Driven by her love for Asian cultures, anime, and K-pop, Happi (from Happi Across Cultures) has learned Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Starting with friendships with exchange students, she went on to double major in Chinese and Japanese including studying abroad in Tokyo and Shanghai where she deeply engaged with the local culture. An accomplished singer, her story takes a viral turn when she sings at a concert with the famous Chinese singer, Joker Xue ( 薛之谦 Xuē Zhīqiān), showcasing the incredible opportunities that arise from language learning. For an inspiring tale of cultural immersion, language mastery, and musical collaboration, tune into this episode and follow Happi's ongoing journey on social media. Links from the episode: Happi’s viral duet with Joker Xue | Instagram | Weibo Happi @ Instagram | Weibo | Douyin Mandarin Companion graded readers Send us a message | Mandarin Companion feedback form

Explore the differences between Japanese and Chinese languages, from pronunciation challenges to shared characters. Learn about the unique grammar and politeness levels in Japanese. Discover the benefits of learning Chinese in China and Japanese in Japan. Delve into job opportunities and economic factors for learning Chinese versus Japanese. Join the hosts in encouraging audience participation and sharing language learning experiences.

Discover the unexpected journey of a clueless American white guy becoming a Chinese-speaking YouTube star known as Xiao Ma. From random free Chinese class to Mandarin immersion in China, he captivates with genuine interactions and sheds light on preserving endangered languages.

Some people may find they have a knack for learning Chinese, but deciding to make Chinese a part of your life is another decision entirely. Akeel Alleyne shares his story from learning Chinese in high school to making the move to live and work in China. He talks about how Chinese has enriched his life, helped find his calling, and enabled him to carve out his own career.  Links from the episode: Card Games for Language Learning | Where John & Akeel met Akeel Alleyne | Linktree  Mandarin Companion graded readers Send us a message | Mandarin Companion feedback form

Join us as we step into the world of China's educational system. With an extra special guest interview, we pull back the curtain of how Chinese is taught in Chinese schools. These first-hand insights shed light on how China’s classrooms influence how Chinese is taught around the world.  Links from the episode: Memes for Chinese Learners | Instagram Mandarin Companion graded readers

Hosts Jared Turner and John Pasden give you some pro tips on how to use AI, specifically Chat GPT, to learn Chinese. They explore a variety of use cases, including limitations and tips on how to get the most out of these large language models we call artificial intelligence.  Links from the episode: Chat GPT Send us a message | Mandarin Companion feedback form

Our special Chinese Christmas episode first aired Dec 16, 2019.

John and Jared have some sad news to share and want your feedback on the future of the podcast.

Martina Fuchs, a former spy turned TV journalist, shares her language learning journey. Tips include setting specific goals, using motivating materials, and engaging with native speakers. Discussion on challenges like character study and speaking. Importance of immersive learning and relatable vocabulary. Impact of COVID-19 on language learning and cultural exchange. Effective tips for rebooting Mandarin learning after a break.

There is no shortage of advice on how to learn Chinese, but in this episode, hosts John and Jared not only talk about 10 common bad tips for learning Chinese, but also reframe them so you know what to do instead. Guest interview is with Dave Landis, a language enthusiast who shares his journey of learning Chinese, the role it played in his relationship with his Taiwanese wife, and how it benefits his teaching career.  Links from the episode:Chinese Grammar WikiSherlock Holmes and a Scandal in Shanghai | Level 2 graded readerCathoven Text Analyzer Dave Landis Blog Timestamps  Don't worry about tones [00:01:55] The misconception that tones are not important in speaking Chinese and that native speakers don't use tones naturally. Characters are too hard, just focus on speaking [00:04:21] The belief that learning characters is unnecessary and that focusing on speaking is enough to learn Chinese. Chinese has no grammar, don't worry about it [00:06:14] The misconception that Chinese language has no grammar and that learners don't need to study it. The capability of kids books [00:09:41] Kids books have a higher reading level than learners, and they contain special use vocabulary that may not be useful for learners. Reading novels as a beginner [00:11:09] Reading novels as a beginner is not an effective way to learn Chinese, as it is slow and challenging. Chinese poetry and idioms [00:13:17] Chinese poetry and idioms are not essential for beginners and should be appreciated at higher levels of language proficiency. All you need is Immersion [00:20:05] Discussion on the idea of immersing oneself in the language to learn it naturally and effortlessly. You need A well-rounded approach to learning Chinese [00:24:01] Emphasis on the importance of using multiple resources and methods to learn Chinese effectively. The lack of Chinese news sites for kids [00:30:21] Discussion about the limited availability of news sites in Chinese specifically designed for kids. Recommendation of a text analysis tool for Chinese [00:31:48] Introduction and recommendation of an online tool called "Cathoven" for teachers to analyze and level Chinese texts. Dave Landis' language learning journey [00:33:37] Interview with Dave Landis, a middle school teacher, about his language learning experiences, including his interest in German and Vietnamese before eventually learning Mandarin. Meeting and Marrying his Wife [00:41:36] Dave discusses how he met his wife and how learning Chinese helped him develop their relationship. Communicating with Bilingual Spouses [00:42:50] Dave  talks about how communication with his wife is mostly in English, but sometimes they switch to Chinese, especially when speaking to their children. Studying Mandarin in China [00:45:14] Dave  shares his experience of studying Mandarin in China, including his decision to attend the Chinese Language Institute in Guilin and his interactions with locals. Developing Listening Comprehension [00:52:14] Dave Landis discusses the importance of speaking to someone younger than him to improve his listening comprehension while learning Mandarin. Progress and Study Methods [00:52:48] Dave Landis talks about the progress he made during his time in China, including studying HSK 4, reading articles about China, and telling dad jokes in Chinese. Language Endurance and Filling in Gaps [00:56:38] Dave Landis and Jared Turner discuss the importance of language endurance and how participating in a language program helped fill in gaps in listening and speaking skills. The importance of reading graded books and getting a tutor [01:03:28] Dave recommends reading Mandarin Companion and Chinese Breeze books and getting a one-on-one tutor for rapid progress. The benefits of studying Mandarin overseas [01:04:12] Dave shares the example of a classmate who made rapid progress by studying Mandarin overseas and encourages others to do the same. Dave Landis' blog and his experience at CLI [01:04:38] Dave Landis talks about his blog, where he discusses the books he has read and his experience at CLI. A link to his blog will be provided in the show notes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.