Student Q&A, October 2023: Expanding vocabulary quickly, learning by watching videos and nailing dictation tests

This week’s podcast episode (number 165) is a reader and listener Q&A, where I answer three questions sent to me about expanding vocabulary quickly, learning by watching videos and nailing dictation tests. If you have a question you would like me to address on the podcast, you can leave a comment below or contact me in some other way.

Tune in to the Hacking Chinese Podcast to listen to the related episode:

Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Overcast, Spotify, YouTube and many other platforms!

Links to things mentioned in the introduction

• Chinese pronunciation challenge, October 2023
• Hacking Chinese Challenges
• Barbarians at the Gate on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify

Links for question #1: Expanding vocabulary quickly

• The new paperless revolution in Chinese reading
• An introduction to extensive reading for Chinese learners

Links for question #2: Learning by watching videos

• The 10 best free Chinese listening resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners
• Can too much guidance make you learn less Chinese? 

Links for question #3: Nailing dictation tests

• Do you have to learn to write Chinese characters by hand?
• The building blocks of Chinese, part 1: Chinese characters and words in a nutshell
• How to learn Chinese characters as a beginner
• Kickstart your learning with the Skritter Character Course
• Skritter review: Boosting your Chinese character learning
• Spaced repetition software and why you should use it
• Why spaced repetition software is uniquely well suited to learning Chinese characters
• Free and easy audio flashcards for Chinese dictation practice with Anki