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How efficiently can I learn Chinese without actually going to China and being in a Chinese environment?
7 years ago

Chinese Question asked by Adam

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12 Answers

Hello there,

I think the best way is to have access to authentic Chinese language sources as much as possible via internet, TV and other media.

Also practice with native speakers is essential. I would recommend you have at least 2-3 hours learning experience with a native speaker per week.

Depending on your objectives, there are other things to pay attention to. I am happy to discuss with you in detail if you are interested.

Good luck!

Bruce
Answered by Bruce | 7 years ago
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You will be able to learn basic conversation, writing and reading. However, there will be certain dialects and grammar you could only learn when being in a Chinese environment and communicating with other Chinese people.
Answered by [Deleted Member]
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I have found that with any language, you can never truly be fluent until you have visited the country. When it comes to speaking a language in that environment you may often find that people do not talk the way you have been taught; for example by using slang.
Answered by [Deleted Member]
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Really well if you are willing to put in the work, what you need to do is immerse yourself in a Chinese cultural setting and more. Asides from learning Chinese formally through school or learning programs/courses, you should also watch videos like Chinese movies, Chinese news, Chinese shows, Chinese sitcoms and so on, try to do so without subtitles and see how well you understand, because in this various contexts, they speak it formally and they also use slangs so you will be looking at all aspect of the language
Answered by [Deleted Member]
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You can study with me. If you have strong motivation, it will take you less time to learn Chinese for sure. However, learning Chinese is unlike learning other western languages, where listening and speaking skills are not connected with reading and writing ones. In my experience, for an adult to master some daily spoken Chinese takes 3-6 months (1-2 times per week). After that, if the learner has grown some confidence, then he can decide whether he wants to learn the written Chinese. If you want to improve your Chinese vocabulary, learning the characters is a must. Hopefully my answer is OK with you.
Answered by [Deleted Member]
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Not very well - You can only learn by consistent practice and exposure.
Answered by Chris | 7 years ago
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Learning Chinese is a great challenge. You would have to study and practice a lot until you can understand the pronunciation system, since there`re sounds that we don`t have in English. The best thing for you to do would be to surround yourself with Chinese material, audio or podcasts, and imitate the sounds. The other challenge is that you`ll sometimes feel like a little kid doing it, and your mind will play all the tricks for you to give up. Understand that Chinese is a totally different language, and your brain will need to establish new neurological connections until the learning is established. Just please be patient and gentle to yourself, also committed to your goals. Good luck!
Answered by [Deleted Member]
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You can learn Chinese (Mandarin & other dialects like Cantonese) by having an experienced teacher who can recommend the suitable textbooks & CDS for you. The teacher will help you to master the tones, grammar & characters writing. Moreover, a lot of material is available on line.
However, you must be willing to invest time in studying Chinese.
A famous proverb says :
A journey of 10 000 li (Chinese mile)
starts with the first step.

Dr.Zvia Bowman.

Answered by [Deleted Member]
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Learning any language without immersion is extremely difficult, if fluency is what you`re after.

However, it is usually in the later stages of language-learning that immersion becomes really important if you just want to get to grips with reading, writing, and a basic level of speaking, you shouldn`t need to immerse yourself right away.

That being said, as Chinese languages are hugely different from English, it`ll be even harder to learn. I would recommend you at least find a native-speaker to teach you, and then maybe consider holidaying in China (or another country where Mandarin or Cantonese or whichever dialect you choose is spoken) so you can develop some fluency through immersion.

Hope this helps!

Rory
Answered by [Deleted Member]
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Ni Hao which means hi there in Mandarin Chinese.

Being a Chinese who has spent years studying English without actually going to England until 6 years ago, I can reassure you that chatting to a local who can speak standard English (in my case) really helps me not only improve my vocabulary but more importantly it helps me understand how English people think. You can also watch Chinese films or TV dramas which can be helpful somehow but I`m afraid it`s only passive as you don`t get a chance to express your thoughts and more importantly, you miss the chance to be corrected! Therefore, chatting to a local Chinese regularly, having a chance to LISTEN (to understand how local Chinese people use words, how they think, etc) SPEAK (to get a chance to be corrected).

If you are interested, I`m happy to meet up and tutor you Chinese. The first lesson will be free. I can also do online tutoring.
Answered by [Deleted Member]
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No matter which language you want to learn. The best way to learn a language is to think in that language, and I can teach you how to think in another language.
Answered by [Deleted Member]
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Language environment is very important for learning Chinese. However, you are not limited by space and distance because of the existence of internet.
I would recommend you to listen to Chinese music, watch Chinese movie or drama and participate in Chinese social media to get the best language environment possible. Speaking with naive Chinese speaker is probably the best way to improve your Chinese oral skill.
Answered by [Deleted Member]
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