25 Ways to Improve Your Mandarin Speaking Skills FAST

[@MandarinBlueprint]

✅ WATCH THESE NEXT How To Speak Fluent Mandarin Using Immersion ▶ ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGWcZX6XaZKBm8U The Ultimate Guide To Chinese Pronunciation ▶ ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ3Ee2RoqdKnq5Y 20 Powerful Ways To Improve Your Chinese Pronunciation FAST ▶ ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/l33Vp4eCqtqSfrs

[@ahmedyemen288]

I am arab student in china I have been in china for 4 months now Your videos guide me alot with my journey

[@MandarinBlueprint]

We are happy to help!

[@NebulaNestDIY]

Do a series called "Baby Talk" that would have all the common words and phrases that babies here in China learn first.

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Interesting! We'll add that do our video ideas list.

[@NebulaNestDIY]

@@MandarinBlueprint Thanks! Although my Chinese is much improved when it comes to ordering food and getting around the city I find myself walking around the community with our 9 month old interacting more with grandmas and toddlers coming up to us trying to speak. Many times I have to say Ting bu dong.

[@user-cu7st6it2t]

Great tips!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Thanks for watching!

[@jytwang]

你每天迫不及待地從床上跳起來學習中文，太感人了！

[@y2ksw1]

The point of not so awesome pronunciation is the surprising effect it makes on native speakers, who try to understand, what you are telling and in the mean time, discover their own language's pitfalls. While it may actually be important to speak as perfect as possible, I found that bloody beginners are particularly charming, because of the errors and assumptions they make. Chinese (mandarin) is probably the last language I will learn. Maybe never, because I am old and my brain is pretty much dead. I take it as a challenge, but I probably will make laugh a lot of people. And that's not bad for a story teller, because they always wish to be funny but they never are 😄

[@adrianhanz3649]

One of the challenges that distinguish native speakers and foreign speakers is intonation..certain words are emphasised and spoken louder. Certain words are swallowed..

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Agreed! These subtleties can mostly be absorbed through tons of immersion, but don't worry if you can' ever sound 100% like a native because you certainly don't need to!

[@ReltX]

Very nice advice ❤

[@anaselmanaa5035]

Thank you so much that was really helpful

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Glad it helped!

[@abulelelangasiki8578]

Best Mandarin teaches on KZbin , it really doesn't get better than this xie xié

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Wow, thank you!

[@yjharvey7824]

天啊！你说的太流利了！

[@jytwang]

人家每天迫不及待地從床上跳起來學習中文呀！

[@milanng3798]

@@jytwang 27:03

[@michelleblake6853]

Any chance you guys are going to start doing the same system for other languages?

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Maybe someday, but we don’t feel remotely finished with this project and we’re super passionate about connecting China and the rest of the world

[@Vicfuse1999]

