Learn Mandarin: Top 6 Tips + 4 Platforms [2024 Updated]

Mandarin is famous for being a hard language, but you can overcome the hurdles by learning it strategically. The unfamiliarity with tonal language, difficulty understanding the character, etc, are familiar issues for nonnative persons. Thus, you can learn Mandarin by planning your learning ways and resources. 

In this guide, we’ll tell you the best tips and 4 platforms to help you to learn Mandarin  effectively, so that you can plan your journey and the resources to assist. 

Part 2: 6 Best Tips To Learn Mandarin Chinese (For Beginner)

To learn Mandarin, you’ll face difficulties and find it hard to learn this language. Now you know why it is important to learn it; you can follow the journey by putting in the effort. However, here are the steps that will help you master Mandarin Chinese. 

Tip1: Understand Your Motivation

As we have discussed, there are many reasons to learn Mandarin Chinese. You can focus on why you are learning this language. It will motivate you to put in effort and learn deeply. By understanding your motivation, you can start your journey with firm decisions. 

Tip2: Understand Mandarin’s Basics

It is a crucial step when you start your learning journey, as these basics are the foundation of Mandarin. Start by learning the pinyin system first to understand the Chinese characters easily. These are the alphabets that represent the sound of Chinese characters.

After this, focus on learning the four tones that give meaning to the words. Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language, which means a change in tone can change the meaning of the word. 

However, the basics to learn Mandarin language also include Chinese characters and strokes. Strokes are the styles to write these characters that also play a role in changing the word’s meaning.

Tip3: Learn Phrases And Vocabulary

After learning and understanding the basics of Mandarin, you can start learning the common vocabulary and phrases. You can start by memorizing the day’s names, month names, weather, common greeting phrases, etc. 

Tip4: Get Help From Learning Resources

Various resources can help you effectively learn Mandarin. For the initial stage of learning basics or vocabulary, you can purchase books from the store with the basics and vocabulary. Moreover, some different apps or courses can assist you in learning these basic language skills. 

Tip5: Practice Consistently

Whatever you learn, practice constantly to memorize and understand things. You can start reading Chinese articles, listening to podcasts, watching movies or documentaries, etc., to learn the ways of native speakers. 

Tip6: Join language groups and communities

 Participate in language meetups or join online communities of Mandarin learners. Interacting with fellow learners can provide support, motivation, and opportunities for language practice.

Part 3: 4 Best Platforms To Learn Mandarin Online

You need proper guidelines and teachings to overcome the hardships of learning Mandarin. For this, there are various courses online to learn Mandarin. Out of these courses and apps, we have listed the best sites to help you in your journey.

#1 Wukong Education

WuKong Chinese is a top platform to learn Mandarin online. With a comprehensive curriculum, expert instructors, and interactive classes, it offers a convenient and flexible learning experience. Their Seven-Step Method focuses on building a strong foundation, improving language skills, and mastering reading and writing. With competitive pricing and age-specific programs, WuKong makes learning Mandarin accessible to all. Start your Mandarin learning journey with WuKong Chinese and unlock your language skills.

URL	https://www.wukongsch.com/chinese/
Free trial class	√
Numbers of Mandarin	1800+
Student Reviews	very good for everything. good teachers and good books. my kids has learnt a lot from WuKong Chinese education. Quoted from: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/wukongsch.com

Features: 

1. Interactive Learning Environment: Wukong Education provides an interactive learning experience through their online Chinese classes.

2.Comprehensive Curriculum: Wukong Education follows the Wukong Seven-Step Method, a proven teaching strategy that covers all aspects of language learning. 

3.Tailored for Different Age Groups: Wukong Education understands that the learning preferences and requirements of students vary across different age groups. 

#2 Goeast Mandarin

Goeast Mandarin is a Chinese site where you can learn Mandarin with 1 to 1 live sessions. It provides initial free lessons, after which you must purchase the course to learn more. Thus, if you want to learn the best of the language, you should invest some money in it. 

URL	https://goeastmandarin.com/
Free trial class	√
Numbers of Mandarin	1000+
Student Reviews	Studying with GoEast is an excellent way to improve your Chinese skills. I’m taking an online course now.  Quoted from: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/goeastmandarin.com

Features: 

1. Innovative online and in-person classes with professional Mandarin teachers dedicated to helping you achieve your language goals.
2. Personalized learning plans tailored to your background, interests, and learning style, ensuring progress at your own pace.
3. Engaging and immersive learning experience with bite-sized videos, live classes, and a supportive community of teachers and fellow learners.

