Hacking Chinese Podcast

How can you stop translating in your head? What are some Chinese words that can’t be translated? And why is translation a worthwhile learning activity? #learnchinese #translation #mentaltranslation Podcast listener survey: https://forms.gle/tVqRe8gVhoQwj9xM7 Link to article: Student Q&A, August 2024: Avoiding mental translation, untranslatable words and why practising translation is good: http...

Understanding Chinese involves more than just knowing words and phrases; it's about using context to interpret meaning. My recent trip to China highlighted the crucial role of top-down listening in navigating dialects, speech patterns, and unexpected questions. #learnchinese #topdownlistening #accents #immersion #context Link to article: Insights from my recent trip to China: The importance of...

Small details sometimes matter when writing Chinese characters, but sometimes they don't. Figuring out which details to pay attention to is made harder by character variants and font differences! #learnchinese #chineselanguage #chinesefonts #languagelearning #chinesetips Link to article: Chinese character variants and font differences for language learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/chine...

Previewing before Chinese lessons is a simple yet frequently overlooked method to enhance learning. By previewing, you maximise the benefits of each lesson, allowing you to focus on areas where you truly need a teacher's guidance. #learnchinese #preview #class #course Link to article: Why you should preview before every Chinese lesson: https://www.hackingchinese.com/preview-every-chinese-lesso...

The humble notebook is a powerful tool for learners of Chinese. Whether an exquisite leather-bound journal or a digital text file, a notebook offers more than a space to record information about vocabulary or grammar. #learnchinese #notes #notebook #logging Link to article: How I used a notebook to learn more Chinese, and why you should too: https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-you-really-should-use...

How can you read Chinese faster? Which children's books are best for second-language learners? And what's the ideal entry point into Chinese literature? #learnchinese #reading #q&a #speed #genre Link to article: Student Q&A, July 2024: Reading speed, children’s books and Chinese literature: https://www.hackingchinese.com/student-qa-july-2024-reading-speed-childrens-books-and-chines...

When learning Chinese, your progress depends on three factors: the content you study, the methods you use, and the time you dedicate. To achieve your goals quickly and efficiently, strive to optimise all three! #learnchinese #progress #time #method #content Link to article: The three factors that determine how much Chinese you learn: https://www.hackingchinese.com/three-factors-decide-much-chinese...

Habits are routines that become smooth and effortless with repetition. By developing the right habits for learning Chinese, you can learn more with less effort! #learnchinese #habit #routine #studymanagement Link to article: Habit hacking for language learners: https://www.hackingchinese.com/habit-hacking-for-language-learners/ The best podcasts for learning Chinese in 2024: https://www.hackingchi...

Learning the building blocks of Chinese characters is a great idea, but what should learn about each character component? And more specifically, should you learn the pronunciation of radicals? #learnchinese #radicals #pronunciation #components Link to article: Should you learn the pronunciation of radicals? https://www.hackingchinese.com/learn-pronunciation-of-radicals/ The building blocks of Chin...

How much time should you spend on flashcards? Is Remembering the Hanzi good for learning Chinese characters? And what resources should you use if you want to understand the writing system better? #learnchinese #vocabualry #characters #hanzi #flashcards #heisig Student Q&A, June 2024: How much time on flashcards, Remembering the Hanzi, and resources for learning characters: https://www.hackingc...

Learning to write Chinese characters by hand takes a lot of time, but in today's digital society, is handwriting even necessary? Let's explore the role of handwriting when learning Chinese as a second language and discuss what a curriculum that caters to all students might look like! #learnchinese #hanzi #handwriting #typing #chinesecharacters Link to article: Chinese character learning fo...

As infants, we perceive the world without filters. Learning our first language, we form categories of sounds, aiding understanding but losing the ability to hear sounds we don’t need. As adults learning a second language, we need to regain this ability. But how? #learnchinese #sounds #tones #perception #training Link to article: Learning to hear the sounds and tones in Mandarin: https://www.hackin...

Using the right resources is important when learning anything, but it's essential when learning Mandarin pronunciation. Here are 24 great resources, most of them completely free! #learnchinese #pronunciation #resources #free Link to article: 24 great resources for improving your Mandarin pronunciation: https://www.hackingchinese.com/24-great-resources-for-improving-your-mandarin-pronunciation/...

