How I Learned Fluent Mandarin in One Year

First things first -- yes, technically the title is a bit misleading. I DID learn to speak Mandarin during only one year of extremely intense study in China, but I also had a "year" of beginner college Chinese classes prior to that (year in scare quotes because it wasn't intensive study). However, I did learn Chinese to fluency well before my year in China was up, so we're probably talking 15 months or so before I could truly call myself fluent.
Anyway, yes, these are the actual study methods I used to get fluent in Mandarin in a year. No B.S., no nonsense. Check it out and hope you enjoy! And leave some comments about what works for you!
Thanks for visiting Ari in Beijing! I've honed my Mandarin Chinese to near native-level fluency through a variety of tips and tricks that I share with you each week. So whether you're studying Mandarin, Cantonese, English, another language, or are simply interested in language in general, please SUBSCRIBE and stick around for a while!
/ ariinbeijing

[@ariinbeijing]

Want to learn fluent Chinese like me? Sign up for my free newsletter and discover how you can pick up Chinese or other languages quickly using my weird but effective method: chinese.xiaomanyc.com/ariinbj

[@LauroBasico]

Voce e' uma gracinha!

[@I_AM_ALL_THAT_WAS]

Yo what up little horse!! Didn’t know you had another channel?

[@ScarlettEvangelineKelly]

How hard is it to learn how to write/read Chinese? Is it an alphabet like English or Korean, or just specific characters that you need to memorize?

[@linuxatheist5361]

Thanks Chen Shapiro

[@4ourty5ive]

most underrated comment here / on youtube right now

[@TheSharmoota]

😂😂😂😂

[@brianreid5891]

I thought the same thing! Lol so good 👍🏻

[@mpagan606]

😂💀

[@markwillems9475]

😂😂😂😂

[@nitsanbenhanoch8691]

thought I accidentally set it to 2.0x speed

[@shivakumar499]

Nitsan BenHanoch 😂😂😂

[@futurez12]

Nitsan BenHanoch I'm a native English speaker, and as I'm trying to learn another language, I've started to notice how some people talk REALLY fast naturally. You don't really notice it in your native language since we're all experts and it's effortless, no matter how fast people are speaking, but I've started to look for examples of this in English and I agree, this guy does talk quite fast. Obviously it's no problem at all for other native speakers but if this was in the language I'm learning it'd be totally out of my reach to understand it, simply because of the speed. It's amazing how good we all are at our own language.

[@khairulhafidz15]

Yeah. I am not an English native speakers and I find it really hard to understand spoken English when it is spoken really fast - like one in the video above and in the movies I watch on tv. It is nearly impossible to understand them all without subtitles on. My native tongue was Malay. I'm learning English and Arabic in school and I'm also learning Korean, Japanese and Chinese on my own.

[@jefftheturtle4425]

@@futurez12 i have an English friend who talk faster. But here in Spain everybody speaks faster. It's slowly in Spain

[@Lyre206]

Nitsan BenHanoch q😂😂😂😂💀💀💀

[@kiwifruitkl]

1. Listening 2. Flashcards 3. Listening 4. Formal class time 5. Make friends with native Chinese speakers 6. Rest 7. Language immersion in China

[@blo0m1985]

And when feel ok with language: Read 10 books, write 20 essays for someone who can correct.

[@syub2407]

Not all heroes wear capes

[@ValentinRodin]

Ohhh thanks you’ve saved me 5 min of my life

[@pjfromcanada4033]

watashi ga kita n n n

[@toxicradiance423]

I can do number 6 to perfection

[@olafpayne]

Jokes on you. I'm genuinely, completely naked while watching this.

[@tenj00]

Yeah. I can tell by your comment, you have no shame. at least wear a hat.

[@ushoys]

So same as me and probably half the other viewers then?

[@MrSydney2006]

Same

[@__MJ__777__]

O_o

[@fabrisells]

Same

[@user-yr2fg2lo9b]

Mandarin is hard at first, but goes easier as you go thru the study. Korean is easy at first, but hard when you go thru :(

[@youllneverknowme2195]

This is literally me at the moment😂😂😂

[@rajamaherali]

Can you tell whether I should learn mandarin or Korean first ?

[@user-kv5nn7jw6e]

@@rajamaherali you can choose , but mandarin will seem impossible, but as you go through it it will be very simple and Korean is the complete opposite

[@rajamaherali]

Яна Чегорова thanks for reply haha I have started Korean can’t back out now !

