3 Great Tips for Learning Chinese Fast
It is a typically held misconception that a select few individuals are excellent at learning languages and everybody else has to go through a lengthy and cumbersome learning process simply to master the basics. This is especially true of the Chinese language, mainly because it is regarded to be a rather difficult language to master. Trust me, though, learning how to speak Chinese doesn’t need to be a struggle in your case. To pick up Chinese quickly, stick to these three important learning techniques.
1. Work in Key phrases
When learning, you must begin somewhere, so why not jump straight into learning important phrases you can use straight away. This approach works wonders for your confidence because, as you will see, you can get quite a lot done with just a little bit of knowledge. Check out the phrases listed below, for example.
“I want… ”
“I want…” = “Wo yao…”
pijiu = beer
jiaozi = dumplings
Wo yao Jiaozi. Wo yao pijiu. = I’ll have a beer and some dumplings.
See that? Immediately after studying only one simple phrase and two vocabulary words, you can walk into a cafe in China and get yourself a beverage and meal! Now imagine if you took a couple of hours to understand how to say more dishes and drinks. You will have what I like to call “restaurant fluency” in no time.
“I go…”
“I go… = “Wo chu…”
Sanlitun = a famous neighborhood in Beijing.
If you say to a taxi driver, “Wo chu Sanlitun,” he will know that you mean, “Take me to Sanlitun.”
Wasn’t that simple? All you have to do is remember just one key phrase and the name of your destination, and you can take a taxi anyplace you wish to go. The important thing is to keep in mind that you are looking to communicate, not trying to show how eloquent you are. You can be eloquent later.
2. Categorize
The mind naturally likes to categorize things, so if you want to memorize Chinese vocabulary words quickly, be good to your brain and give it just what it wants. You will be grateful you did. Here, I will demonstrate.
Memorize these twenty-five terms.
wheel, blue, apple, Thailand, electrician, green, engine, accountant, pear, Korea, plumber, purple, tire, grape, Japan, banana, China, red, hood, mechanic, Vietnam, pink, writer, fender, coconut
That is going to take a while, right? Look at the exact same twenty-five words when categorized, though. They’re much easier to remember.
Places: Thailand, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, China
Fruits: Apple, Pear, Grape, Coconut, Banana
Colors: Blue, Green, Purple, Red, Pink
Jobs: Electrician, Mechanic, Writer, Accountant, Plumber
Car Parts: Wheel, Engine, Tire, Hood, Fender
Categorize your vocabulary words and you will be able to remember them very quickly.
3. Use Flash Cards
Learning fresh vocabulary, even when categorized, takes time. To learn as swiftly and effectively as possible, use flash cards. It’s simple. Just purchase a pack, or 2, of 3 X 5 note cards and stick to this process.
1. On one side of a card, write the vocabulary word you want to learn in Chinese. On the reverse side, write the word in English. Do this for each and every vocabulary term you wish to learn.
2. Now separate your cards into stacks by category, for instance, “food,” “colors,” “numbers,” etc.
3. Pick up a stack of cards, and look at the top card, English side up. Read the term in English. Now flip the card over and read the word in Chinese. Now pause for a moment, glance away and make an effort to recall the word in English and then in Chinese. Place the card at the bottom of the stack. Repeat for each card in the stack.
4. Shuffle the cards. Look at the top card, in English. Now attempt to remember the meaning in Chinese. If you recollect it accurately, set the card to the side. In case you get the answer incorrect, put the card at the bottom of the stack. Do that for each and every card.
5. Repeat step four, only using the cards you didn’t recollect accurately. As you do that, your “correct” collection will get bigger and bigger, until you have gotten each word right.
6. Now all of your cards are in the “correct” pile. Pick them up, shuffle them, and repeat the process until you can go through the entire stack without missing any.
7. Once you have memorized a few categorizations, start mixing the stacks together. This will help you practice using the terms outside of their particular categorical context.
IMPORTANT: With completely new vocabulary terms, don’t create stacks in excess of 25-30 cards. It isn’t efficient to memorize too many terms at the same time. Also, be sure you continue to shuffle the cards as you study; otherwise, your brain will memorize the order of the terms, and you will experience difficulty remembering their meanings within a different context.
Summary
It’s correct that learning languages is simpler for some than for others, however , nobody needs to struggle unnecessarily. Work in phrases, categorize your vocabulary words, and use flash cards as study aids, and you’ll find that you are one of those individuals who excels at mastering new languages.
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