here's the summary of this video, thanks me later if you found helpful To improve Mandarin speaking skills quickly, focus on pronunciation, learn 3,000 characters, and immerse yourself in listening and reading. Practice speaking regularly, use fillers, and slow down your speech. Engage in conversation with tutors or language partners, and embrace mistakes as part of the learning process for continuous improvement. Highlights: 00:11 Fluency in spoken Chinese necessitates a strong foundation in pronunciation, reading, and listening. These foundational skills enable learners to communicate effectively and understand the language better. -Mastering pronunciation is crucial for avoiding major mistakes in speaking. Familiarity with Mandarin sounds and tones sets the groundwork for fluency in communication. -Recognizing at least 3,000 Chinese characters is essential for comprehension. This knowledge allows learners to engage with various forms of media and enhances listening skills. -Daily immersion in comprehensible Chinese audio is vital for language acquisition. Active listening significantly improves one's ability to sound more like a native speaker over time. 04:12 Overthinking language mistakes can create unnecessary pressure, leading to ineffective communication. It’s important to remember that even native speakers face challenges in articulating complex topics. -Using simple language can enhance clarity and reduce stress during communication. Emulating straightforward speakers like Donald Trump can make your message more accessible. -Slowing down your speech by 20 to 30 percent helps improve articulation and comprehension. This technique allows your brain time to formulate thoughts before speaking. -Listening to articulate speakers can provide a model for effective communication. Observing how they pause and structure sentences can enhance your speaking skills. 08:18 Using fillers and conversation connectors can greatly enhance your speaking skills in Chinese. These techniques allow you to think while speaking, making you sound more fluent and natural. -Fillers provide native speakers with time to gather their thoughts while speaking. By incorporating fillers like 'um' or 'you know,' learners can achieve a similar effect. -Conversation connectors are advanced phrases that facilitate smoother dialogue. They are more complex than fillers and help maintain flow in conversations. -Utilizing English words can be a helpful strategy for learners struggling to find the right Chinese vocabulary. Many educated Chinese individuals understand English well, so this approach works effectively. 12:21 Focusing on phrases and sentences instead of individual words is crucial for effective language learning. Enhancing writing skills complements speaking and can help minimize mistakes in communication. -Writing serves as a valuable tool for language learners, especially for those who may feel nervous about speaking. It allows for careful construction of sentences to avoid bad habits. -Shadowing, or mimicking speech while listening, is an effective method to improve pronunciation and fluency. Practicing this daily can significantly boost language skills. -Warming up before conversations can enhance speaking abilities. Activities like shadowing or practicing tongue twisters help prepare the brain and mouth for effective communication. 16:24 Regular practice and repetition are essential for language learning success. Techniques like shadowing and engaging with tutors can greatly enhance language fluency and retention. -Shadowing involves listening and repeating sentences multiple times for better retention. This method mirrors natural language acquisition processes seen in young children. -Engaging with tutors or language exchange partners can provide structured learning experiences. Regular sessions with them help maintain motivation and foster language skills effectively. -Using varied speaking activities during sessions keeps learning fresh and engaging. Incorporating random questions or images can stimulate interesting discussions and enhance vocabulary. 20:27 Talking to yourself and keeping a journal are effective strategies for language learning. These methods help you notice gaps in your vocabulary and improve your speaking skills. -Using earphones while talking to yourself can make it feel more natural, allowing you to practice without feeling self-conscious. This technique provides a comfortable environment for self-dialogue. -Thinking in Chinese instead of translating from English can prevent confusion and enhance fluency. This approach helps you grasp concepts that may not directly translate between the two languages. -Retelling interesting personal stories in Chinese can boost your confidence and language skills. This practice encourages you to engage with the language in a meaningful context. 24:31 Planning ahead and immersing yourself in the language can significantly enhance your learning experience. Embracing discomfort while navigating new vocabulary is essential for continuous improvement in language skills. -Researching specific vocabulary related to your interests or needs can greatly aid in practical conversations. Watching videos in the target language helps reinforce this learning. -Pushing through the challenges of learning a new language is crucial for growth. Accepting that you will not know everything encourages resilience and ongoing improvement. -Consuming comprehensible input in the target language is vital for effective learning. Engaging with various forms of media creates a richer learning environment and promotes fluency.

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Thanks for the summary!

[@PeteR-gn5ep]

hi great lesson! 27:00 how to find a monolingual dictionary? thank you for your advice

[@MandarinBlueprint]

YouDao is a good one. If you find any better one please post here!

[@NebulaNestDIY]

@@MandarinBlueprint I like Baidu translate. It gives pinyin translations and the option to take photos of written language which is a big help when trying to order food from menus and read signs. It also has voice translations.

[@johnmccann2320]

I try to make simple dialogues in my head in Mandarin like when I go to the grocery store. And I make notes of items I don’t know yet, I. E. Fruits and vegetables then i make flash cards of staple grocery items when I get home. I think that “ thinking in Chinese” will come more easily once I have progressed further In knowing words and more immersion in tv and films,

[@user-ii6xi4ex5p]

any recommendations on what to listen to? i don’t know where to find stuff i would enjoy/ would be interested in

[@MandarinBlueprint]

I'm a huge fan of everything on the 得到 dédào APP (educational content). You can also download 喜马拉雅 xǐmǎlāyá - It's a podcast APP that has a hugely wide range of shows spanning several genres. There's a TON more I could mention, but we'll discuss a lot of this in the immersion video we'll be releasing on Feb 18th, you can sign up to be notified here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGWcZX6XaZKBm8U

[@tristangabrielo]

First time your channel was suggested I even used the “don’t recommend me this channel “ because I underestimated you thinking “whut? A non Chinese teaching Chinese ?? Naaah “ I’m glad that KZbin kept pushing your channel cause your lessons are goooooold way better than many actual Chineses, I’m sorry for not giving you a chance from the beginning thanks for the big effort you put into each video I’m really learning 🫶🏻🫰🏻

[@goldtheone]

so the first question that pop in my mind is: do the Chinese guys really use tones properly when they speak fast speech?