[@tori6678]

If you speak a language where the sentence structure is Subject + verb + object (ex: I like pizza) then Chinese can be easier to learn since Korean is Subject + object + verb (ex: I pizza like). But Korean characters are easier to read and learn than Chinese ones. And Chinese has tones which can be difficult but Korean has formal and informal speech which is also difficult. Both have their pros and cons. But I think Chinese is better to learn since more people speak it lol.

[@ArunMehta]

say "tatics" one more time

[@MrSupernova111]

tatics

[@TallowQueen]

He only knows how to say it in Chinese

[@joebroadinjapan]

Learns Chinese... forgets English. LOL

[@AngelMorales-qn8bf]

hahaha I thought it was another way to pronounce it I didn't know of, anyway this guy is amazing

[@MightyYoungSir]

so what he lost one syllable in exchange for an entire language

[@DX-d]

50% of your tips require being in China. Thank you for the other 50% I will use them.

[@rawihmahmuod4382]

Diana D

[@ying317]

Diana D so may deligent Chinese learners！good luck:)

[@clairee4939]

八次月后！ How is your Chinese going? You can get CCTV online for free. There are also a lot of interesting series online such as "A Beautiful Life in Beijing". You can talk to people over HelloTalk and make friends with Chinese people in your country who are here wanting to improve their English. I wish I was studying Chinese fall-time but its a hobby outside of work. I've found flashcards and spaced repitition are the best foundation for learning words really.

[@kaiserwilhelm6660]

Claire E I have hellotalk too, let's get to know each other))

[@clairee4939]

酷，你懂不懂中文？ ；-）

[@brain90897]

OMG when I was learning Korean I couldn't understand ANYTHING when it was said but if it was written I understood 100% of it that made me realize how important audio is

[@MrLump]

I completely understand, I can’t understand spanish speech.

[@amorescense]

As for me I understand from speach but not with writing

[@tajneeley]

Glossika

[@bobthebuilder545]

@@MrLump keep on listening, you’ll get there

[@georgerussell2947]

I've been learning korean for a few months and my reading comprehension is like 10× what my listening is

[@NicolaiCzempin]

But "these study taddics"... :-P

[@skatejam7]

yeah maybe he should mine english sentences kek

[@ricotheboss3894]

yea, and maybe you should just type *lol* instead of *kek* ... but who cares.

[@megazoned3973]

hmmmmm

[@MDHDH-iy7nm]

Study Taddics sounds like a pirate

[@megazoned3973]

I gotta say~ I tried the first "taddic" this morning and I was amazed at how much I could understand. Upon waking your mind is kinda clear after having its contents dumped during sleep so its the best time to listen. When I got to work, my coworkers were speaking japanese to me and I realized I was able to follow their conversation much better than before. Thanks for the taddic bro!

[@DavidDavidDavidDavidDavid]

Pronouncing "tactics": me > this guy Everything else: me < this guy

[@garycarmelo156]

🤣🤣🤣

[@stefan6785]

1:08 Out of all languages he picked Serbo-Croatian. Dude, you immediately got a like. 🇷🇸

[@haryypyles4897]

Welp looks like I found Ben Shapiro's brother

[@adamsnow8275]

Yoo he sounds just like him😂😂

[@davegahan5154]

Haryy Pyles Love it! 😂

[@winstonmcbride2167]

Was thinking that and scrolled down to see if anyone said it and what u know the first comment

[@AmyRoseMainCharacter]

I WASN’T THE ONLY ONE THAT NOTICED THE SIMILARITY. 😂

[@locpham484]

Omgosh. I was about to say =)))))))))). Physically, alike! When he talks, alike too =))))

[@jasminelovesyoutube]

I'm currently going to a school, that teaches me mandarin. Here, let me introduce myself! 我叫郑蕙茵。 (My name is Jasmine) 我十岁。 (I'm ten years old) 我是小学生。(I'm a elementary school student) 我上五年级。(I'm in grade 5) 我有爸爸，妈妈 。我有一个姐姐 和一个哥哥。(I have a dad and mom. I have one older/elder sister and one older/elder brother) That's it!

[@lyte3339]

JasmineCVlogs thats good, keep it up, dont give up, always watch videos of people speaking multiple languages to stay motivated. Also, go to benny the irish polyglot blog for tips and motivation. TRUST ME u are going to want to learn Now. I wish I would have started at ur age, but doing what I told you helped me learn spanish and I'm on my way to fluency in chinese. Stay positive, listen, listen, listen and have fun!

