Introduction
The Chinese language has been gaining interest as a language Westerners are looking to learn. It is no surprise especially when it is the second most widely spoken language in the world. Furthermore, as we look at the increasing prowess of China’s economy and its re-emergence as an international business and cultural hub, the Chinese language is certainly worth getting to grips with.
Whether you are a beginner who is thinking about learning Chinese, or an advanced learner stuck on a plateau, here are five important factors to consider when you think about the time you take to learn the language.
1. Consistency and effort will pay off big time
If you have only one takeaway from this article, this factor is the most important. Just like anything you do, effort and dedication will always pay off. This applies to your dedication to learning the language consistently. It is said that putting in half an hour daily can stimulate your skills when it comes to achieving a conversational level. A huge bonus is when you incorporate Chinese learning into your daily life and can practice the language regularly with a group of people or with someone.
2. Managing your expectations
The Chinese language is often said that it is one of the hardest languages to learn due to its alluring characters, but did you know that you can learn Chinese without learning its characters? It is not impossible especially if your objective for learning the language is for conversing. To build a strong foundation as a beginner, mastering the pronunciation (also known as pinyin), vocabulary and grammar should preside over learning how to write characters. Once you feel comfortable with this, you can increasingly add writing into your practice with time.
3. The quality of your resources matter
If you have a buddy that is Chinese speaking and enjoys teaching, he/she is all the resources that you need! However, it is not every day that you find such a great friend. For you to enhance your Chinese language skills, you will need quality resources. As mentioned in the first factor, practicing the language with someone is crucial. Luckily there are online Chinese courses that can support you in this aspect. Mandarin Inn Cloud, an online Chinese school can support you with highly qualified Chinese teachers, interactive lessons with other learners, and flexibility with 24/7 availability.
4. How motivated you are
The secret to staying motivated in learning Chinese is to have fun! If you enrol yourself in an online Chinese course, conversing with your classmates is always beneficial and stimulating. Another helpful piece of advice is to immerse yourself in Chinese culture by watching educational YouTube videos, and Chinese drama series, and appreciating Chinese music.
5. A schedule can provide you with a good direction
A schedule should not be too rigid or too loose. It is crucial to customise your schedule based on your lifestyle and the time that you can commit. If you are planning to learn the language online, the learning resources provided should have 24/7 availability. The success of a consistent routine is how well you organise and measure your progress throughout your learning journey. This is personal and experiment what is the most efficient way possible for you.
5. A schedule can provide you with a good direction
A schedule should not be too rigid or too loose. It is crucial to customise your schedule based on your lifestyle and the time that you can commit. If you are planning to learn the language online, the learning resources provided should have 24/7 availability. The success of a consistent routine is how well you organise and measure your progress throughout your learning journey. This is personal and experiment what is the most efficient way possible for you.
