How to get started in learning Mandarin?

7 年前

Quite often I was asked for advices on how to get started in learning Mandarin which most of people think it is a difficult language to learn. Before I answer the question, I often ask the person two questions as below,

- Why do you want to learn Mandarin?
- What topics or fields are you interested in and are confident to talk about in your own language?

The first question is actually asking a short-term or long-term learning goal. The second question is to work out an effective study plan to achieve the learning goal.

In my teaching experience, no matter how you get started in your learning, there is always an individual and effective study plan to build up all your language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. As a result, you will stay motivated in your learning journey with a really good study plan. 