[@levelone7511]

你应该说我是十岁

[@QuickCravingsRecipes]

Either way is fine (Native speaker here)

[@jxshino]

dhafer Alaed 我十岁is correct.

[@rajatchauhan2929]

JasmineCVlogs 你的介紹很好了

[@fintanmccannmccann135]

Hey xiaoma! I finally got invested in my first language partly due to your tips!! Anki has been huge for me. I started 53 days ago and have almost finished my second book in the "living language" variety. My word count is up to a 1000. One day I will speak it well, thank you!

[@ipekaktas127]

where did you get the books , and how did you study with books ?

[@angelgalvan6810]

He said go out meet people Me in quarantine not being able to go out

[@camillecrichlow8138]

Chatrooms

[@angelgalvan6810]

Camille Crichlow yeah but real human interactions are better

[@ImprovingAbility]

Tandem app

[@angelgalvan6810]

Feldenkrais with Alfons thanks bud

[@TallowQueen]

@@camillecrichlow8138 which chatroom? I'm trying to find Chinese people! Haha

[@jeremyredandblueify]

I learned A1-B1 Chinese in 3 months. I'm really happy. nice points. I learned quick because I'm a language teacher. It depends on the individuals personal learning style. 1.First identify your learning style. 2. Tailor a method that matches your learning style and interest. 3. Practice what you have learn with natives and let them correct you. 4. Take a course. I recommend a self-pace course at first then take a formal class. 5.Yes, make friends!

[@revatijagdale761]

How did you learn Chinese?? Please give me some tips

[@cannonieh4469]

@@revatijagdale761 bro he literally provided them

[@ImperatorZed]

Can you write?

[@nitsanbenhanoch8691]

So I took notes, and ended up with: 1. Audio all the time. When up, when out, … 2. Flesh cards 3. Friends 4. Recoveries

[@ruralsquirrel5158]

Don't forget to use a fleshlight, if you are using your flesh cards after dark.

[@reynolddlm]

Nitsan BenHanoch you know that superhero in DC? The Flesh?

[@nekozombie]

Fly Swatter my fleshlight is filthy

[@briantb5550]

Flashlight*

[@spiralix]

Brian Tb ur too young lol

[@thiagoaugusto8177]

Hi Broo I'm from Brazil and I'm trying to learn English your first Language. I'm using your channel to try to improve my listening skills. I got to understand you and it for me is so amazing. Keep on this amazing tips. thanks

[@ariinbeijing]

Awesome, really appreciate it! For some reason a lot of Brazilians view my channel and I don't know why...why?

[@thiagoaugusto8177]

ariinbeijing Because we are so shy when we're learning English Lol I believe that many others Brazilian students visit your KZbin channel. Please , give me some tips about how I can learn phrasal verbs. Do you know what it is ? it sometimes is so difficult for me. Thanks broo

[@jphollowbr]

Thiago Augusto Hey man!! I'm from Brazil too hahahah that's awesome dude. I found this channel some days ago and it's very good. So, to imrpove or phrasel verbs you should download some apps: i'm using phrasel right now. You should try it.

[@moisesgomes6191]

Brazilian here as well hahah

[@licerioa.p.coelho5003]

Só BR maluco

[@VintageCurrent]

I know these videos are old but Ari, your videos are the most useful I've found on the topic of language study. I've been trying to learn languages for more than 25 years and your advice is GOLD! The tips you've shared are so valuable and I'm now using them all. Thank you and PLEASE don't stop making this quality content.

[@daveeygdoeschinese2546]

Great video, I independently made the same discoveries over my 7 years of studying mandarin and had basically all the same conclusions. Flashcard repetition in my opinion is the best for writing.

[@YeseniaLCR]

I'm currently in the works of trying to learn 4 languages and I look to your channel when I lose motivation. Thank you so much

[@wyattj.holland8342]

I've been researching into speaking Mandarin quickly and found an awesome website at Magic mandarin blueprint (google it if you're interested)

[@rainbow-lm9uq]

Anime Uploads what the fuck

[@Grimoirenby]

thank you

[@ying317]

YeseniaLCR wow, 4 languages, sounds soo cool

[@rimun5235]

Problem is you'll end up being somewhat okay in them, but you'll probably have a mastery of none of them. This is assuming you have a lot of free time.

[@kit1063]

Thank you so much! I’m currently working on learning Korean, then moving on to Mandarin, and lastly Japanese!

