Language research is notoriously difficult to perform properly simply because variables in a real classroom are hard to keep constant. Let’s say...
Month: February 2026
Learning how to fish: Or, why it’s essential to know how to learn
Image credit: Alexander Warnolf In a world with perfect teachers and education systems, you wouldn’t need to care too much about how to learn...
Learning how to ask for and receive directions in Chinese
Learning to ask for and receive directions is a very useful skill that is usually associated with beginner language learning. It shouldn’t be, it’s...
Learn Chinese efficiently, not quickly
The internet is full of stories of people who learn Mandarin quickly. Maybe it’s three months, maybe six, maybe a year. Ignoring the hype and...
Learning Classical Chinese is for everyone (no, seriously!)
So you’re learning Chinese, and you can’t wait to be able to read the Analects of Confucius (論語/论语 Lúnyǔ), right? Or maybe it’s Tang Dynasty...
Learning Chinese with StarCraft 2
If you enjoy playing computer games, why don’t enjoy them in Chinese? I’ve played a lot of StarCraft 2 in Chinese and even if I don’t play any...
Learning Chinese through social media
Most people spend lots of time everyday using social networks such as Facebook, MSN and Twitter (or Renren, QQ and Weibo, their PRC equivalents). I...
Learning Chinese through audiobooks
Image credit: Jeff Daly I have learnt English to my current level without ever having lived in an English-speaking country. I attribute this mostly...
Learning Chinese by playing board games
Board games are more than just fun, they’re a powerful way to learn Chinese, boosting vocabulary, fluency, and communication skills! I’ve used...
Learning Chinese is more like walking a thousand miles than running 100-metre dash
One of the most common analogies used to talk about learning is that it’s like moving in space. You are at point A now, you want to get to point B,...