Tips for learning Mandarin: Explained by a Westerner

Steve Kaufman 

(74-year-old Canadian diplomat speaks 20 languages)

Top TIPS when learning a language 

It depends on you, the time you dedicate, and there is no language that can be learned by quick method!  

We share the following questions in this regard

1. What is the most difficult language to learn?

closer language is easier to learn

Therefore, as the director says, it can divide 2 large range of language, eastern and western.

So the most * difficult * language for a Westerner to learn is CHINESE, but only for these two reasons:

A. Writing in Mandarin: you have to practice constantly because if you do not do it you can forget what you have learned and be aware that this is normal and it is recommended not to get frustrated if it happens.

B. Pronunciation: The 4 tones are usually a challenge at first for the ear of Western students, it is advisable to listen to videos or songs to get used to the ear. 

Mandarin also has its * easy * part:

1.  has flexible use, once you learn what a character means, there are many ways you can use or combine them.

 很久 ， 长久 ，（This part you can ask your laoshi (to explain it to you)

B. Grammar part: is much less tangled compared to other languages, there is hardly any 

Mandarin usually seems difficult for Westerners, but like any language you have to KNOW the language has simple parts and others not so much

Learning an Eastern language and a Western one at the same time, would not be confused, because there is no similarity, but if learning a similar language such as Spanish and Portuguese, there may be confusion, but the most IMPORTANT thing is to be able to communicate, understand the main message that is being transmitting.

2, How to improve the LISTENING part?

How to remember or memorize vocabulary?

A. Listen and read a lot, stimulate your brain, be in constant contact with the language, train your hearing, and your vision, until you become a habit 

B. Not only do you have to * memorize *, you have to get used to listening and reading in the language, it is not known when it is already stored in your memory * and when you least expect it it comes out when you need it.

C. It must be “digested”, * process * and * nurture * the language and learning, it is not just * memorizing * by force, since it can be forgotten because it is not part of the * root * of their knowledge. Practice in class, when you can do it with a friend, sing in the shower, watch movies with Chinese subtitles, listen to music and don't be shy about speaking and you will make the language part of your life

4. How to maintain interest in learning the language? 

A. Know the culture and history of the language's country of origin, because that is where * the reason * for using the language comes from.