Millie's Top Tips for Learning Chinese 学习中文的小贴士

During my current experience of learning Chinese, I’ve discovered and collected strategies that make learning the language an ounce easier.

#1 flashcards

‘Quizlet’ would have to be my number one strategy when memorising new characters. This platform is extremely useful for independent learning, it allows you to not just learn the English meaning but also the pinyin. As well as this, it has multiple activities to keep you entertained such as the ‘match’ game or the test you can take to demonstrate your abilities. However, a downside to this platform is that it is harder to learn character strokes as it is online.

#2 Write, write and write

Another useful strategy, mostly used when memorising longer pieces of work such as essays, is to rewrite the piece of writing on paper. I will separate the piece of writing into sections and slowly make my way through the essay, rewriting these sections until I feel comfortable.

I recommend spending at least half an hour every day on these activities as even a break for a day can push you back. It may seem like a lot, but the longer time you spend practising, the more familiar characters and their meanings will become, which will make your future learning much easier. 

* Retrieval Practice, is the practice of bringing information to mind (recall) without the help of support materials. Recalling information without supporting materials helps us learn it much more effectively. When the practice is done, it’s equally important that you check your understanding by revisiting the materials. Flashcard can be a powerful retrieval practice tool. Retrieval practice is even more effective if it’s done in short bursts over time, rather than in a single long session because the ‘struggle’ in trying to recall actually strengthens long-term learning.

My essay written for 中文 prelim