The Different Learning Approaches for Beginner and Advanced Chinese Learner

You may be wondering as someone studying Chinese if there is any difference in the learning methods of beginners and advanced students? The answer is NO. Each level has its own content and objectives, and its own methods. A smart student is the one who can apply the suitable learning method to his level. This article is about the difference between beginners and advanced learners? How can you break the ice as a beginner and make the learning go more smoothly? How can you further improve as an advanced student?

For Beginners 

As we know, the Chinese belong to Sino-Tibetan languages. There are many characters and five tones (including the light tones), which do not exist in Indo-European and Latin Languages. Therefore, as a beginner, it is quite reasonable if you have to relearn how to pronounce Chinese pinyin or if you are scared to learn so many characters. Chinese is just like a brand new world for you to discover. 

First, the most crucial thing for you is to have the belief that learning the Chinese language is exciting and easy. For instance, you will learn the tones in the initial stage. Some students may find it difficult to distinguish them. The best method is to think of the tones as five musical notes. They go up and down, and speaking Mandarin is like singing with low and high pitches. Second, you need to grow the habit of previewing and reviewing. Before class, you have to know what you are going to learn and guess what part will be the difficult one so that you can put your full attention on this part. After class, you should then go over all that you have learned so that you will be sure to keep them in mind.

Third, you must be interactive while learning. You are not a passive audience but are instead taking leading roles in class. To be involved, be energetic, and be active. Furth, try to use Chinese as much possible, not only in class but also in daily life. A language is a tool for communication. It can encourage you when you are socializing. Do not worry about making mistakes because making mistakes and correcting them is natural. It is actually good for you. The teacher should do what they can to help their students. They may use a bit of English in the initial stage to make the classes understandable. Also, it is a transitional period for a student to adapt to the Mandarin language environment. As a beginner, you can discuss with your teacher to make sure that every step is sequential and reasonable for you to understand the lessons better. 

For Advanced Students 

What should you do as advanced students in Chinese to make learning better? Generally speaking, the students at this level are good at sentence building and grammar. Thus, your focus should be on language skills and learning more about Chinese culture. Once, a Korean friend of mine said he felt happy to stay in China. Because it’s free to watch most of the Chinese TV series and movies, while in Korea, they have to pay for it. This a difference in the two culture that Korean students could appreciate and take advantage of it. By watching these movies and dramas, they could significantly improve their Chinese. 

Other tips:

First, you should take advantage of the available resources. On the internet, there videos and pictures available online. Watching Chinese videos is crucial for your speaking and listening skills. Second, also you can read Chinese novels and newspapers. We all know that if you want to pass the HSK 5 exam, you need to know 2500 common words. That is enough for daily conversation. But the topics you can talk about may still be quite restricted. Reading novels and newspapers will increase your vocabulary. Try to write essays in Chinese using characters. Writing is the best way to get your ideas clear. Fourth, you can read proper books. Ask your tutor or teacher to recommend some books. Learning a language is not limited to sentences and words. Getting to know the culture by reading is essential. Knowing the culture means knowing the people better so that you can get along with Chinese people and improve your social interaction. It does not matter whether you are a beginner or an advanced student, there is always something new to learn about Chinese, and there are methods that will assist you in learning them fast and well. You should not only study hard but also smart. Get to know more about your situation and make yourself a study plan. This will help you advance your Chinese language skills faster and more efficiently.

Some Tools you have to Use to Learn Advanced Chinese

The stage of getting from beginner to intermediate and to advanced level Chinese is hard because it may be the same in every language. You may be pretty good at speaking about familiar topics in Chinese, but what about more advanced content. You might not understand the Chinese newspaper, magazine, or Chinese news still seems to be a challenge. The step from intermediate to advanced is hard because you may have to completely overthink and readjust your study routine and switch to other materials to make it to the next level. It is easy to stack at the intermediate level, but with the suggestions presented below, you can achieve an advanced level of Chinese. A lot of hard work and dedication is involved if you want to make it there. You need to improve each part of the Chinese language; writing, listening, reading, and speaking. The study material and resources to get you the next level may be different from what you used before. Advanced Chinese resources tend to be more abstract and creative than textbooks that beginners and intermediate learners use. 

Create a Plan to overcome the difficulties

One of the difficult parts of getting to the advanced level is hard work and proper time management. We all have lives full of work, friends, family, and hobbies. It is important not to lose track of what you want to achieve. That is where time management, in the form of a study plan, comes in. Making a study plan helps you keep your aim in front of you. Determine a period of time you want to give yourself to study advanced Chinese effectively. 

Chinese Reading Materials 

Reading is the vitamin A of learning any language and getting to that advanced level. The more you read, the more grammar patterns and vocabulary you will absorb, and the more you will be able to use them. You do not have to read every textbook at this point; there are particular books made specifically for advanced learners that focus on advanced grammar content. 

Authentic Chinese Materials 

The real difference between intermediate and advanced Mandarin is the vocabulary you can actively use. You may study words from books or newspapers, but that is usually not how people talk. So try to learn idioms and modern vocabulary. If you learn this type of real-world content, your Chinese level will fly.  An incredible place to learn with reliable materials is Fluent, an online platform that is designed to get you comfortable with everyday Chinese. Watch videos from advanced categories and then learn the phrases and vocabulary with FlientU unique Quiz Mode for your knowledge to really expand. 

Official Chinese Resource 

The internet is an advanced Chinese learner’s friend since it features an endless amount of excellent and mostly free resources. You can use advanced Chinese courses by the Confucius Institute Online. The site is dedicated to all levels of Chinese language learning but provides excellent resources for advanced learners where students can interact with each other and discuss different topics. Also, CCTV’s Learn Chinese programs, which is useful and fun to watch for advanced learners. Their website is full of great shows to discover. Their series ‘China Travel’ shows you all different parts of the country, leading you through the most beautiful spots in Chinese. 

Chinese Media

A little bit more challenging but the fun is the new show ‘The Empress of China’ which you can watch for free at Youku. It features top actress Fan Bingbing and tells the story of the first and only legitimate Empress of China during the Tang Dynasty. You can also listen to Tunein provides a wide selection of radio stations from all over China. These stations offer news, music, and chats about a variety of topics. 

Time in China

Of the easy way to improve a language is to live in a country where the language is spoken. Travel to China or, better to live there for a while. Volunteer programs, internships in China, or only vacation time in China can help you broaden your horizons. If your budget is not big, try to HelpX, an online listing platform for travelers who can volunteer at ranches, hostels, lodges, and even sailing boats in exchange for food and accommodation. 

Chinese Language Partner 

All the traveling in the world is no good if you do not open your mouth and speak the language. If you are not able to visit China at this point, or if you want to practice beforehand, you should be practicing with a language partner to reach the advanced level. cchatty is the best source to meet folks who want to learn your native language and in exchange teach you their native language.