Learning Chinese the right way
Editor's Note
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April 20 marks the 2024 UN Chinese Language Day - a day that encourages people around the world to learn and use Chinese, one of the six official languages of the UN. Despite being one of the most challenging languages in the world to learn, Chinese has gained widespread appeal, with many increasingly taking language courses to perfect their Chinese language skills.
What are the motivations for learning Chinese? What are the difficulties in learning Chinese, and most of all, how to master the language? Let’s listen to the story of four international students who are fluent Chinese speakers.
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01
The beginning of
a Chinese journey
“
Fluent in Spanish and English, my father was the one who encouraged me to learn Chinese. He told me, 'I won’t be surprised if you master a few other European languages, but if you can be fluent in Chinese, I will be really proud of you. It might become the best investment in your future, both academically and professionally.' As soon as I started learning Mandarin in Belarus, I was mesmerized by the language.
”
—Kate
Kaligaeva Ekaterina, also known as Kate (Belarus)
“
I came to China with my parents for the first time at two or three years old, and from that time on, my mother and my grandparents began to teach me Chinese. Later, my mother told me that when I uttered the words ‘grandma’ and ‘grandpa,’ she could see that it was tough for me because I couldn't tell the difference between the two words in Chinese. The difference is collectively referred to as ‘Lao Lao,’ and then my mother recorded many videos of me, which are so funny that I now laugh every time I look at them.
”
—Adrian
Adrian J. (Germany)
“
My journey of learning the Chinese language began in 2016 when I applied for a program of the Pakistani government that sent Pakistani students to China to learn the language. At first, I was not sure if I should go to China for a language program. I didn’t know much about China or what I could achieve by learning the Chinese language. Now, I feel that coming to China was one of the best decisions of my life, as I now fully enjoy the life and culture here.
”
—Wasim
Muhammad Wasim (Pakistan)
“
I was eight when my entire family moved to Shanghai because of my father’s job. At first, I didn’t speak a word of Chinese, so it was hard to communicate with my classmates at school. Since the children’s brains are like sponges, starting from Ni Hao, I learned Chinese rapidly.
”
—Soyeon
Soyeon Park (South Korea)
02
Memorable stories
while learning Chinese
“
I am very thankful to my first Chinese Teacher, Miss Liu, who encouraged me to take part in the Belarus State Chinese Bridge competition. I still remember the days I prepared for the contest back home. I admit that it was challenging for me, especially learning calligraphy and tongue twisters, but my teachers were always there to help me. The moment when I stepped on the stage for the first time to give a speech and perform in Chinese will stay in my memory forever. Before going on to the stage, my hands were sweating, and my knees were shaking. Miss Liu hugged me and wished me good luck, saying that I was the best student she could ever ask for. This gave me much-needed confidence and belief in myself, and all my worries disappeared.
”
—Kate
“
When I was in fourth or fifth grade, I was chatting with my mother, and suddenly I used the word '麻利儿 (má lì er),' which is a word in the Beijing dialect. My mother was amazed, and she kept laughing because she was not from Beijing but from Tianjin. Although her Mandarin is standard and fluent, she never praised these authentic Beijing dialects. She was surprised that I, a German child, could speak such an authentic Beijing dialect so naturally. I naturally learned Chinese better.
”
—Adrian
03
Setbacks
“
When I first started learning Chinese , it was extremely challenging. I had spent about six months learning Mandarin and couldn’t speak a word of it. Not only was my vocabulary in dire straits, my pronunciation was also terrible. Frustrated with my slow progress, I would ask myself, 'Is it impossible to learn Mandarin, or am I not smart enough?' However, things changed with time. I decided to try and learn the language harder. I started to devote a few hours every day to learn the language after finishing my school assignments. Gradually, I grew more passionate about the language, culture, and China itself. My Chinese improved, and I could write short essays, read some news articles and talk to my new Chinese friends who studied in Belarus.
”
—Kate
“
For me, writing Chinese characters and calligraphy was challenging. Also, there are many characters with multiple pronunciations in Chinese, making it harder sometimes to pronounce them correctly. Idioms in the Chinese language are also hard for foreigners to remember, except for the ones we often listen to from our teachers and friends while communicating.
”
—Wasim
04
Experiences gained
and suggestions given
“
Living in China, immersing myself in the local life, I learned a lot about China, Chinese culture, and traditions, which in turn helped me to learn Chinese as well. For a year or two, I liked to watch Chinese TV series with my grandmother together, and we’d talk about the plot and characters while watching. This can be a way to improve one’s Chinese.
”
—Adrian
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I always stick to the principle of not being afraid of speaking Chinese, even if I made grammatical errors while speaking, and continually took steps to talk with Chinese students and others both on and off-campus. This is the way someone can learn more authentic Chinese. I still remember that our Chinese listening class teacher didn’t speak a single English word throughout the entire period of the course.
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—Wasim
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To improve our language ability, my classmates and I used Chinese to communicate even after class. I found it very helpful, and my speaking level improved dramatically. In Tsinghua, my understanding of the language and culture has become profound and dynamic, helping me bond with friends and teachers and feel a sense of belonging.
”
—Soyeon
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Editors: Liu Shutian, Gillian Tang, Fang Si
Designer: Guo Wenqing
Reviewers: Chen Ken, Lin Yuan