How to Learn Chinese

Step 4
This step looks at the grammar of the Chinese language, which is almost identical to that of all other languages. The only difference you may find between the Chinese and English grammar is the sequence in which it is placed. Therefore, you need to pay close attention to these differences and practice them as much as possible.

However, the most important thing to remember when learning any new language, and not just Chinese, is that you should not be afraid to make mistakes. Certainly a lot of people find it difficult to learn a language, as they are extremely self conscious and are worried that they may make mistakes, and people will laugh at them when they do.

So do not be discouraged, and remember that by practicing what you have learned, you will soon be amazed at the amount of progress you can make.

Also, in order to achieve your goals, you should allocate some time each day to carrying out your studies, and it is important that you keep to the schedule you devise for yourself. It is best if you set up a schedule where you study a little and often, rather than studying for long periods of time all in one go.

Step 3
It is important that, as well as learning to speak the Chinese language, you spend time writing it. By doing this, you will not only be able to understand the strokes and rules relating to each Chinese character, but it will also provide you with a sound foundation of just how each character is formed.

Below are some tips to help ensure that you can learn the Chinese characters.

a. The first thing you should do in order to memorize each character is to write them down on paper until you have remembered it. You should start with the easiest ones first and then gradually build up to the much more difficult ones in the future.

b. However, instead of writing each one down many times over, you should only write them once or twice. You should have a whole list of words in front of you, and you should go through this list writing each word once or twice, and once you have done this list, you then start from the beginning and go through it again. Do this for as many times as the course instructs you to do it. Doing this will help to ensure that the words you have learned are more firmly ensconced within your memory.

c. Whenever possible, watch either movies, or TV programs that have Chinese subtitles. It is one of the best and easiest ways for a person to learn Chinese, through both the spoken and written word.

d. Get some post it’s and then write down particular characters you are about to learn, and place them on the objects that they relate to.

After some time, you will notice that many of these Chinese characters have some elements in common. They may be related to each other through the meaning or pronunciation of the word. By noting these common elements, you will find that it helps you to remember the characters much easier.

Step 2
You will need to spend time listening, as well as practicing, both simple Chinese sentences, as well as vocabulary, so that you can memorize it.

Below are some tips which should help you to achieve your goals with regards to the above 2 steps.

a. If you are able to, take a local community Chinese class as well as carrying out practice drills with a study partner. The more you are able to speak the language, then the easier it will get.

b. Get yourself a good dictionary, and ensure it is one which has the right phonetic spellings of each word.

c. If you can, find someone whose native language is Chinese, and spend time with them conversing in their own language. There are a lot of Chinese students now coming to the US on exchange programs that would like to spend time with Americans learning English, and will in return provide Americans with chances to learn and speak Chinese.

d. Get hold of some tapes or CD’s where you have to listen to, and then repeat out loud, what they have said. Also, try and get hold of some Chinese newspapers and magazines so that you can read what is contained within out loud.

e. Sing some Chinese songs. Go to your local library, or purchase online some tapes or CD’s, and then listen to them frequently

until such time as you are able to speak the words and the sentences on your own.

f. It is important that you review all the other words you have learned previously on a regular basis so that they become fresh in your memory again.