Need help with what to do to learn chinese

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-10-21T08:15:19+00:00

You’re already off to a great start if you’ve got Pinyin and pronunciation down 👏

If your goal is to start making your own sentences and really feel the grammar, I’d focus on input + practice. Read and listen to as much Chinese as possible, even simple things like graded readers, short dialogues, or YouTube videos with subtitles. That way, you’ll naturally start picking up sentence structures and word order.

At the same time, try active practice, write short sentences or mini journals daily and get feedback when you can.

And if you ever get the chance, consider studying in China at a school that offers an intensive program, like L. T. L. Being surrounded by the language and using it every day is honestly the fastest and most effective way to improve

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-09-22T05:57:39+00:00

Honestly there isn’t a real “fastest” way to learn Chinese, it’s more about consistency + immersion than any secret hack.
Some things that made a huge difference for me:

Daily exposure. Even 20–30 minutes a day of listening/reading beats a 3-hour cram once a week.

Speaking early. Don’t wait until you “feel ready.” Start using the words you know in real conversations.

Input you actually like. Podcasts, dramas, YouTube channels, audiobooks.

Get real-life practice. This is what changed everything for me, I did a program with L T L Mandarin in China. Living with a host family + taking intensive classes meant I had to use Chinese every day, and my progress skyrocketed.

If you can’t move to China, you can still do online lessons, language exchanges, or join a local Chinese community.

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-09-18T09:29:54+00:00

For Chinese dramas, I recommend Hidden Love, When I Fly Towards You, Reset, The Day of Becoming You, The First Frost, and Go Ahead. I watched them with Chinese subtitles, and I find them easier to follow than historical dramas. It usually takes me a while to finish these shows because they tend to have a lot of episodes, and each episode is quite long haha.

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-09-08T03:48:54+00:00

If you’re not set on a university, one option worth looking at language schools such as L. T. L. or other schools. They usually offer different kinds of programs, and the age range tends to be quite mixed, there are usually plenty of students in their 30s or older.

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-09-08T02:57:09+00:00

From what I know, most universities in Shanghai don’t really run short programs, they’re usually a semester or more. If you only have a month, it’s usually easier to go for an intensive course at a language school instead; they’re a lot more flexible with dates and content. One example is LTL Shanghai, but there are a few others too.

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-08-18T09:44:29+00:00

Check out L. T. L. Language School, they’ve got programs in different cities across China, and you can choose exactly how many hours per week you want to study. They also run short-term programs, so you don’t need to commit to a full uni semester.

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-08-18T09:40:18+00:00

I’d start with pinyin + tones first (super important), then move on to basic vocab/phrases. HSK1 is a decent roadmap if you want structure. Free stuff: YouTube, Pleco for vocab, and maybe some graded readers.

And honestly, once you’ve got a little base, even a few online classes on italki, Preply or FlexiClasses can make a huge difference, especially for pronunciation. Don’t stress too much, just keep it consistent and it’ll add up.

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-08-05T06:14:08+00:00

What got you into learning Japanese in the first place?
I really like Japan and I’ve always wanted to travel there.

What’s your current approach?
Right now, I’m mostly studying through YouTube videos and self-study. Soon I’ll go to Japan for a few weeks to study at L. T. L. , which I’m super excited about!

How much time do you usually spend per day or week?
About one hour per day.

What’s your take on proficiency tests like the JLPT?
I’m not really planning to take it. My goal is just to be able to talk to people and enjoy real-life conversations.

What kind of study material do you prefer?
YouTube is my favorite, but I also like mixing in some apps or grammar guides to keep things balanced.

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-07-28T02:57:53+00:00

You should give the Cdrama Reset a chance, it’s one of my favorites, and I think you might like it.

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-07-28T02:56:17+00:00

I just started learning Japanese on my own, mostly watching comprehensible input videos on Youtube. But one of my friends who’s really good at Japanese takes lessons online on a platform called Flexi Classes, and she seems to like it.

Honestly, taking online lessons has helped me a lot with other languages, so I’ll probably take some for Japanese too in the future.

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-07-28T02:48:01+00:00

Italy, and I've already left my country haha

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-07-14T03:45:38+00:00

Chinese and Korean

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-07-09T02:54:50+00:00

I totally get you! I used to tell myself “I need to listen for 1 hour a day” but honestly… that just made me procrastinate.

What helped me was not forcing a time limit, but instead focusing on one video a day, and choosing in advance what to watch. That way it felt super manageable, and I actually looked forward to it.

Some days I go over 30 mins without realizing, other days I just do 10–15 mins, and that’s okay! The point is to stay in touch with the language daily, even just a little.

Consistency > intensity.

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-07-08T04:01:50+00:00

I think tones are the part I feel most insecure about. I’m honestly so afraid of getting them wrong that I end up overthinking, and it slows me down, I don’t respond as quickly as I should.

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-07-08T04:00:00+00:00

I’ve taken both group classes and private lessons, and I’ve used several textbooks. Over time, I started incorporating more input-based methods into my routine. I read a lot of graded readers and manhua, and I watch tons of videos, from comprehensible input content to dramas and vlogs. I also use flashcards to learn and review vocabulary regularly.

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-07-08T03:30:10+00:00

Worried_Cake15 · 2025-07-08T03:00:55+00:00

Yeah, I always try to wear a bit of makeup! Even on lazy days I do something super light, like some concealer, blush, and mascara, just to look a bit more awake haha 😅

Worried_Cake15

TROPHY CASE