I'm Learning Mandarin Channeling jealousy into curiosity is the key to Mandarin progress
Jun 26, 2024
Lewys Thomas, a dedicated Peak Mandarin student, shares his journey of learning Chinese and overcoming speaking hurdles. Initially feeling envious upon seeing fluent speakers, he turned that jealousy into curiosity, fueling his progress. He discusses practical strategies like focusing on effective vocabulary and understanding sentence structures. Lewys emphasizes the importance of consistent practice and using tools like Anki to enhance language skills. His transformation showcases how curiosity can be a powerful catalyst in language learning.
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University Romance Sparked Learning
- Lewys first started learning Chinese at university after meeting a Chinese woman and falling in love.
- He began with Duolingo but quickly realized it was insufficient when he visited China and couldn't follow conversations.
Trip Exposed Duolingo's Limits
- Lewys discovered Duolingo's limits on his first trip to China when he couldn't read or follow dinner conversations.
- He felt like a token who could say a few phrases but wasn't taken seriously in discussions.
Prioritise Contextualised Input
- Avoid blindly copying disconnected phrases from mixed sources because context and natural usage matter.
- Increase comprehensible input with contextualised reading like Du Chinese rather than random phrase-mashing.
