Mandarin is one of the most daunting languages ever developed. And with its complex writing and phonetic system, as well as its diverse dialects and accents, this is not surprising. Mandarin is a challenging language to master, even for native speakers. The Chinese language can be intimidating for new language learners, especially if you’re unfamiliar with it, but there are a few ways to avoid becoming overwhelmed. In Singaporean schools and as a new pastime for many, the study of Chinese has become popular. Many methods can be used to learn this language during a Mandarin course in Singapore, as well as others.
1. Establish Clear Goals
To improve your motivation and learning, you must formulate specific objectives. Ask yourself why you want to learn Mandarin in a language course in Singapore and how it will benefit you for maximum effectiveness. Do you wish to learn fundamental Mandarin to add to your resume? What about improving client communication at work? Or is this merely for amusement? Utilise these responses to formulate specific goals. Your new set of objectives will assist you in developing a personalised learning plan, but we’ll get to that shortly.
2. Listen to Mandarin As Often As Possible
Start by concentrating on listening. Just adjust to the sounds. And you read whatever you are listening to using a phonetic writing system, such as Pinyin, to grasp what is said. Eventually, you will need to learn the characters, but for now, you should focus on gaining a foothold in the language before tackling the characters.
It is difficult to begin learning characters if you have no idea what the words mean, how they sound, or how they work together. A new language can initially sound like undifferentiated noise. The first step in learning in online Mandarin courses is to familiarise yourself with the sounds of the language, learn to differentiate between words, and even have a few words and phrases reverberating in your head. One strategy for mastering Chinese conversation is to work on your listening comprehension. Additionally, listening to Chinese podcasts is the best way to learn the language.
3. Invest Time in Memorising Characters
Once you’ve decided to study online Mandarin courses, you should practise them daily. Invest 30 minutes to 1 hour per day in learning characters. Use whatever method you prefer, but set aside daily time for character development. Why each day? Because you will forget the characters almost as soon as you learn them and must relearn them repeatedly.
4. Use Books for a Practical Approach
If you prefer traditional books to online lessons, you can find various Mandarin-learning books tailored to different proficiency levels. And although trying to learn Chinese in Singapore through textbooks may sound tedious, it is beneficial. Most books available for purchase online provide well-structured lessons that teach you the fundamentals of the language and give helpful exercises to help you retain the information. In addition, you should purchase simple storybooks to complement your reading. Even elementary school storybooks and comics are extremely useful for enhancing reading skills.
Want to learn Chinese in Singapore? Visit Mandarin Plus to nourish your feel for the language.