Jared and John answer listener questions about learning Chinese such as the effectiveness of extensive reading, habits for Chinese learners, tools for learning word context, and the helpfulness of Chinese media. Guest interview is with Shannon Kennedy, a polyglot for whom Chinese became a significant part of her life and shares the impact it had on her friendships and career.
The Q&A session begins [00:01:40]
Jared and John answer listener questions about learning Chinese and discuss the benefits of extensive reading and the whole language model.
The debate on whole language vs. direct instruction [00:03:07]
John explains the difference between whole language and direct instruction and how it applies to learning Chinese.
The progression of Mandarin Companion books [00:08:36]
Jared and John discuss the progression of Mandarin Companion books and how to determine when to move up to the next level based on reading speed and vocabulary acquisition.
Opportunities to Speak Chinese [00:13:35]
Jared shares his habit of always looking for opportunities to speak Chinese and how it has helped him improve his language skills.
Checking Tones for Accurate Pronunciation [00:11:52]
John talks about the importance of remembering tones and shares his habit of frequently checking tones to improve pronunciation.
Learning Words in Context [00:15:57]
Jared and John discuss the importance of learning words in context and suggest using dictionaries with sample sentences to understand how words are used.
Using Chinese media for language learning [00:21:36]
Discussion on whether consuming Chinese media like TV shows, movies, and social media is an effective way to improve tones and natural speaking flow.
The helpfulness of Chinese restaurants for language learners [00:27:53]
Sharing a travel hack of visiting Chinese restaurants while traveling abroad to find Chinese-speaking staff who can provide assistance.
Learning Multiple Languages [00:31:29]
Shannon shares how she got involved in learning multiple languages and the program requirements she had to meet.
Discovering Croatian [00:33:26]
Shannon talks about her personal connection to the Croatian language and why she started learning it independently.
Starting to Learn Chinese [00:38:27]
Shannon explains how she decided to learn Chinese and her initial experiences with the language, including the importance of learning pinyin and characters.
Learning Chinese for my child [00:40:40]
Shannon shares their motivation to learn Chinese when they found out they were pregnant and their journey of studying the language for their child.
Personal rewards of learning Chinese [00:44:55]
The speaker talks about the personal rewards they have experienced, including making close friends and having unique experiences, thanks to their ability to speak Chinese.
The impact of speaking Chinese on friendships and career opportunities [00:49:32]
Shannon shares how speaking Chinese with her friends in Shanghai made her feel more included and created a different dynamic within the group.
Advice for learning Chinese and overcoming challenges [00:52:01]
Shannon gives advice on not being intimidated by learning Chinese, taking it step by step, and the value of being able to communicate with people in China who may not speak English.
