You Can Learn Chinese

Jade grew up knowing she was half Chinese, but without the language, family connection, or cultural context to understand what that really meant. In this deeply personal episode, she shares what it was like growing up mixed race in a mostly white community, carrying questions of identity, belonging, and cultural disconnection from an early age.Jade shares why learning Chinese became much more than a language goal. What began as a quiet lifelong pull eventually turned into something healing, empowering, and transformative during the pandemic, when she finally committed to learning Mandarin seriously. She describes how Chinese gave her a way to reconnect with herself, reshape her story, and discover a new sense of confidence.Jade’s journey took her to Taiwan, where studying Mandarin brought both joyful breakthroughs and very real culture shock. From challenging start to the unexpected feeling of being seen as someone who might belong, Jade reflects on how language learning, identity, and personal growth became inseparable.This is an honest and moving conversation about mixed identity, heritage learning, and the powerful role language can play in helping us become more fully ourselves.Links from the episode:LengLengCoolJade | InstagramMandarin Companion Graded Readers

Should you learn Chinese by reading children’s books? It’s a common recommendation, but is it actually a good idea?In this episode, Jared and John unpack why kids’ books aren’t as “simple” as they seem. These books are written for native-speaking children who already have years of spoken fluency. They’re often read aloud by parents and packed with specialized vocabulary, proper nouns, literary language, and characters that learners rarely need early on. What looks beginner-friendly can quickly become frustrating and inefficient.So why do people keep suggesting it? Usually because it worked for them—as native speakers. But second language acquisition research shows that learners benefit most from high-frequency vocabulary and carefully controlled input.That’s where graded readers come in. Designed specifically for language learners, they limit vocabulary and characters while still telling engaging stories. The goal isn’t to learn Chinese like a child, it’s to build a strong foundation so you can eventually read whatever you want.If you’ve ever struggled through a “simple” children’s book, this episode explains why, and what to read instead.Links from the episode:7 Mistakes about Extensive Reading (w/analysis of《好饿的毛毛虫》) | Mandarin CompanionMandarin Companion Graded Readers

Jack Mullinkosson, an intermediate Mandarin learner and creator who lived with Chinese families and biked from Chengdu to Hanoi. He talks about starting Chinese on a film set, living with immigrant families for immersion, using shadowing to fix tones, making conversational videos in Chengdu, and turning everyday errands into speaking practice.

Struggling with listening comprehension in Chinese? You're not alone—and this episode is here to help. Jared Turner and John Pasden dive into practical, tech-powered strategies for sharpening your Chinese listening skills using AI transcription tools and other smart resources.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to use AI tools to turn Chinese audio into transcripts you can study.Why listening comprehension is often one of the hardest skills—and how to make it easier.How to “train your ear” with slowed-down, AI-generated audio.Ways to leverage native content such as TV shows, songs, podcasts, YouTube videos, and make them more accessible for learning.The value of transcribing your own Chinese speaking to catch patterns, mistakes, and growth areas.John and Jared walk you through real-world workflows, tools they’ve personally used, and the best types of media for improving listening. Whether you’re trying to understand a native podcast, follow along with a Chinese drama, or make sense of a street conversation you recorded, this episode gives you a clear roadmap for turning audio into insight and comprehension.Listening doesn’t have to be your weak spot. With today’s tools, it can become your strength.Links from the episode:TurboScribe | AI transcription toolLanguage Jones & Anki Hyper TTS | YouTube"Duìbùqǐ Wǒ de Zhōngwén Bù Hǎo" | Sung by Transition on YouTube“One Semester of Spanish - Love Song” | YouTubeMandarin Companion Graded Readers

in this episode, Jared sits down with Alexander Brose, President & CEO of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada, to trace his remarkable journey learning Chinese and how it shaped his life and career in unexpected ways.From his early years living in South Korea with his family, to choosing Mandarin over Cantonese at an international school in Hong Kong, Alex shares how Chinese gradually became part of his identity. He continued studying the language through high school and later majored in Asian Studies at Cornell University. A pivotal summer in Harbin with the CET immersion program further deepened both his language skills and cultural connection to China.Alex’s path led him to build cross-cultural musical collaborations between China and the U.S., eventually becoming the founding Executive Director of the Tianjin Juilliard School. He reflects on how speaking Chinese created unique professional opportunities, opened doors to deep cultural understanding, and enabled him to be at the forefront of classical music education in China.Throughout the episode, Alex offers thoughtful reflections on the value of immersion, the challenges of maintaining language confidence, and the power of music as a bridge between cultures.Links from the episode:Alexander Brose | Royal Conservatory of Music (Canada)Mandarin Companion Graded ReadersCET Academic ProgramsFrom Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China | IMDB 

