Productivity is a slippery beast and catching it is not easy. When we have a tight schedule with clearly defined things we have to do, it’s...
Category: Chinese
When perfectionism becomes an obstacle to progress
For some people, completing a certain task is not enough, it has to be done perfectly. Intuitively, I count myself to this group of perfectionists,...
When spaced repetition fails, and what to do about it
Spaced repetition software is one of the most powerful tools available for language learners. While you obviously don’t have to use spaced...
Which Chinese language course should you take?
I often get questions about which Chinese language course you should choose. The answer has to be “it depends”. Since this answer is also very...
Which words you should learn and where to find them
When you learn a another language such as Chinese, it’s clear that knowing many words is important. If you don’t agree, I don’t think you you’ve had...
Whom should you trust for advice about learning Chinese?
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes | Audio version available on Patreon I have written roughly six hundred articles about learning and teaching...
Why good feedback matters and how to get it
Feedback is an integral part of learning a foreign language and there is no doubt that we need it to improve. While it’s certainly possible to learn...
Why flashcards are terrible for learning Chinese
Flashcards are often viewed as a silver bullet, promising swift mastery of characters, words and more, but relying on flashcards too much has...
Why flashcards are great for learning Chinese
The humble flashcard: A key component in a successful strategy, or a distraction from what truly matters? Few things have sparked as much debate as...
Beyond tīng bu dǒng, part 6: Why is listening in Chinese so hard?
Many people assume that the hardest part of learning Chinese must be the characters or the tones, but it turns out that most learners struggle more...