You Can Learn Chinese

Why do tones sometimes seem “good enough”… until they suddenly create complete chaos? In this episode, Jared and John dive into one of the trickiest realities of learning Chinese: when small tone mistakes collide with low-context situations and produce surprisingly big misunderst ...  Show more

What happens when your reason for learning Chinese changes?In this interview, Jared talks with Anastasia Tulupova about her journey from a goal-driven teenager in Ukraine, determined to master the “hardest language in the world” and become a translator, to a Chinese teacher who n ...  Show more

What does it actually mean to be at a “level” in Chinese and why does moving up feel so slow?In this episode, Jared and John dig into the concept of leveling from both the perspective of the learner and from decades of experience in creating Chinese learning content. With John’s ...  Show more

Most people struggle to find time to learn Chinese. Adam started learning it in the middle of one of the most intense study periods of his life, and kept going.A pre-med student at the University of Illinois, Adam didn’t begin with a clear plan or a class requirement. Instead, it ...  Show more

How could learning Chinese shape your life? From meeting lifelong friends (and even a spouse!) to navigating life in China with the help of mentors, coworkers, and “ayi” caregivers, Jared and John share stories that highlight the human side of language learning.John reflects on h ...  Show more