You Can Learn Chinese

Jared Turner chats with Matt William Knowles, a former college football player turned English teacher and actor in China. After a career-ending injury, Matt ventured into rural Guizhou, where he faced cultural barriers and learned Mandarin. His experiences shaped his identity, leading him from the classroom to the entertainment industry. Matt shares humorous insights about cultural challenges, his unexpected rise to fame, and the transformative power of immersing oneself in a new language and culture. It's a tale of resilience and self-discovery!

Hosts Jared and John discuss frustrations of a learner, challenges with Chinese pinyin sounds, importance of immersion for comprehension, balancing curiosity with basics in language learning, mastering fundamentals for success, effective learning strategies, seeking advice in character play, and a lighthearted discussion on a solar eclipse experience.

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.