[@jieqitu4193]

So impressive! I am an English learner, and your videos encouraged me a lot!

[@alexandriazingerella7021]

Him: "You need friends to help you learn Mandarin!" Me: My brain: 我没有朋友😭

[@BrownianMotionPicture]

快乐和微笑

[@GlorefyeXO]

我没有朋友會说中文😭

[@yuki1068]

Maybe get the app Hellochat! Lots of people are actually willing to teach others chinese! :)

[@yuki1068]

Sorry I meant HelloTalk haha

[@user-ti5iv2ex4s]

哈哈哈 我看外国人学中文的痛苦. haha ，i see some panic In foreign friend study Chinese，just like i study English.

[@ambiespeakskorean4961]

Thanks for sharing these tips!! amazing

[@blo0m1985]

Fu** off. He suggests 10 hours per day immersion and SRS. Nothing could be better.

[@theresachen2512]

You can check out a channel called "TalkAway_Chinese on KZbin or Facebook. There is a girl teaching Chinese in an enthusiastic and fun way~

[@zharkynzhanzhumayeva1392]

I love you I must say. I'm inspired by you. I'm gonna continue my Chinese and French right now. I subscribed ) handsome)

[@jupiter9054]

I have just started Chinese and Italian, super excited to dive in!

[@lonesome1]

This is a great way to learn just about any language that you want. Very interesting yet very informative and simple!

[@NickerTheMighty]

Funny how I first randomly stumbled upon the xiaoma channel on YT a few days ago and now this one, also randomly. Dude, I always wanted to learn Japanese but watching your videos made me instantly want to learn Mandarin so much more. Thanks!

[@gugunation430]

Great tips. I speak English (natively) and French & Spanish as 2nd languages. I started Mandarin just as a challenge for myself and never knew how much I'd fall in love! Newbies: Keep at it your brain is picking it up. It's not about time it's about immersion. Listen to it every day until you need a break. Take a break. Then pick it up again when you feel ready. Mandarin is a beautiful language it will make you sing!

[@heyheyhey40]

8 hours of class time. Wish I could do that.

[@alexmga9303]

Great tips mate! This works for every language you wanna learn

[@YaboiFoon]

Thanks for this I’m gonna start implementing these to help with my Mandarin and Spanish

[@symbolicmeta1942]

“Thats a nice shirt you’re wearing..” *looks down at my beijing bikini*

[@jin5119]

I guess depending on how you define fluency, it is possible to get fluent within a year. But in my view, I think it is almost impossible to reach fluency in a foreign language within such short time period(probably because my definition to fluency is reaching at least C1 level.). Although I was born and raised in Korea, I’ve been studying English for more than 10 years, and now I live in UK as well. Scottish accent defeated me thoroughly lol. Anyway, I am still not sure I can confidently say that I’m fluent in English. And I studied Chinese quite intensively for 2 years both in China and Korea, and passed HSK 6 at a score of 241 out of 300. So my Chinese isn’t bad at all. And yet, it is questionable if I am a fluent Chinese speaker due to the huge variety of the language(different accents, chengyu etc). The reason I leave this comment is because, it is very important and good to have positive mindset when you learn a foreign language, because it is a long journey. But, if you are expecting to reach C1 or C2 level(almost native fluency) within 1 or 2 years, that expectation will only frustrate you, so please know that it will take a long time to achieve a real fluency.

[@marcojuarez6243]

Shut the fuck up, you can reach C1 in a year douchebag.

[@owenmurphy2022]

I think by fluent he mean being able to speak and do everything in chinese. And since since living in China it is very possible, especially when doing 7-8 hours of class per day and learning 50+ words per day

[@linhchu8010]

Quite interesting. Thanks for tons of tips

[@michael901]

This is really one of the few videos I watched where the speaker is focusing 100% on the subject and not about himself. Very inspiring philosophical video . thanks

[@turtwigking2204]

I started laughing so hard when you mentioned learning serbo-croatian, being a Croatian myself hahah subscribed! Thanks for the advice, I'm currently studying japanes in order to one day be able to go to Vulcanus program im Japan, I really hope it will enrich my knowledge of the natural sciences which I graduated from :D Budi mi pozdravljen!

[@rk6483]

Same ahahah

[@jt659]

Is the word he is saying "tactics"? like "study tactics"?

[@toysvoice]

Thank you. This was very very helpful!

[@JackAttackArmy]

I agree with everything in this video, the key is saturation of the language and making relationships!!

