Don’t Blame Native Speakers for Not Understanding You
I recently came across a video parodying a phenomenon allegedly encountered by many Japanese learners. The sketch (see below) involves a group of five friends about to order food at…
Tag: Mandarin tones
Three Ways Native Speakers React to Chinese Learners
Two years ago I hosted a party for the language exchange group I run. My guests included a mixture of Chinese and English friends who were all keen to practice…
Why I Don’t Believe in Language Talent
I used to think there was such a thing as language talent. I used to think I had language talent. At school, teachers would tell me I was good at…
How I’m Trying to Master Chinese Pronunciation
A few months ago it began to dawn on me that although my Chinese comprehension had improved a lot over the previous year, my accent had stagnated. I had always…
Launching the I’m Learning Mandarin Podcast
I’m excited to announce the official launch of the I’m Learning Mandarin podcast. Each episode I will discuss a new topic regarding how best to learn Chinese, drawing on stories…