#3 Yoyo Chinese

It is a well-designed site where you can get courses with great teaching methods. It provides quizzes and videos to practice your learnings. You’ll learn the conversational level within six months of learning and practicing. You can sign up for free and learn the basics with a free subscription. 

But to access the advanced-level courses, you must purchase a premium plan. They provide different subscriptions, including watch, learn, and lifetime subscriptions. You can purchase the subscription as per your need. 

URL	https://yoyochinese.com/
Free trial class	√
Numbers of Mandarin	1200+
Student Reviews	Yoyo Chinese don’t yet have an advanced course, so for me as an advanced learner a lot of the material was review Quoted from: https://www.fluentin3months.com/reviews/yoyo-chinese-review/

Features: 

1. Comprehensive and structured curriculum designed for learners at various levels, providing a clear path to progress in Mandarin proficiency.
2. High-quality video lessons taught by experienced and engaging instructors, making learning enjoyable and effective.
3. Interactive exercises and quizzes that reinforce learning and allow for practice in listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

#4 Duolingo

It is an app to learn Mandarin Chinese free of cost by playing mini-games and learning characters. If you are a fresh learner, you can start with this app. After learning characters and vocabulary, you can move on to the online courses. 

Thus, these are the best free and paid online platforms to help you learn Mandarin. Wukong is also an authentic site that provides a suitable environment for kids 3-18. You can enroll there if you want your kids to learn this globally popular language. 

URL	https://en.duolingo.com/
Free trial class	√
Numbers of Mandarin	0
Student Reviews	my experience with Duolingo has been all right. It gave me the opportunity to learn a new language without paying for language classes which is good. Quoted from: https://www.softwareadvice.com/lms/duolingo-profile/reviews/

Features: 

1. Duolingo offers a gamified learning experience, making language learning fun and engaging through interactive exercises and rewards.
2. The app provides bite-sized lessons that are convenient for daily practice, allowing learners to study Mandarin at their own pace and schedule.
3. Duolingo’s adaptive learning system tracks individual progress and adjusts the difficulty level accordingly, providing personalized learning experiences.

One disadvantage of Duolingo for lear

Part 3: Why Learn Mandarin?

Mandarin is widely spoken in China and globally, with 1.2 billion native speakers. Learning Mandarin is crucial for communication, cultural understanding, and career prospects. China’s growing economy makes Mandarin proficiency advantageous. It also facilitates travel to Mandarin-speaking regions, particularly China. Follow a structured approach and utilize reliable resources to effectively learn Mandarin.

Part 4: 4 Benefit of Learning Mandarin Chinese

As learning Mandarin is crucial and in demand in the modern-day world, there are many benefits and drawbacks that you must know before starting to learn Mandarin Chinese. 

• Career Opportunities: As China rapidly grows in the international economy, job opportunities are also increasing. 
• Language Of The Future: Because it is rapidly and continuously growing economically and politically, the importance of Mandarin language is also increasing. 
• Global Significance: Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in the world, making it a must to do things for people who travel or communicate all over the world. 
• Cultural Enrichment: China is popular for being rich in history and culture. Learning Mandarin will help you know the locals, their culture, history, and tradition in a better way. 

FAQs

Q1: How long does it take to learn Mandarin?

The time to learn Mandarin depends on various factors, including experience, capability, effort, consistency, and the first language. However, achieving the basic conversational skills with consistent efforts can take 6-12 months of practice. Moreover, the intermediate level will take 1-2 years, and the advanced level will take 2-3 years to achieve. Thus, you must be patient and consistent in your efforts and practices to have better results. 

Q2: Can I teach myself Mandarin?

You can teach yourself Mandarin by focusing on the strategies and a proper learning plan. You can start by learning the basics with the help of paid or free resources. Self-discipline and consistent practice are the keys to learning Mandarin. Putting in the right effort will be a rewarding experience for you. 

Summary

To learn Mandarin, you must connect with native speakers and other learners via forums. This will help you practice more and find the mistakes in your learning. You must be sincere and serious about your learning to see better results. 

However, the strategic approach to learn Mandarin is mentioned in this guide as a roadmap for fresh learners. Whether you want a conversational level of proficiency, the main thing that matters is patience and consistency. Choose the best platform suitable to your preferences while learning Mandarin Chinese language.