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I'm Learning Mandarin

How my student founded Asia's hottest languages conference

Feb 26, 2025
Philip Markson, a former student of Mischa Wilmers, shares his inspiring journey of founding AsiaGlot, the largest polyglot conference in Asia. The conference aims to celebrate Asian languages and foster a vibrant linguistic community. Philip discusses his innovative use of Anki for mastering Mandarin and reflects on a life-changing coaching experience that boosted his speaking skills. With engaging activities and expert talks, AsiaGlot promises to be a unique gathering for language enthusiasts, filling a void in the region.
09:40

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Philip Markson effectively improved his Mandarin through an Anki challenge, demonstrating the importance of consistent vocabulary review and pronunciation practice.
  • The AsiaGlot conference aims to fill the gap in major language events in Asia by showcasing diverse languages and fostering multicultural exchange.

Deep dives

Philip's Anki Challenge and Coaching Experience

Philip Markson undertook an Anki challenge to significantly boost his Mandarin skills, utilizing the app to study approximately 15,000 new cards over a month while maintaining his vocabulary through extensive reviews. After this intensive period, he took a break from Anki for a few months but was pleasantly surprised to find a substantial portion of his knowledge remained intact upon resuming. His subsequent coaching focused on improving his spoken Chinese, particularly his pronunciation and understanding of tones, which he found beneficial for identifying and correcting his consistent mistakes. This practical approach not only solidified his speaking abilities but also enhanced his listening skills, allowing him to recognize errors in others' speech more effectively.

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