4 Common Pitfalls to Eliminate When Learning Mandarin

Making mistakes is inevitable when learning a new language. Failing is actually a way to remind ourselves we are learning. And when it comes to learning Mandarin, committing mistakes is pretty common as the sound and syntax of the words are completely different from English.

So, as an English speaker, if you want to enrol your name in a Mandarin course, make sure you avoid the following mistakes. It can be quite helpful When acquiring Mandarin fluency.

Avoid These Mistakes When Learning Mandarin

Not Putting Topics at First

In English, we start an English sentence with a subject. Then we mention the verb and what happened afterwards. But in mandarin, everything revolves around the object. And that makes it challenging for English speakers to organize a sentence in Mandarin. In this language, the topic should be a crucial element.

In English, if you say ‘I like Coffee’, the correct order for this expression in Mandarin is ‘coffee, I like’.

Giving Excessive Info

Mandarin is efficient in comparison to other languages. In a sentence, if there is a grammatical component that is not important, you need not say it. If you translate, ‘hello, please give me one glass of water’ into Mandarin, it should sound like ‘hello, please, one, glass, water, give, me’. Try to interact with the local people in Hong Kong to get more accuracy.

Not Learning Chinese Culture

Understanding Chinese culture will help you communicate with the local people effectively. Pay attention to how they speak in their native language. In English, we say ‘Please’ to show politeness. But in Mandarin, it’s not necessary to use it when you want to be polite. Learn which word you should use in which situations.

Spending Little Time with the Language

Many people in Hong Kong underestimate the benefits of spending time with the language. According to a study, if you listen to a foreign language daily, your brain can create new neural pathways. The ability to learn new words is equivalent to the level of exposure to the different sounds of the language. Listening to Mandarin songs and watching movies may not replace your study but can supplement it.

Want to learn Mandarin in Hong Kong? Enrol your name with us! We have a team of highly trained teachers who hold a lot of degrees in foreign languages. Apart from 1 to 1 classes, we offer online training programs and regular group classes. So, contact us and fill out the enrolment form.

What Are The Reasons For Doing A Cantonese Course?

You are already aware of how different the Cantonese language is compared to Western languages. After all, it is a tonal language with a writing system based on 3000-4000 Chinese characters. This language may sound complicated, but it is not hard to master if you use the right approach and tools. Moreover, doing a Cantonese course can open up lots of opportunities that enable you to experience the local culture.

Here are the top reasons why you should do a Cantonese course.

Know the Reasons for doing A Cantonese Course

Unlock more career options

Being familiar with the Cantonese language can open up several opportunities for your career. That is because it is a widespread language including in many Asian countries where it is commonly the main variety of Chinese spoken.

Easy to learn

Cantonese and Mandarin have a lot in common. Unless written in colloquial language, Cantonese is indistinguishable from Mandarin in written form, although Cantonese speakers often prefer traditional characters with oversimplified characters. It is a lot easier for those who know mandarin.

It is fun to learn!

Doing a Cantonese course is fun. The Cantonese language has a song-like quality to its many tones and sentence-final particles. It is also known for its colourful slang, which makes learning very interesting.

Plus, being able to read and write the Cantonese language means that you won't need any subtitles or dubbing to watch Hong Kong classics.

It will connect you with others

Learning Cantonese will also help you communicate with the locals. Able to speak and hear Cantonese can make your experience in the market and restaurants smooth. You will be able to make new friends in your area through such a language.

It will help you to try out local dishes

Knowing Cantonese will make your visits to restaurants and local food stalls more enjoyable. Plus, you will also try the famous dim sum, other Cantonese foods and snacks like fish balls, egg tarts etc.

Learning Cantonese will train your brain

According to studies studying another language can improve your memory and brain function. Speaking more than one language help to sharpen your brain. For example-bilinguals perform better than monolingual speakers. Bilinguals are also efficient in long-term memory tasks.

Helps to travel

Learning Cantonese from an institution itself is an advantage. A professional institution will help you speak like a pro in countries where Cantonese is an official language.

Bottom line

If you consider enrolling your name in a Cantonese course, we will provide you with highly experienced teachers. So contact us as we will offer you the best Cantonese learning experience.

Want to Learn Cantonese? How Long Does It Take?

Have you recently shifted to Hong Kong? Then you have to learn Cantonese to interact with the people. Cantonese is the most widely known and influential Chinese language group after Mandarin. But many people still sustain a negative thought that this language is hard to learn.

It’s actually a tonal language based on thousands of Chinese characters. And if you enrol your name in a reliable language learning centre for Cantonese class and learn dedicatedly, it doesn’t take prolonged time. But how long does it take?

Well, we have given this answer based on three levels of Cantonese proficiency - beginner, intermediate, and advanced. But before we discuss it, let’s know the factors that impact learning.

The Factors Involved in Cantonese Learning

Cantonese Vs the Language You Know

Cantonese is different from other languages. As stated above, this tonal language contains thousands of characters. Each one carries a sound and a meaning. But if you know Mandarin, the chance is high that you will pick this language up much faster.

Motivation

How much effort and time you want to spend makes a huge difference. Want to learn Cantonese as you have been posted in Hong Kong? And you have to stay here for years! Having a strong reason will lead you to strive achieving and overcome hurdles.

Your Age

Your age also matters when it comes to learning a new language. If you are young, it’s easier to memorize new words and rules.

Now, let’s move on to the time taken to learn Cantonese.

How Long It Needs to Learn Cantonese

Beginner Level

At the beginner level, the learner should be able to conduct simple conversations, such as self-introduction, ordering food, asking for direction, etc. And to achieve this level, spend at least one hour per day studying. It takes almost two-three months.

Intermediate Level

At this stage, you should be able to use different sentence patterns, articulate complex thoughts, pronounce words accurately and talk to locals. Your reading and writing skills may still be limited. But you should be familiar with jyutping works. However, it might take almost six months to take you to reach intermediate-level Cantonese.

Advanced Level

The advanced learners can give fluent speeches and converse with locals easily. And at this level, you should recognize at least 2000 to 3000 Chinese characters. But how long does it take to learn Cantonese at this level? It requires more than six months.

Want to enrol your name in a language learning centre? Look at our course schedule! We provide 1-to-1 classes for Cantonese and Mandarin courses. You can also join our group lessons or online training program. We never charge extra. Keep reading our other blogs to know more about us!