[@chrismeyou]

Learned in a year, 8 hour lessons, woke up listening to it, adding 50 new words a day. I applaud you but I can only assume you are quite an intellectual chap. This surely cannot be the norm.

[@wenjingli9618]

Could u please recommend some Chinese books for us to read..

[@HEYangelYOUduhSEXAYH]

You have really inspired me and I just wanted to thank you brocookie.

[@peaceloveveganbeautylifest7140]

Wow you're amazing 👍 thank you so much for the advices! I really want to learn Italian but just can't get it going cause I don't know how the Start and I'm overwelmed to learning a whole new language. But actually is a bullsh... and I have to do it. Anyway you have motivated me to start the journey! Mille grazie 😊

[@vladdank9158]

That dedication... True AJATT with Chinese. 50+ cards/day is my goal too, on top of listening and reading all day with Japanese. Khatzumoto would be proud.

[@hailyphan7754]

Lol mine is 22-26 words per each 2 days

[@IrishRepoMan]

"Study tatics"

[@tengdalearningcenter1471]

Wow, real good way for our teachers to learn how to teach mandarin, thanks a lot.

[@missfashionator]

Thanks for the honesty! There are too many people out there who like to pretend that everything comes just naturally to them. There are definitely people like that but they are rare.

[@NitroNath]

The stuff you are listening too, do you understand much of them? Right now if I put on a Chinese show I would probably recognise 1 or 2 words per sentence

[@ariinbeijing]

Nathan McCulloch at the time I couldn't understand most of it. I was passively listening and I would get a few words here and there. I really liked ads, which I would basically memorize and to this day I can spout off old Chinese ad copy from 2009!

[@alex73217]

When I started to watch stuff in English, I didn't understand anything. Just the passive audio really helped and at some point I realized that I was understanding more and more each week

[@bloodeagle2234]

Alex Krause good job.

[@bame8110]

0:05 I’m not wearing one

[@AlexDeLarge77]

Really like your channel, really positive work your doing. Keep it up.

[@dann2678]

oh my god you're amazing !!! thank you so so much~~

[@angusg8775]

Great video man, when you expose yourself to listening material such as radio, tv etc. did you ever stop to note different words you wouldn't understand as a way of learning new vocab or was it more for you just letting it all flow over and marinate in what the gist of each segment was about?

[@ellmatic]

I would also like to know the answer to this :)

[@judyh.2207]

I am also curious about the answer to this! :)

[@ariinbeijing]

It depends on the context! If I'm at work or something, I'll just listen passively. If I'm actively listening, if I don't know a word I try not to stop unless I feel that not knowing the word hurts my ability to understand the meaning of what's going on. As in, "hey, you're a wonderful amazing person", if you didn't know what wonderful meant you would still get the meaning of the sentence!

[@jacobsb374]

1:27 rip headphone users...

[@hafidboudar2166]

you videos are already good keep the good work bro

[@copthatroach7170]

Yup this is exactly the same way I learned English. It was a necessity to learn it. That’s what helped. Having interest in the language you are trying to learn definitely makes a difference. I didn’t really think about till now. The sounds and things I saw changed. I was exposed to the same things except this time it was in English. I think the reason some people took longer to learn, was because of the lack of interest and the inability to shun or quiet down the other languages they already know. I mean I was watching tv shows and movies in English, didn’t understand anything at first. My friends on the other hand as soon as they didn’t need to speak it. They would revert back to only speaking Spanish, watching shows in Spanish. I think that’s what helped. You literally need to sleep, breath, and eat in that language. From my point of view.

[@ellmatic]

Was Glossika your primary program that you used in your MP3, or did you use others like Pimsleur or the FSI (Foreign Service Institute) series....or some others? Thanks! Great video!

[@ariinbeijing]

Zhōu yǔ Qiáo I did not use Glossika, I used random bits of audio, often news, sometimes music, sometimes recordings of sentences I would get people to make for me

[@ellmatic]

Revisiting this video 9 months later for some extra encouragement :D Thanks for answering my question! Hope all is well.

[@dragoflamer786]

Thanks for Taddicks

[@mygdaliafierro0731]

Great advice! Thank you 😊

[@ilovemusicAIAW]

These tips are suuuuper useful

[@alfionage]

"That's a very nice shirt you're wearing." Me: But I'm not wearing one.

[@JaredGimbel]

From now on, when people ask me "how do you learn languages?", I will be referring them to your advice as equally often as my own! Sharing, sharing, sharing away!

