel like real language training.
Learning in China
At first, pronunciation worried me. But after listening to a lot of Chinese, I found the sounds quite clear. Hanzi has been the hardest part. Learning characters alongside Pinyin feels like learning two languages at once. Reading them is like decoding: similar characters slowly reveal small differences. Writing is another story — I’m saving that challenge for later.
Building sentences is still hard. I often have a longer sentence in Dutch or English, then must make it shorter and simpler in Chinese. Dutch and English make connections more explicit; Chinese relies more on context. In cinema subtitles, many words disappear, but the main meaning remains. Sentence order is challenging too. My brain translates first, then rearranges for Chinese structure. I still consciously put time and location earlier.
But a teacher taught me something important: when speaking, grammar doesn’t have to be perfect. Small mistakes are usually understood. People react positively when you try. Even a few words can become a small conversation. Each time it gets a little easier. So I’m comfortable speaking and improving grammar along the way.
Workshops
Daily life in Shanghai is incredibly convenient. You can order almost anything and have it delivered almost instantly. For months, I couldn’t believe how easy it was. I still carried groceries home myself until someone at the supermarket set up an app on my phone. That was a life changer. I’m not sure how I’ll go back. More broadly, many products and services developed here improve quality of life far beyond China. I’m still learning about Chinese culture, which makes the experience so enjoyable.
I enjoy hobbies that focus on details. Making clothes has been a long-time interest, and I love visual art and design. One day I’d love to make my own furniture, though painting and drawing are best left to others. Travelling is a big part of my life. Long train journeys are a particular love — once spending 36 hours through Siberia over New Year’s Eve. The Moscow station still stays with me, and wondering where all the travellers were going. I’ve also travelled from the Netherlands to Georgia and Armenia by train, about four days. I love different landscapes and local cuisines. In China, there are so many regional cuisines to try; Sichuan is my favourite so far.
I like fast sports, as long as there’s no motor. In China I mostly run, but swimming and ice skating are my favourites. I like that swimming is taken seriously here, with good pools for real exercise. Funnily enough, I’m not a fan of the ocean. When not doing any of that, I read a lot of non-fiction, especially history. I can spend hours in a museum reading all the wall text.
Favourite Chinese Sentence
My favourite Chinese sentence is 物极必反”wù jí bì fǎn”: things reverse when they reach an extreme.
I like this phrase because I think it gets at several important things.
Don’t chase perfection.
Don’t work too hard or you’ll burn out.
I like the idea of balance in Taoist thought.
Someone once told me that maybe this is also why you hear “hǎo” so often in Chinese, rather than something like “perfect.” I find that really interesting.
My learning rhythm is a bit like that too. Not chasing a perfect daily streak, but allowing myself to pause, and then return.
Closing
Learning a language is perhaps not only about mastering a language, but about re-understanding the world.
If you would also like to build a deeper connection with Shanghai through Chinese, Mandarin Inn would be glad to keep a quiet desk for you.
In a century-old Shanghai villa, with people from around the world, learn slowly, speak slowly. (End)
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Mandarin Inn, More Than Just a Language School
Located in the scenic heart of Shanghai’s former French Concession, Mandarin Inn is housed in a historic villa, offering not only an ideal place for studying Mandarin but also a chance to experience Shanghai’s rich history and culture. As the home of the APM Public Library and recognized by Ecovadis for corporate social responsibility, Mandarin Inn carries a dual mission of education and cultural heritage.
