

Learning Chinese

Chinese Culture: Does Learning Chinese Have to Be So Tough?

Learning Chinese

Any new language you learn is going to cause you some awkward moments. If it was as easy as just picking it up without any effort then we would all be speaking fluent German, Spanish, French and Arabic.

Having said that, there is no denying the fact that the Chinese language is one of the most difficult around, so what can we do to make the learning process a bit less painful?

Find a Connection

One of the smartest things you can do is find some sort of a connection which helps you so that it doesn't seem like a chore to carry on learning. This might mean watching Chinese films, reading books in the language or doing something else which helps you pick up new words without even really trying.

Make Friends

Speaking to native speakers is one of the top ways of becoming more comfortable with both the language and the culture. When you are learning a difficult language like Chinese this can be a daunting thought but you shouldn't be put off. Just as with any other language, native speakers are generally delighted to find someone making an effort to speak to them in their language. With most cities in North America having big Chinese immigrant populations it should be easy enough to find someone to speak to.

Travel and Learn

Could you imagine yourself in China? If you are learning the language then it might seem a logical step to travel there. Immersing yourself in the language and the culture is certainly a sure fire way of feeling as though you are making some sort of progress, although you can also expect it to lead to a fair degree of frustration and some awkward moments. If you don't learn the language this way then you need to consider what you have done wrong, as it is generally the ideal method.

One Step at a Time

Of course, just like everything else in life we need to start at the beginning. This usually means looking for the professional Chinese classes Chicago and other North American cities offer now. If you try and get started without the help of a teacher then you can get bogged down quickly and end up giving up on the idea before you have advanced very far. On the other hand, a language teacher will ensure that you follow the right path in order to build up your confidence little by little. If you are looking for native speaker led Chinese classes New York, Washington, Vancouver and many other cities now have these on offer.

Books on Chinese