Maybe you’ve been wanting to start learning Chinese, but don’t know how to get over the initial hurdles that make it seem impossible. Never fear, for I am here to help demystify this incredible language! I started learning Chinese at Reed from the beginning level and studied abroad this past summer in Taipei, Taiwan. Trust me when I say that it’s a challenging language to learn, but not impossible! (And I might even argue that it’s been the easiest and most fun language to study…) Here are my personal strategies for approaching Chinese as a beginning student, while keeping it fun!
Need help with pronunciation?
Chinese pronunciation is quite different from English, but it doesn’t have to be impossible! Whether you are struggling with tones or the pronunciation itself, I recommend checking out pinyin charts. These websites are fully comprehensive with all possible syllable sounds in all four tones. I like this pinyin chart from Yabla.com the most because it has recordings from real Chinese speakers, rather than a robotic-sounding voice.
If you find tones to be challenging, I suggest listening to tone pairs. The Yabla.com website also has a great tone pair chart with multiple word examples. Tone pairs can help you recognize differences between tones, and how multiple tones sound when put together. To get the most out of this resource, you can first listen to the tone pair, then repeat after the audio. Note: this website also has a wonderful tone pair listening and speaking quiz, but requires a subscription for full access ($9.95/month). This YouTube playlist by AllSet Learning can give you the same practice for free!
Last, to practice tone recognition, I recommend this self-correcting quiz. Doing a few drills can be really helpful in identifying tones and pinyin syllables.
Practicing vocabulary in Beginning Chinese
For many speakers, Chinese vocabulary is completely different from their native languages and may not be very intuitive. However, what I love about Chinese is the character system—intimidating as it is, it’s surprisingly fun to learn and practice. When I was in Beginning Chinese last year, I made flashcards on Flippity.net to stay organized amidst the mountain of characters I had to memorize each week. And this resource is available for all students, I hope it helps!
Chinese 111
Chinese 111 simplified and traditional
Chinese 111 simplified vocabulary
Chinese 111 traditional vocabulary
Chinese 112
Chinese 112 simplified and traditional
Chinese 112 simplified vocabulary
Chinese 112 traditional vocabulary
Some ideas of how to use these flashcards:
- Take advantage of all the features: shuffle, audio, excluding cards. There are also several modes to try, such as matching or typing practice.
- For each vocabulary word, practice writing out the character by hand, then write out a sentence.
- If you can, try to expand out the vocabulary word by using it as a journal prompt. Try to use all the vocabulary in your memory from that lesson to build upon the initial prompt.
Perks of visiting tutoring!
You’ve heard this before and I’ll say it again… come to Chinese tutoring! I cannot stress enough how much tutoring made a difference in my Beginning Chinese experience. Drop-in tutoring happens three times a week in the Language Lab, and can be booked individually as well. Come as you are, tutors are always happy to help, whether it’s conversation practice (however limited it may be!), pronunciation help, grammar explanations, or writing out characters.
Check out the schedule here: https://www.reed.edu/academic_support/tutor-schedule/#Ch
Discover more about studying abroad
If you’re interested in studying abroad but aren’t sure if a Chinese-speaking country is your dream destination, you should come to the Journey to the East event on November 19, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Chinese House. Studying abroad is an incredible opportunity to experience life outside of the Reed bubble, and especially in cultural and linguistic immersion. Studying in a Chinese-speaking country isn’t as daunting as it seems—in my experience, people are always happy to see a foreigner trying their best with the language. This event will include multiple presentations by students who have studied abroad in the Sinosphere (including me!): our stand-out moments, culture shocks, and tips for studying abroad. You don’t want to miss it!
Bonus: media recommendations
I believe that language-learning should be fun, so here are some Chinese media recommendations! You may not be able to understand everything at a beginning level, but the goal here isn’t perfection, it’s to find enjoyment in all things in Chinese. You may want to practice these songs… ahem… before Language Lab Karaoke Night!
Songs: 星期五晚上 – Energy (hype song) and 你好不好？ – Eric Chou (cry in the shower song)
Movie: Love O2O the Movie (RPG romance and a pegasus wedding)