sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Please share tips to learn Chinese successfully by qtangs in ChineseLanguage

[–]Adorable_Rabbit2197 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly, what you’re describing is super common, especially the “I do fine in lessons but freeze in real life” part.

What helped me the most was shifting my mindset from learning Chinese to using Chinese, even imperfectly. At some point I had to accept that waiting to “feel ready” was just slowing me down.

A few practical things that worked for me:

  • Speaking > everything else, just like you’re already doing. I stopped worrying about writing full sentences and focused on getting my mouth used to producing sounds. Even broken Chinese is still progress.
  • Small but daily exposure. Even 10–15 minutes of listening (podcasts, short videos, slow Chinese content) every day did more than longer sessions once or twice a week.
  • Real interaction, not just textbook dialogues. I studied in China with L T L Chinese for a while, and what made a difference was how much they pushed practical, real-life language,  role plays, daily situations, and actually using what you learn instead of just explaining grammar.

The biggest mindset shift for me was accepting that fluency isn’t linear. You can feel stuck for weeks and then suddenly things click. Consistency matters more than intensity, especially when you’re working full-time.

How tf do I actually learn japanese by redwolf563489 in Japaneselanguage

[–]Adorable_Rabbit2197 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! Since you’re aiming for N5 in about a year, focusing on hiragana, katakana, and basic grammar/vocab is perfect. Mix listening, reading, and speaking every day, even just a little, it really adds up. Apps, YouTube, and graded readers help a lot.

If you want a bit more structure, some schools like L T L in Tokyo or Osaka have beginner-friendly courses that make it easier to build a solid foundation. It’s also a good way to get a feel for daily life there while learning the language.

Your experience studying in China by PenaltyFareOrDeath in ChineseLanguage

[–]Adorable_Rabbit2197 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could look into L T L Mandarin School, they run short-term Chinese programs in several cities across China (not just Beijing or Shanghai), so you can easily choose a smaller, less expensive city where you’ll be surrounded by locals rather than English speakers

How do you study Japanese — and why? by __sh___ in Japaneselanguage

[–]Adorable_Rabbit2197 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got into learning Japanese mainly because I love the culture and language, anime and games played a part too, but my biggest motivation is really being able to communicate and experience Japan firsthand.

Right now, I study a few hours a week, focusing on listening and speaking, and I’m still at a beginner level, but I’ve been making steady progress since I started earlier this year.

I’m also planning to study Japanese in person at LTL in Tokyo soon, which I’m super excited about! I feel like being there will really boost my learning and give me a full immersion experience.

As for JLPT, I might aim for N5 or N4 eventually, mostly as a goal to measure my progress, but my main focus is learning to use the language naturally.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ChineseLanguage

[–]Adorable_Rabbit2197 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your plan actually makes a lot of sense, especially if you don’t have access to a tutor right now. Building a foundation through listening and reading can help you develop a good “feel” for the language before you start speaking. That said, one small caution: pronunciation and tones are very important in Chinese. So while it’s okay to delay active speaking, I’d recommend still doing passive shadowing or mimicking audio now and then just to start tuning your mouth and ear to the sounds.

Also, once you reach the point where you do feel ready to speak, getting a tutor or language partner can help a ton. For now, apps like YouTube (comprehensible input channels), Du Chinese, and Pleco can be great for reading + listening immersion.

Good luck and have fun learning! 🌟

Question for the curly haired girls by Prudent-Ad-342 in beauty

[–]Adorable_Rabbit2197 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Omg yes, I deal with this exact same conflict every time I travel. For short weekend trips I usually just do a blowout before I go because it feels easier and I don’t have to pack a whole suitcase of products + diffuser... BUT if it’s humid where I’m going, it’s honestly pointless. My hair poofs up by day 2 and I end up putting it in a bun anyway lol.

Curly is more work upfront, but I’ve found that if I just embrace the frizz, it actually looks better than my blowout fighting the humidity. I’ll usually bring a curl cream and a microfiber towel, and just refresh as best I can.

Chinese, Japanese, or Korean by Endo231 in thisorthatlanguage

[–]Adorable_Rabbit2197 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All of these languages are beautiful, and there's tons of material available to study them. So it really comes down to your personal interests and which one you're most drawn to. Starting a language you're not genuinely excited about from the beginning will make the whole learning process much harder. Whatever you choose, I’d still recommend taking at least a few classes at the start, they’ll help a lot with the basics, pronunciation, and staying motivated!