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Learn How to Write Chinese Characters: Skritter Review & Discount

- Written by SDC 15 Comments

If you sign up to Skritter using one of the links on this page with the coupon “SDC3952” you get a 33% discount for the first six months (only valid for new accounts)

Skritter review – Index

  1. What is Skritter?
  2. Why do you need a software to write characters?
  3. How much does it cost?
  4. How to use the software
  5. The advantages of learning how to write characters
  6. Common mistakes
  7. Other features of Skritter

What is Skritter?

Skritter is, in my opinion, the best way to learn how to write Chinese characters.

I used it ten minutes per day for about one year and I managed to learn how to write more than 1,000 characters (all the characters on the HK4 list, to be precise). Also, I learned the meaning and pronunciation of those characters.

Why do you need a software to write characters?

If you watched the video at the beginning of this post you already know that the software is pretty cool.

But the real reason for using Skritter is the algorithm behind the software, which allows you to remember more than the 90% of the characters that you are studying (in the photo below you can see that in 30 days I was able to remember the 92.9% of the characters that I studied, [Read more…]

How to Learn Chinese Fast – Best Tips To Improve Your Language Skills

- Written by SDC 44 Comments

learn Chinese fast

Click here to discover what Chinese courses
that we recommend at the moment!

Before you begin

Update: We’re republishing an updated version of this article, which was originally published in 2012.

This article introduces my plan to learn Chinese fast, where “fast” doesn’t mean that I hope to learn how to speak Mandarin within two months. Conversely, I intend to optimizing my time and efforts to learn Chinese by only studying an hour per day.

My goal is to be able to read Chinese newspapers, understand a talk show and have a “normal speed” conversation with any Chinese person. I want to achieve this purpose within one year.

Chinese is the sixth language that I’m learning so this plan is based on my past experience.

Also, I’m a big fan of SRS (spaced repetition software). If you are just starting to study Mandarin or you never heard the word “SRS” before, you should definitely keep reading!

[Read more…]

Learn Chinese Online: 71 Excellent Free Resources

- Written by SDC

Learn Chinese

This article contains a list of free resources to learn Chinese online. Click on one of the following links to “jump” directly to the section of the article that interests you most:

Free Resources to Learn Chinese Online – Index

  1. Dictionaries;
  2. Grammar;
  3. Audio and Video;
  4. Reading;
  5. Prounciation (pinyin);
  6. Characters, flashcards and SRS;
  7. Motivation and advice (Personal blogs);
  8. Motivation and advice (Company blogs);
  9. HSK (standard Chinese language proficiency test);
  10. Forums and Social Networks;
  11. For those looking for a specific resource;
  12. Conclusions;

When we firstly published it, in June 2012, this list contained 25 resources. However, we update it every year with the best web sites and free apps that we “discover” (many of which were suggested to us by you readers).

Our goal is not to list all the free resources dedicated to learning Chinese; rather it’s to present to you the best of each of the categories listed above.

Keep reading to find a brief review and corresponding link to the web site of each resource cited.

Enjoy!

[Read more…]

One-to-One Chinese Online Lessons: Our Review of the Best Platforms

- Written by SDC 6 Comments

chinese 1 on 1 online

The unstoppable progress of today’s technology has been the source of significant advances in language learning, and Chinese is no exception.

Both mobile apps and online resources have led to many possibilities for improving the effectiveness of studying. However, in this article, we are going to focus on individual lessons online, which constitute a veritable revolution, as they permit access to good teachers regardless of where you are.

Click here to skip directly to the review of the platforms offering 1-on1 lessons which we recommend [Read more…]

Review of ChineseClass101: Learn Chinese with Podcasts

- Written by SDC 4 Comments

This article is a review of ChineseClass101, a popular online platform for learning Chinese through podcasts, although it is much more than just that.

What is ChineseClass101

ChineseClass101 is an online platform that offers a complete Chinese course for all levels, ranging from people who don’t know a single word to those who have already been studying it for a few years. The course is structured around hundreds of podcasts as the main study material and also contains a series of tools to help you consolidate what you learn from the audio tracks.

[Read more…]

Chinese With Mike – Video course review

- Written by SDC 4 Comments

Chinese with Mike

Click here to discover what Chinese courses
that we recommend at the moment!

I “discovered” the videos of Mike Laoshi, at the time Mike Hainzinger, in 2012, a few months after I began writing here on SDC. I spoke well of him on various occasions and a few months ago, John Murray Learning, the English publishing house that has published the course, has asked me if I was willing to review “Chinese with Mike”. I said yes.

So they sent me a copy of the DVDs and textbook that goes along with the video course. If you want I send it to you… just joking, if you’re interested the course is available on Amazon.com, you’ll find it here.

Why is “Chinese with Mike” not just another video course?

If you watch the above trailer (it only lasts 30 seconds) you’ll see that Mike Laoshi is an unconventional teacher to say the least. In fact it was just that which struck me about his lessons: he manages to explain Chinese grammar without boring you. Since I believe boredom is the greatest danger when one takes on learning Chinese, this is not a minor detail. Below you’ll find one of the few lessons available on the Youtube channel Chinese with Mike:

[Read more…]

Mandarin Companion: Novels in Chinese that even a beginner can read

- Written by SDC 9 Comments

Mandarin Companion

Click here to discover what Chinese courses
that we recommend at the moment!

When Jared Turner, the co-founder of Mandarin Companion, sent an email to me, I’ve went to check his website right away.

Why? Because, as you can read on the headline above, they offer an elegant solution to a difficult problem. No, I’m sorry to disappoint you but they don’t solve the pollution issue that is affecting China.

But if you’re learning Chinese and you feel frustrated…

A big problem when you begin to study Chinese Mandarin

What’s the biggest problem for people that start to study Chinese? What’s the biggest obstacle to become fluent (whatever “fluent” means to you)?

You may differ with me, but in my opinion is the fact that everyday Chinese sources – newspapers, novels, movies, – are so difficult to understand and, after a few trials, you give up ’cause it’s just too boring. [Read more…]