Anyone can learn a language, but in this episode, John and I are going to talk about five qualities of good language learners. Call them qualities, call them attitudes — these adjustments will help maximize your learning results.

Guest interview is with Zachary Gidwitz, who despite having a Chinese teacher tell him to give up, later progressed to a level that opened up job opportunities with one of China’s largest ecommerce giants. 

Links from the episode:YCLC #7 The Myth of Learning Chinese Like a ChildTolerance of Ambiguity and Use of Second Language StrategiesSherlock Holmes and a Scandal in Shanghai (Mandarin Companion’s next book!)The Six | Documentary about 6 Chinese survivors of the Titanic

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The Ultra-Traditional, the “Buddy”, the Know-it-All, and the “Too Nice” are all teacher types that John and Jared are going to break down and you should consider avoiding. That being said, they have some redeeming qualities too!

Interview is with Brad Johnson whose interest and friendships were the driving force in improving his Chinese skills to the level where he now hosts a podcast in Chinese. 

 Links from the episode:#87 The 6 Types of Chinese Learners#79 Why typing characters is better than handwritingEmma 《安末》 (Mandarin Companion Level 1 graded reader)Brad Johnson’s Podcasts | MianBao.fmXiaoyuzhou podcast appTop 100 Podcasts on Xiaoyuzhou

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Special episode with Fred Poole, a language acquisition expert from Michigan State University who shares his experience with game-based learning and how he uses it to help others learn languages. Fred explains the difference between gamification and game-based learning, emphasizes the importance of learning in context, and discusses his research into trilingual immersion and the games he has developed for language learning.

Have you ever had comments in Chinese about your weight, asked how much money you make, or experienced just a general lack of “please” and “thank-you”? John and Jared talk about common usages of Chinese that at times can be perceived as “rude” by non-native speakers. Plus we’ll talk about how YOU can avoid being perceived as rude to Chinese speakers. Interview is with Randy Telfer who was first drawn to Chinese by martial arts and today has built a life and career around Chinese.

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How long can you use Chinese before your “brain is full”? John and Jared talk about endurance in Chinese, how to build stamina, and what to expect as your Chinese progresses to the next level. Interview is with Tyler Christler, an American based in Dalian speaking Dongbei-flavored Mandarin who produces videos on Chinese social media. 

 Links from the episode:Chinese Vocabulary Wiki | AllSet Learning#30 Second Language or Foreign Language: What Type of Learner Are You?Tyler Christler is “铁蛋儿Tyler” on Douyin and Bili Bili

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What do you do when your dictionary says one thing but native speakers say it differently? John and Jared will talk about how to handle this and put it to use in your own studies.

Interview is with Ryan Alexander Holmes, an actor, popular TikTocker, and black Afro Asian American, or Blasian. 

 Links from the episode:Prescriptivism vs. Descriptivism | YouTubePronunciation Variants | Chinese Pronunciation WikiThe Ransom of Red Chief | Level 1 Graded ReaderReading is the original SRS | SinospliceRyan Alexander Holmes | TikTok and Instagram

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Jared and John discuss a research paper on learner engagement with vocabulary apps. Whether you’re an independent learner or a teacher, there are plenty of surprises and takeaways!

Interview is with Jonathan Coveny, whose obsession with Chinese took him on a winding path of learning the language. Especially for all you study nerds out there, don’t miss this one. 

 Links from the episode:Research Paper: Stimulating learner engagement in app-based L2 vocabulary self-study: Goals and feedback for effective L2 pedagogy by Xuehong (Stella) He, Shawn LoewenEpisode 40 How to Set Goals for Learning ChineseXiao Ming, Boy Sherlock | Breakthrough Graded ReaderThe Chinese Nickname for “Love, Death & Robots” | SinospliceStories from our Readers: From Flash Cards to Martial Arts -Jonathan’s Story | Mandarin CompanionEpisode 61 interview with Jonathan Becker | You Can Learn Chinese

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Learning a language is much more than learning vocabulary. This includes understanding and anticipating interactions within a cultural context. John and Jared discuss exactly what this means and what you should know to maximize your gains. 

Interview is with Elisa Ferrero, a native of Italy who learned English to learn Chinese and today is a Chinese teacher to Spanish speakers in Argentina. 

 Links from the episode:AllSet Learning 1-on-1 Live LessonsYou Can Learn Chinese in Taiwan (even now!)HSK Level | vocab level assessmentElisa Ferrero website | ElisaLaoshi.com (Spanish)

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In 2021, Jared and John at Mandarin Companion surveyed over a thousand Chinese learners worldwide. Based on a statistical analysis, they found six main types of Chinese learners. Which one are you? Interview is with Dillon Jaghory who achieved a high level of Chinese proficiency while living in the U.S. 

 Links from the episode:Country of the Blind | Mandarin Companion Level 1Chinese Character Challenge | Ridiculously basic & somewhat nostalgic game for reviewing HSK characters天天跳绳 | Exercise app in Chinese

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Slang words in Chinese are always evolving, but is it worth it to learn? As always, it depends. Guest interview is with language enthusiast, author, academic, and polyglot Kyle Anderson. 

 Links from the episode:Kyle Anderson | New BooksSherlock Holmes and the Case of the Curly Haired Company | Mandarin Companion Graded ReaderSlow Chinese 每周漫闻 | Weekly Chinese slang newsletter

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