If you're learning Chinese or any other language to expand your career opportunities or maybe you just want to travel to or maybe move to a Chinese-speaking area or country, then this video is for you.
Introduction
Trust me, I know exactly how it feels to have that unfair advantage after learning languages because I was able to boost my income to six figures within, I think, around 6 to 8 months right after I quit my 8-hour-a-day corporate job. But since you're watching this video, I'm sure you have this question in your heart: how do we start learning such difficult languages like Mandarin, Cantonese, or Arabic? These languages are category five languages, which means they are extremely hard to learn at the beginning.
About Me
If you're new here, my name is James. As a government-certified language teacher in China, who's also running a language learning studio with my wife Emily, I'm here to share with you the exact ways that I mastered Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. By the way, for those who think Mandarin and Cantonese are the same language, they are actually not.
Find Your Purpose
I had this question when I was young: what's the point of learning this useless language? I didn't think I would ever have a chance to talk to any foreigners in my life. This is when people fail to learn a new language—they don't have a purpose. If you don't have a purpose, there's no reason for you to be consistent. So, my first tip is to find your purpose, whether it's to increase your income or to travel. For example, my wife and I are going to Japan for a short vacation next month, which is a perfect reason to pick up a new language.
Plan Your Schedule
Some friends might say, "I’ll do it whenever I have time." But you need to plan your schedule and block out time for learning the new language. During your study session, make sure to turn your phone or computer to "Do Not Disturb" mode and focus. My suggestion is to spend at least 2 hours every day on learning a new language, but if you don't have that much time, just be consistent. Learning a new language is a marathon, not a sprint.
Pick Your Battlefield
You can't learn everything in a short time, so pick your topics wisely. For example, Emily and I will need language materials for hotels, public transport, airports, and restaurants for our trip to Japan. Focus on the most relevant topics.
Start With Basics
You don’t need to start from scratch with everything like writing characters or learning all the grammar rules. Jump to the most basic vocabularies, sentences, and phrases that you will need. Unless you're taking standardized exams like HSK, you can focus on practical language use.
Use the Right Materials
Choose materials that are neither too easy nor too hard. I call this L+1, where L is your current language proficiency level, and +1 is a bit more challenging material. If you are preparing for standardized exams, books are essential. Otherwise, a laptop and an iPad are all you need.
Practice Shadowing
Shadowing is simple. Listen to the audio and mimic it sentence by sentence. For example, if you're a beginner in Japanese, pick an app that teaches basic phrases like "Hello," "Thank you," and "Goodbye." Apps that let you choose specific topics are very helpful.
Watch Dramas
Dramas about daily life are perfect for listening and speaking practice with a little reading involved. When I was learning English, I watched "Friends" and "Modern Family." For Chinese, I recommend "iPartment" and "Home with Kids." The latter has a Beijing accent, which might be useful depending on which region of China you are focusing on.
Take Notes While Watching
While watching dramas, take notes of new vocabularies and sentences and mimic them as many times as possible. This helps reinforce learning and prevents wasting time.
Prepare for Language Exchange
If you choose to have a language exchange buddy, prepare materials for the session to avoid random and repetitive conversations. This will make your sessions more efficient.
Be Consistent
Consistency is key. Break your tasks into smaller steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. For example, if you’re going to the gym, just focus on getting to the doorstep, then to the elevator, and so on. Documenting your progress can also help you stay motivated.
Conclusion
If you found this video helpful, please hit the subscribe button and leave a comment if you have any questions. I’ll try to get back to you as soon as possible. Happy learning!