Is handwriting Chinese characters slowing you down? In today’s digital world, does it still make sense to focus on writing by hand or should you just type? In this episode, Jared and John dive deep into this hot-button issue for Chinese learners: handwriting vs. typing.Pulling insights from a research paper by Chinese Breeze creator Chengzhi Chu (储诚志), they explore how character instruction is evolving and why prioritizing typing can make your learning faster, more efficient, and less frustrating, especially for adult learners.They’ll break down:Why typing Chinese is not “cheating”, it’s how Chinese is actually used todayHow handwriting can become a bottleneck to fluency and motivationWhat it really means to “know” a character in the modern eraThe myth of muscle memory and why stroke order perfection isn’t essentialWhy it’s okay to treat handwriting as a hobby, not a core skillYou’ll also hear how character writing has changed more in the past 20 years than the previous 2000, the "three eras" of Chinese writing, and how modern teachers are shifting to a “typing-first, handwriting-second” approach in classrooms around the world.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by handwriting or wondered if you’re “doing it wrong” by typing, this episode will give you the clarity, and permission, you need to move forward confidently.Links from the episode:The Evolution of Hanzi Proficiency and the E-Writing Transformation of L2 Chinese Teaching in the Digital Age | Paper by Chengzhi Chu Mandarin Companion Graded ReadersLearn Chinese Characters by Reading (the book)Learn Chinese Characters by Reading (free resources for 200 characters)

What began as a teenage crush became a lifelong journey into Chinese for Matthew McGuire, an Australian creator and accent coach. In this episode, Jared sits down with Matthew to discuss how he learned Mandarin without textbooks, grammar drills, or writing practice. Instead, he immersed himself in love dramas, shadowed dialogue, and built a Chinese-speaking social circle. Matthew shares how his curiosity and enjoyment guided him from impressing a girl from Sichuan to achieving real proficiency and forming meaningful friendships. He also explains how Chinese opened doors for him both personally and professionally, and why he believes language learning should be fun, intentional, and grounded in real-life use. For anyone feeling stuck in their studies or unsure of how to move forward, Matthew’s story offers valuable perspective and inspiration.Links from the episode:Matthew McGuire on Instagram | @realozziemcguireChinese graded readers make an excellent gift! Head over to: https://www.mandarincompanion.comAllSet Learning has some amazing deals on lessons right now: https://www.allsetlearning.com

Amidst AI advancements, learning Chinese remains vital. The hosts outline ten essential human skills that AI can't replicate, like spontaneous phone conversations and the joy of reading Chinese books. They share personal stories about the impact of handwritten characters and the significance of understanding regional accents. Communication during tech failures highlights the value of human skills, while integrating Chinese into daily life fosters deeper cultural connections. Ultimately, they emphasize that language learning enriches human relationships in a way AI never can.

In this episode, Jared sits down with Renata Mirkova, a Chinese language educator from the Czech Republic whose journey into Mandarin began not with a grand plan, but almost by accident. What started as a university entrance decision led her to master Chinese, live in China, and now teach both Czech and Chinese across cultural boundaries.Renata shares the unique challenges of learning Chinese in a non-English-speaking environment, including outdated textbooks from the 60s, Czech-Sinology programs steeped in history, and a lack of direct Chinese-to-Czech resources. But through her perseverance and multiple immersive experiences in China, Renata carved out her own path to fluency.From surviving the linguistic chaos of Sichuan dialects to interpreting for Czech officials on business trips in China, she offers candid reflections on what works for her, what didn’t, and how learning Chinese changed her life. She also gives insight into her current work creating Chinese learning materials specifically for Czech speakers and what it’s like teaching Czech to Chinese speakers in return.Links from the episode:Learn Chinese with Renata Mirkova | WebsiteMandarin Companion Graded Readers

After 300 days of secretly studying Chinese, one guy surprises his partner with phrases like “the cheesecake is grieving” and “the purple elephant eats passion for breakfast.” It’s a bit humorous, but it also highlights a bigger issue: extreme learning methods that feel productive but fall flat in practice.In this episode, Jared and John dive into seven common extremes they’ve seen (and lived) in the world of learning Chinese. From bingeing flashcards or grammar rules to over-relying on Duolingo or doing nothing but watch TV in Mandarin, these extremes can slow your progress, or worse, burn you out completely.Drawing on personal experience, stories from past podcast guests, and insights from language learning experts like Paul Nation, the hosts break down what works, what backfires, and how to build a more balanced and effective approach to learning Chinese.If you’re stuck, overwhelmed, or questioning your methods, this episode will help you get back on track.Links from the episode:“Burnout, Breakthrough, and Fluency: Chaniece’s Story” | YCLC Podcast“Vocab Apps and Learner Engagement” – Jonathan Covey Interview | YCLC Podcast“Steven Kaufmann “The Linguist” Interview” | YCLC PodcastHack Chinese | Modern flashcardsMandarin Companion Graded Readers