[@chrissabre1761]

And you will tell them to move to the country where that language is spoken, and find time to study it full time while there, not needing to work while there .? Yeah, I wish. And then how do you make Money with Mandarin while not living in China or Taiwan? Show us those well-paying jobs on indeed or Monster job boards,

[@furkatjon]

amazing tips!!!

[@robertong3258]

Great tips, thx!

[@michaelaarmstrong7438]

I was not expecting 1:23 and literally threw my phone

[@PeterMasalski93]

Ive lived in China for a few years and I reached HSK 5. Let me tell you by working my a$$ off memorising and learning how to read/write and speak I find your claim to be extremely inadequate. First of all, China has many dialects and even reaching a high level, there are plenty of people i don't understand such as old people, er Hua which is a compressed form of words and the various dialects of nan jing , hainan etc etc.. A normal country has some sorts of unified language whereas China/india and other countries have dialects and versions of putong hua spoken all over the place which makes it difficult for westerners to develop a natural ear for those languages especially if they are learned after 20 years of age. For ex; me being of slavic descent, i can understand eastern european dialects by having an innate ear for its various languages and dialect. Your definition of fluent is for me yet again strange. You can introduce yourself, you can describe your environment and so on and so forth. For me the level of C1 is when you speak and understand people on a very high level where news, tv shows drama and daily become part of your life. The only people i would truly describe as fluent is the likes of celebrities in China like Da Shan and this kid from beijing who goes on TV. After my first 2 years studying and going out intensively, not to mention various relationships with local girls who spoke 0 English, i reached around B1-B2. and passed my HSK 4. Now HSK 4, i feel to be quite easy and the written part was very light, but HSK 5 is where it starts. Don't be fooled by such claims. Memorizing HSK characters come up to a total of maybe 5000 which will take you 2-4 years to be able to understand, write complicated sentences and naturally feel out. You can memorize them for an exam, but it takes years and some digging around to remember the parts, their meanings and how it was transformed from traditional characters. Speaking Chinese would probably take you around 1-2 years to be able to have daily conversations (food, shopping, describing the world and generally interacting - Around B1-B2 level) Speaking fluently like Da Shan (around C1-C2) would take you around 4-6 years where you are able to communicate on an advance level with perfect tones, good vocab and the millions of slangs and Cheng Yu that china uses across various provinces. You can use Anki and mass memorize, but it doesn't solve the problem in the long run. I would say, for a person who has never learned chinese after the age of 20 who wants to speak (2 years minimum) and 4 years minimum to be fluent (more or less like a citizen Anything less is considered a stretch from my experience.

[@onlyonejeree8347]

Asian women love white guys lol they don't even date Asian men.....

[@carlosochoa4715]

I completely agree with you although it is true about the other Chinese languages. I speak several European languages and I am learning Cantonese now but I feel that the maximum is 10-12 words (you must remember that words are not enough as you must remember the tones too) and 4 characters per day (Mon to Fri excluding holidays) which leaves me 4-5 years to reach advanced level.

[@greencrystal6323]

Agreed. Yet again it depends on what you define “fluency”. For me, it’s when I can command it as a translator.

[@JustLIkerapunzel]

But FLUENCY IS NOT THE SAME AS ALMOST NATIVE! I don't get how people still use that term wrong as it is self explanatory: Fluent is who speaks the language having a flow in daily conversations. It is still far away from the standard of a local but you can communicate your thoughs and understand the majority of daily conversations or you're able to ask someone to put something into other words and get the meaning or describe the word in your target language that you're looking for. Like if don't know the word for "fridge" you can say "the cold box to put food in" using that language and that person can tell you that's a "fridge". So yes I think if you can to make chinese friends that fast or you live with a chinese host family you can for sure be fluent in one year. And the dialects are usually not even the goal of majority of Mandarin learners as not even chinese people can understand most other dialects.

[@sockysworld8010]

Great comment!

[@BahasaLanguageAcademy]

Watching TV is definitely the best way to learn. Your learning is really maximized when you're at the point where you can understand 90% of the words hear, because then you can pick up new words and learn them just based on context. A lot of people struggle to advance from the novice stage, where you understand very little of what you hear (very low listening comprehension, where it just sounds mostly like gibberish) to the more intermediate/ advanced staged where you understand most of it.

[@fernandomartins2035]

Now you’re phat and do the Chinatown take aways ! Bless you, you got me started on Hàn Yû a few weeks ago and I’m enjoying every minute of it.