Why is your teacher is so much easier to understand than anybody else? Should you read transcripts or subtitles before, during or after listening? And why do I refuse to recommend certain podcasts? #learnchinese #listening #teacher #podcasts #transcripts #subtitles Student Q&A, May 2024: Understanding strangers, listening with transcripts, and which podcasts to avoid:  https://www.hackingchine...

Many people assume that the hardest part of learning Chinese must be the characters or the tones, but it turns out that most learners struggle more with listening comprehension. Why is that, and what can you do about it? #learnchinese #listening #comprehension #challenges Link to article: Beyond tīng bu dǒng, part 6: Why is listening in Chinese so hard? https://www.hackingchinese.com/why-is-listen...

Chengyu are idioms linked to ancient literature. Are they the key to Chinese language and culture or a waste of time? #learnchinese #chengyu #idiom #vocabulary Link to article: ⁠⁠⁠ Chengyu, a magic key to Chinese language and culture, or a waste of time? https://www.hackingchinese.com/learning-the-right-chengyu-the-right-way/ The building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in...

If I wrote a comprehensive guide to learning Chinese with a special focus on vocabulary, what would it look like? Now you can find out - for free! #learnchinese #studyguide #skritter #vocabulary Link to article: ⁠ Interview: Insights from Skritter’s Complete Guide to Learning Chinese: https://www.hackingchinese.com/interview-insights-from-skritters-complete-guide-to-learning-chinese/ Get Skritter...

Is recording and listening to your own Chinese useful for improving your speaking ability? How can you use chengyu to expand your repertoire? And how can role-playing games be utilised to improve your spoken Chinese? #learnchinese #speaking #recording #chengyu #role-playing Link to article: Student Q&A, April 2024: Learning chengyu, listening to yourself and using role-playing games to learn C...

What languages do you speak ? Do you speak Chinese? We often use speaking to represent language ability in general, but does that mean that speaking is more important than listening? #learnchinese #speaking #listening #input #output Link to article: Is speaking more important than listening when learning Chinese? https://www.hackingchinese.com/is-speaking-more-important-than-listening-when-learnin...

Podcasts let you create your own Chinese immersion experience, with level-appropriate stories and authentic conversations. Learn flexibly on the go with the best podcasts for beginners, intermediate and advanced students! #learnchinese #podcasts #listening #beginner #intermediate #advanced Link to article: The best podcasts for learning Chinese in 2024: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-best-podc...

A language is a structured system used for communication, so the idea to focus on communication when learning Chinese sounds obvious, but it’s surprisingly new and rarer than you think! #learnchinese #communication #meaning-focused #communicativelearning Link to article: Real communication: What it is, why you want it and how to get it: https://www.hackingchinese.com/real-communication-what-it-is-...

While strong motivation doesn't necessarily accelerate your learning or improve your memory, without it you won't spend enough time learning Chinese. So how can you stay motivated for months, years and even decades? #learnchinese #motivation #sdt #autonomy #competence #relatedness Link to article: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ How to learn Chinese in the long term with intrinsic motivation: ht...

How can you improve your ability to read aloud in Chinese? How can you learn to see where a word starts and ends in a text? And how can you make sure you get the most out of your reading practice? #learnchinese #reading #segmentation #chinesetext Link to article: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Student Q&A, March 2024: Reading aloud, finding word boundaries, and working actively with reading materials: https://www.h...

Mastering Chinese characters, whether you find them enchantingly beautiful or overwhelmingly complex, is essential for literacy in Chinese. Outlier Linguistics will help you understand how the Chinese writing system works, making it easier to learn! #learnchinese #characters #hanzi #course #reviewSocial media and sharing Link to article: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Outlier Chinese Character Masterclass...

Learning to hear and pronounce the tones in Mandarin as an adult learner can be tricky, but with the right methods, anyone can do it! #learnchinese #tones #mandarin #pronunciation Link to article: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Hacking Chinese guide to Mandarin tones: https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-hacking-chinese-guide-to-mandarin-tones/⁠⁠ Hacking Chinese Pronunciation: Speaking with Confidence: htt...