[@MandarinBlueprint]

yes, they do

[@Kristalizednails]

I'm learning little by little by listening to Disney songs in mandarin 😅 I know alot of Disney songs (at my big age of 31 lol) off the top of my head, so when I hear it in mandarin it's like familiar ground but a different world 😂 I don't have to guess what the singer is talking about plus concentrating on each word. I find myself concentrating on every nonce & pronunciation of a Disney song and matching it to my own knowledge of the English lyrics. I know its not a perfect system but even if the lyrics are a little different in mandarin compared to the familiar English lyrics I still know what the song is about. Plus, it's so much fun to try to sing along to the chorus or words in Mandarin I've already learned. It's like mumble singing like toddlers do 😅😂. I find this method better than reading characters without sound because even though I am a quicker learner reading, I tend to automatically convert to English pronunciations in my head while reading. I don't want to be advanced in reading but getting all the pronunciations wrong, then having to re-learn the characters again with sound. I feel that with my learning, I have to learn speaking and pronunciation first before learning the written language. Even though I fully believe I'm a visual learner naturally. So far I'm having fun learning this language ❤

[@honeytang3066]

I don't mean to burst your bubble, but Chinese is a tonal language... and, to make matters worse, I read somewhere that there are a couple of different words (characters) with same/exact pronunciation!

[@Kristalizednails]

@Honey Tang I know, but im not focusing on tones while learning, I'm more focused on how the word is pronounced, there is a difference in each tone word when listening so if I focus on remembering how to pronounced the words the tones will naturally come as well as the context. This is also how children learn. I'm just making it fun for myself and a little easier with things I'm familiar with, in this case: disney songs. Plus, this is just one part of my learning, lol

[@Soreto23]

Can anyone give me some encouragement regarding pronunciation? I have been learning Chinese for 5 months, on average 5 times a week for an hour or two. Which I think is a pretty good result. I pay special attention to pronunciation, because my main goal is to be understood, but I also want my pronunciation to be as close to a native speaker as possible. I try to listen to a lot of podcasts, do shadowing, read, etc. I also talk to myself and repeat sentences. Recently I started using a dictaphone to recreate my voice and honestly it looks very bad. For example, I read a short sentence in Pinyin, which makes the work much easier, and I also repeat after a person from China and when I play my voice, it sounds terribly unnatural, like a robot, even though I try to read as fluently as possible, paying attention to the tone, it sounds just like my voice. 5 months earlier, practically no progress, I feel a strange mannerism in my voice, it sounds terribly artificial, I suspect that I would be understood anyway, but it's not what I expected :(

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Hey there, I'm really glad to hear about your dedication and effort in learning Chinese! It's completely normal to face challenges, especially with pronunciation. Remember, progress takes time and consistency. Keep practicing and listening to Chinese content. Don't be too hard on yourself - you're doing great! Keep up the good work! 🌟

[@Soreto23]

@@MandarinBlueprint thanks a lot, of course I continue learning and I have no intention of giving up, I still assume that if hundreds of thousands of foreigners have managed to master pronunciation, I must also succeed :)

[@Soreto23]

@@MandarinBlueprint Id have last question. What do you think about speaking into Google Translate? As I mentioned, I have been learning for 5 months and practically since I started learning, I wanted to check my pronunciation by speaking words or sentences to a translator. The result of course varies, I would say 50/50 when I say longer sentences, I rarely manage to say every hanzi correctly, there are a few mistakes. In the case of words, it is a little better, although there are also times when the translator will understand me after 5-6 times. When I play the recordings of the Chinese lector, the translator catches everything 100% xD Should I continue testing my pronunciation skills in this way, or maybe I can easily get discouraged by using this method?

[@chesspiece4257]

@@Soreto23 i think the tip he gave on "memorizing phrases" would help with your voice sounding robotic. I can say “你叫什么名字” with way more inflection than other phrases just because I know it well (everything else is still robotic for me too). I don't have to worry about sandhi or compounds. But in general 加油！You'll sound more natural as you get more familiar with what you're saying and think more about the conversation and less about your pronuciation

[@womenqidao]

9:15 就是 就是 就是 it is very annoying to me if people repeat this too often

[@janisscilley43]

I just do not know why I cannot read a beginning graded reader, even though I have at least 1,000 characters under my belt. Ugh!

[@MandarinBlueprint]

Hey Janis, I understand the frustration. The problem is that no one who writes a graded reader knows exactly what you know, and thus they can't tailor to your needs. That's why we built the "Optimal Character Learning Order (OCLO)" to solve this exact problem. Here's an article we wrote about it: www.mandarinblueprint.com/blog/learn-chinese-oclo/

[@janisscilley43]

I think I have the Mandarin Companion vocab down (via Skitter) but it is the double entendre (if you will) of word meanings and phrases that are the problem. I think it is also getting use to the flow of characters on the page. I am a new user of Mandarin Blueprint, hopefully your product can get me into books soon. I am through the pronunciation course, which I liked (it tweaked my pronunciation), but I want to get reading. Hopefully, the next course will get me reading by April. I am going to be living in a bilingual home at that time. BTW, I put myself through the Hello Chinese course already, but they are very weak on developing characters.

[@MandarinBlueprint]

@@janisscilley43 We're confident this reading issue will disappear after a while of using the course!