大家好,
Learning Chinese is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding things I’ve done in my life. But it’s also not easy and you’re likely going to lose motivation and feel overwhelmed.
Today, I’m going to show you how I easily fixed this to learn fluent Chinese.
Here are 4 tips that I’ve discovered throughout my learning journey that drastically improved my motivation to learn and prevented me from burning out and quitting.
PS This week I’m helping a few students with a simple and effective system to help you learn faster and maintain motivation and consistency. Message me if you’re interested.
1. Keep it Fun
The number one killer of motivation is boring lessons. Thus, I only learn from material and lessons I find interesting.
I’ve tried textbooks, HSK books, and Anki flashcards and I find these boring so I stopped using them and focused on podcasts, videos, and TV shows.
But everyone is different. You’ll have to try different materials and find out what works for you.
I enjoy learning from videos and podcasts about subjects that I’m already interested in in English. I would often Google Translate what I’m interested in and plug it into the YouTube search bar and find many videos about that topic.
The visual input from videos is engaging and there would often be subtitles which makes learning even easier. Learn more about how to find the best engaging material with the Copy Paste System.
Engaging with content you genuinely enjoy not only makes the learning process more enjoyable but also helps you stay committed in the long run.
2. Keep it Simple
You don’t fail to learn Chinese because there’s a lack of information (it’s all freely available).
It’s the opposite. Most fail because they get overwhelmed by the amount of information.
This is the main reason I quit learning Chinese in the past too.
There are too many characters to learn. Too many flashcards piling up. The pronunciation is hard. I don’t know what to study. I tried to learn everything all at once.
Then I switched my approach: I tried to only learn one thing a day. It could be one word, one character, one phrase, one grammar point, etc.
Instead of learning 50 things superficially, I tried to learn one thing deeply. Learning one thing deeply also means that you will be better able to recall it and apply it when needed.
My expectations lowered. My anxiety improved. And my motivation and consistency improved too.
It’s important to have a simple system that can keep you organized and efficient with learning one thing a day. This is the basis of the Copy Paste System which helped me get conversational in Chinese with focused learning.
Learning one thing deeply a day over 365 days is a lot of learning. Slow and steady wins the marathon.
3. Keep it Real
It’s hard to maintain motivation when learning a new language when everything you learn stays in your head.
One of the biggest motivations for me, when I started learning Chinese, was being able to apply what I learned on the streets and speaking to native speakers. I also loved meeting new language exchanges, making friends and learning about their culture while learning the language.
Learning Chinese becomes more meaningful when you apply your knowledge in real-life situations. Seek opportunities to practice with native speakers or fellow learners. Attend language exchange events, join online forums, or find language exchange partners who can provide constructive feedback.
This real-world application not only reinforces your learning but also fosters genuine connections. This turns learning Chinese from an abstract study to something tangible and real that will naturally motivate you. Learn more about how to apply what you learn in real-life situations and get conversational fast with the Copy Paste System.
4. Stop When You're Bored
Loss of motivation and burnout often stem from forcing yourself to study when you're not in the right mindset. Recognize the signs of boredom or fatigue and give yourself permission to take a break.
I always stop when I’m bored. I know that if I push it, my learning will not be as effective because I’m not engaged but also it will negatively affect my overall enjoyment of learning Chinese.
I know that if I stop when I’m bored or tired I will come back more refreshed and energized to learn again.
There is no rush to learn everything in one sitting. In fact, it’s better to keep your learning spaced out but consistent on a daily basis. This way, your brain has time to consolidate what you learn over time.
Moving Forward
Learning Chinese is not easy and you’re going to lose motivation along the way. The way I fixed that was by:
Keeping it fun
Keeping it simple
Keeping it real
Stopping when I’m bored
But this is easier said than done, especially if you are self-studying without any guidance or feedback. This week I’m helping a few students with a simple and effective system to help you learn faster, get conversational, and enjoy the process. Message me if you’re interested.
熟能生巧,
Danyo
PS Here are some other ways I can help you level up your Chinese:
Copy Paste Speaking Course: The self-directed system I used to learn to get conversational, improve my listening and pronunciation and speak Chinese like native speakers
Language Learner OS: This is a digital system to help organize your language studies, track vocabulary, build connections, stay productive, and learn faster!
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