[@chuzhinets1774]

And this is how I've been learning English. From zero to fluent in 2 years.

[@THELEGEND-so7vs]

How did you do that?

[@chuzhinets1774]

@@THELEGEND-so7vs learn a new skill in a foreign language, memorize new vocabulary, read and watch a lot of KZbin videos on interesting topics. Surround yourself with the language.

[@Amour84]

@@chuzhinets1774 were you in a English speaking country when you achieved this?

[@Amour84]

@@chuzhinets1774 and whats your native language?

[@IsaacW.]

0:08 actually I'm shirtless

[@Uniquecapture]

Great advice, thank you. For audio I tend to watch a lot of Chinese dramas on Viki. I also use Anki which I find is a great tool and a good way to measure your progress where vocabulary is concerned.

[@richmondzoilo9667]

Thanks for the inspiration

[@user-wb1vm9ex4k]

Do you think it's possible to learn a language without travelling to the country for a long period. Some of us don't have the ability to do so :(

[@lisettelachat1870]

Cleo Patra Try to immerse yourself in the language. I'm learning polish . I set my alarm to a polish radio station to wake me up, eat a typical polish breakfast whilst watching a polish soap on KZbin (no subs) Listen to polish music in the car on the way to work . Listen to audio whilst getting dinner practice speaking to myself. Do exercises in a polish textbook. Have a drink with my polish friend. Try to speak this has been my routine for 2 months

[@user-wb1vm9ex4k]

Lis Berryka Thank you! I will try this

[@bintuae1]

You don't have to travel there to become fluent. I'm not a native english speaker and have never lived in an english speaking country, yet I'm fluent in english. The thing is I like the english language. My computer and phones are all set up in english, and I listen to english (american) songs only. Also, thanks to the local college I studied at which had all curriculums in english. So, what you need is constant exposure.

[@antonaemeeker]

This is my 5th year in mandarin in school I spend half the day in it and I got fluent after 2 months I'm top of my class!

[@thatdutchguy2882]

Super advice, a big 👍-up dude.

[@sayurimoon5146]

Hey!! Thanks a lot!! This video was really helpful. I'm in First year of my college and I too am studying Chinese major. And there are definitely too many drawbacks of not learning a language in It's native land and I'm having a really hard time due to that. I'm having major trouble in memorizing characters. Is there any technique for memorizing so many characters along with their stroke orders??

[@sydneycole1798]

"tatics". that's all I can hear now...

[@user-ub2jp7tg6k]

I have been studying Swedish and Norwegian for a year and I'm still a beginner

[@torekristoffersen176]

125- 125 vi elsker Norge og Sverige!

[@abdouboukha9600]

I just begin to study Chinese seriously, and I find your suggestions very interesting. But how did you keep energy and your motivation hight to study? Thanks for your help

[@edwardsilva6297]

Thanks after five years it's useful a lot this is kind of words don't die

[@user-kf6yp1zq9k]

哈哈哈，小马这是你的小号嘛

[@iRANTonEVERYTHING]

You look alot like ben shapiro

[@Andy_Idea]

JD speaks like him too

[@_._._._._._._._._._._._._.____]

he's a jew too

[@MrSupernova111]

This is his Chinese brother Chen Shapiro.

[@Vulory]

So how much time (if any) did you spend in your native language? Did you have any classmates who also spoke the same native language as you? If so, what was your response when they were not speaking in Chinese?

[@v1n897]

Thanks a ton!

[@pritivaidya3591]

i am learning german. ich bin ein junge

[@TheBrandBoostAcademy]

priti vaidya you are a boy......okay 😂

[@elizabethanne6648]

Omg me too! How are you learning it?!

[@cudamalloc9054]

priti vaidya und meine deutsch ist dumb und scheisse :)

[@elizabethanne6648]

Jay Bay Where in Germany?

[@jiaxinwang4617]

Elizabeth Anne lol in Europe

[@eugrus]

1:06 I already like you just for calling it Serbo-Croatian! ☺😁

[@zEmakaveli]

Why?

[@eugrus]

It's the only language for which it's not politically correct to call it by its name 😂

[@Ash-cb2li]

Eugene Fishgalov why?

[@Jupiter__001_]

X1 Z1 Balkan civil war. Serbs and Croats hate each other's bones, but for some reason speak the same language. So as not to anger either party, the language gets called Serbo-Croat officially.

[@Jupiter__001_]

NoPain NoGain Yeah. They are basically just two dialects of the same language.

