What is the best way of self-learning Chinese?

Approximately 1.3 billion people (or roughly 16% of the world’s population) speak Chinese as their primary language. With a few exceptions, Standard Chinese, in the form of Standard Mandarin, grew to become the official language in the majority of Mainland China and Taiwan, one of four in Singapore, and an official idiom of the United Nations. 71 per cent of Chinese people speak a Mandarin dialect known as “Putonghua.” More than 70 million individuals from 55 distinct national minorities exist in China, and while each minority has its own spoken language, many minority groups lack a unique written medium for their languages.

1. Set achievable goals! Determine your chosen learning method, which will aid you in understanding the language. Priorities should be established. Start with spoken Chinese if you want to learn Chinese for business or vacation! Choose common phrases to start a conversation rather than more challenging ones that are unlikely to be utilised in ordinary settings! Engage in ongoing analysis to track your progress – repetition is key!
2. Enrol in a crash course. When you’re initially starting off, keep translating Chinese words/phrases into English to a minimum! As you progress, intentionally move away from it.
3. Improve your listening abilities by listening to talk programmes, Chinese news, and audiobooks, to mention a few internet platforms. Watch Chinese films with English subtitles and English films with Chinese subtitles to accelerate your study. Learn in your spare time by listening to music, podcasts, and whatever else you can get your hands on.
4. Read aloud to improve your grammar. Choose a native Chinese speaker as a conversation partner with whom you may practise talking and receive feedback. Don’t be scared to experiment and make errors. We’re both to blame. Why is it discouraging or humiliating you? By utilising, you can improve your hearing talents. Remember that self-studying is NOT for everyone! Be cautious of phoney online Chinese learning materials!
5. Avoid writing in your brain. Keep a record of new phrases that will help you create your first conversation, not simply vocabulary. Keep a Chinese dictionary nearby.
6. Studying on a regular basis for a short amount of time is far more useful than trying to complete it all in a one-weekend session! Practice without skipping a beat. There are no loopholes or methods to go around practising.
7. Rather than English words, try to link Chinese terms with visuals and visual events. Study a language every day in short bursts or for 2-4 hours, depending on your time constraints. The Chinese are no exception.

The majority of Chinese characters contain phonetic elements that include clues to their Old Chinese pronunciations. Old Chinese was not entirely devoid of inflection. It had a rich sound system in which consonants were separated by aspiration or hard breathing. From early historical times to the present, the evolution of spoken Chinese languages has been dynamic.

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