I'm Learning Mandarin How my student founded Asia's hottest languages conference
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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.
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Anki Challenge
- Philip Markson discusses his Anki challenge from April 2024, where he reviewed over 40,000 Mandarin flashcards.
- After a three-month break, he was surprised at how much he retained, attributing some success to tweaking the Anki algorithm.
Pronunciation Coaching
- Focus on pronunciation, especially tones, to improve spoken Mandarin. Identify and eliminate consistent errors, aided by practical exercises and theoretical understanding.
Third Tone Misconception
- The third tone in Mandarin is often misrepresented in academic settings. In reality, the high-low-high contour rarely occurs naturally.