10 Best Practices for learning Mandarin effectively !!

Learning Mandarin (a language spoken by more than 1.4 billion people) can be a challenging task, but with the right mindset and approach, it can be a rewarding experience. Here are some best practices for learning Mandarin effectively:

1. Start with Pinyin: PINYIN is a standardised system developed in 1950s to teach spoken Mandarin. It uses the Latin alphabet to represent the sounds of Mandarin, including the four tones. It serves as a bridge for English speaker to learn Mandarin. Pinyin system uses consonants (referred as Initials) & vowels (referred as finals); some of these have same pronunciation as English but some of these are completely different. E.g: X, Q, Zh, Ch etc.

PINYIN is also used for inputting Chinese characters on computers and mobile devices. Learning pinyin is essential for anyone who wants to learn Mandarin, as it is a crucial component of the language-learning process.

2. Learn the tones properly: Mandarin is a tonal language which means that tone of a word can change its meaning entirely. This can be difficult for English speakers who are not used to using tones to convey meaning. There are four tones which are represented by the following marks:

a.  High level(first) tone: (ā)

b. Rising (second) tone: (á)

c. Falling-rising (third) tone: (ǎ)

d. Falling tone (fourth tone): (à)

In addition to these 4 tones; some words don't have any tone & its called as neutral tone. It is very important to learn, and identifying these distinct tones properly, and practice them regularly because incorrect pronunciation could land you in a difficult situation! 

E.g: Careless use of tones with word "ma" could cause one to call someone's mother (Mā) a horse (Mǎ). 

3. Follow a systematic approach: Don't learn words randomly which you may not be able to relate. Follow some structured course; either go level wise (E.g: HSK Level 1 has 150 words followed by HSK Level 2 which has 300 words & so on....) It will give you some sense of satisfaction with each milestone achieved OR make it topic specific learning (E.g: introduction, family members, taking taxi or going to a restaurant etc...). By this method, you will be self motivated when you see yourself conversing well in some topics.

4. Focus on Vocabulary & grammar : As a beginner, it is judicious to initially focus on increasing your vocabulary & basic grammar (you may have heard that Grammar is not important in Mandarin language; which is not a very true statement though). Chinese characters can be learned later once you find a comfort zone with spoken aspect of Mandarin.

(Do you know you can write till HSK Level 2 Exam without knowing Chinese Characters :-)

5. Split the Chinese word: Most of Chinese words are made up of two or more characters, each of which has its own meaning. For example, the word "good bye" in Mandarin is "再见" (Zài jiàn), which consists of two characters: "再" (Zài) meaning "again" and "见" (jiàn) meaning "to see" which literally means "see you again"!

Learning the meaning of individual words will help you to remember the words easily, explains its logic & increase your vocabulary.

6. Listening is the key: Listen to audio files, podcast or watch videos; there are tons of online free resources available but my suggestion is to choose the audio files as per your level / vocabulary known or else you will be overwhelmed by the enormous amount of material available online.

This part of learning can be done while you are commuting or going for morning walks or in gym with your Headphones ON:-)

Don't avoid listening part of learning; after all you definitely want to understand what Native speaker is saying when you are interacting with your Chinese colleague/friend or tour guide.

7. Be consistent: Consistency is key to language learning. Practice Mandarin regularly, ideally every day, to reinforce what you've learned and make progress.By committing to a daily practice routine, you can establish a sense of structure and routine in your life, which can help you stay motivated and productive over the long term. 

No matter if its just 5-10 words on busy days when you don't have time:-)

8. Form simple sentences:  Start forming sentences with vocabulary & grammar you have learnt. Try using these sentences in your daily life with your friends/colleagues/ family members( doesn't matter if they don't understand it). Even if you don't want to use; just form new sentences, write it & imagine the scenario where you will be saying it. A very good exercise to improve your sentence formation; start with simpler one & then move to complex one E.g: I eat food, I eat food at restaurant, I eat food at restaurant at 8:00 p.m & so on....

Tip is: "Think Simple".

9. Speak with native :  By Speaking with native Mandarin speaker you can, not only improve your fluency & pronunciation but also learn colloquial language (phrases & expressions used in daily conversation which may not be taught in text books). 

Native speaker can also offer you insight into Chinese culture which can help you understand the language better. Last but not the least speaking with native speaker can build your confidence in using the language as you will receive immediate feedback on your mistakes.

10. Be patient and persistent: Learning Mandarin can be a challenging and time-consuming process, so be patient and persistent in your efforts and celebrate small victories along the way.

The Chinese language is a fascinating and important language to learn; learning Mandarin Chinese can be a rewarding and enriching experience, but it requires consistent effort and dedication. To get the most out of your language-learning journey, it's important to start with the basics, focus on improving your listening and speaking skills, use multimedia resources, practice regularly, and be patient and persistent. By following these best practices, you can develop a solid foundation in Mandarin and gain the confidence to communicate effectively in a new language.

Happy Learning Mandarin!!!