[@Nick-dq8gx]

Very good tips. Thank you

[@meomomo4967]

Thank you so much ^^

[@mimimtambo1131]

I just can't grasp Mandarin. saying a full sentence gives me anxiety.. 😟

[@bintuae1]

Saying a full sentence in chinese for me doesn't give me anxiety at all, as there's barely any strict grammar rules. Korean is what gives me anxiety.

[@MrLump]

Spanish is the only language I’m learning, and it gives me anxiety because I’m horrible with the vocabulary but amazing with grammar. It’s just a bad situation.

[@polonimacaroni]

@@MrLump I'm quite the opposite. I say words in the infinitive if I forget the right conjugation.

[@2iqqy]

Jokes on you I'm not wearing a shirt

[@nopass6247]

I guess it's obvious, but it never dawned on me until someone was as honest and thorough as you are what the real secret of the people who pick up languages in no time is - dedication. If you were studying in class 6-8 hours a day, and doing 50 new words and 400 words revision per day, you're looking at at least 10 hours a day, plus your podcasts, TV etc. It's not surprising that you achieved in a year what usually takes people 10, because they only study an hour per day. If anything I'd expect their efficiency (in terms of words/hour studied) is potentially better because they have more rest time (as long as it's not too much). I've been studying Chinese off and on for about 3 years and I'm nowhere near your level, but it makes me feel a little better knowing the difference in our time spent studying is that extreme. The level of dedication you had is definitely something hard to find. If I do 3 hours in one day, you can bet your butt I'm not doing any for a few days after, haha.

[@RNGD-jp7nk]

You're so nice. Thank you for the compliment on my shirt by the way.

[@eleonoramustafaeva1303]

so you lived in China. admittedly, the advice are good, but you wont attain this level of fluency without living in the country. don't deceive people please

[@eleonoramustafaeva1303]

and you also took 6-8 hour classes.... lol. well that ain't working for those who click on the videos seeking the advice on self-learning.

[@eleonoramustafaeva1303]

everyone knows that it is the classes and practice that yield most results. without those, your podcasts & morning habits are really not that vital and conducive.

[@eleonoramustafaeva1303]

+Jay Porta oh, I, too, hope that my comment doesn't discourage anyone from learning Chinese on their own. My point was that it was this immersion into a Chinese-speaking environment + long classes that made him so fluent, not just learning words & listening to podcasts.

[@zengin4168]

dont hate mate, how is it deceiving if he tells you he was in China in the begining.. lol

[@ola3100]

Don't be a hatter he seems really intelligent, thanks for your tips on learning.

[@phunter24]

arlinbeijing, I have been struggling with Chinese for decades. I think I'm going to start using flash cards like you mentioned and get something to listen to. I just can't take having something in my ear for a long time. Plus, I don't have a smart phone. Are mp3 players still available? And if so, can I still get Chinese loaded onto them?

[@bobadams179]

Thanks. Good advice.

[@moxigeren50gabe23]

Im the only mexican that speaks mandarin

[@lp4969]

Gabo P definitely not

[@divinee4330]

Gabo P Nope.

[@darthnoidus]

Lol you're living in China. Of course you can learn it in one year. The real struggle is trying to learn Chinese outside of China. It sucks.

[@DuxoupJr]

세린 Same with any language. He HAS to speak Chinese everyday without a choice. Plus when you're in the target language's country, without trying really hard to become fluent, you're surrounded by signs and people speaking the language.

[@darthnoidus]

That's exactly what i'm talking about.

[@user-yh8vn2zo8g]

Duxoup Jr do you have any brain problem? you didn't get the point.

[@rebeccalongokura3575]

Living in China and Going to school is also a lot different than learning when you have an actual job for 8 hours of the day and live outside China. I think so much advice about learning a language can be condensed to “live there.”

[@futurez12]

Rebecca Long Okura I know a guy who's lived in Spain for 15 years, he can barely order a coffee! With the abundance of free resources/Skype etc these days it's not such a disadvantage as it once was to learn outside of the country. It might help with motivation, but learning from home can be done if you're both super motivated and resourceful.

[@georgiospetinis3502]

Very helpful videos 👍🏻 Charismatic teacher 🙏🏻

[@RNGD-jp7nk]

Funny. I'm using the same study strategies as you, and yet when I tell people I am learning Mandarin, they look at me like I'm insane for not hiring a private tudor. I can't afford it though! And I suppose they find it insane that I'm learning Japanese at the same time but in my opinion it helps increase ability to memorize things.