What's the best way to learn Chinese? That's easy! The best way to learn Chinese is to toss your teachers and textbooks and grab some Chinese language learning software. This article is going to tell you exactly why.
1. Individual Attention
Isn't taking a class with a "real" teacher the best way to learn Chinese? No. Have you taken a language learning class before? I have, and I've taught them too. And one thing is always the same; it's an impossible chore to get any sort of individual attention from a teacher. It's not their fault. Being a teacher is hard work, and there just isn't enough time to attend to everyone. "But Chinese language learning programs don't have teachers at all!" "Isn't that worse?" No, because they make up for that fact by providing Chinese native-speaker recordings. They work like this:
You start with individual words, which you listen to and repeat. Then you move on to phrases, which you also listen to and repeat. Finally, you graduate to having full conversations with your software
They're prerecorded conversations, sure, but they work very well. And here's the important thing; you can listen and repeat the words, phrases and complete dialogues over and over again until you are happy that you've mastered them! You can't do that with a live teacher! Also, if you do need help, you can just pop into the course forum and get help from a teacher there. That's right! The top Chinese software program offers online help from a native Chinese speaking teacher.
2. Proven Learning Methods
The best way to learn Chinese is to use tried and tested learning methods. If you take a Chinese course, it's hit or miss. Some teachers are well-trained professionals who know what they're doing. Many, however, are hired for the simple fact that they are native Chinese speakers. I took a Chinese class with a friend in Beijing a few years back. We showed up on the first evening of class and our teacher turned out to be my friend's secretary! She was moonlighting as a teacher. She had no teaching experience or training. This happens a lot in private Chinese language learning academies. Chinese language learning software programs, on the other hand, don't use live teachers. Instead, their programs are designed using 100% proven learning strategies. All you have to do is open the software and follow along. And what about books? With books you get no teacher and no learning methods at all. Everything is left in your hands!
3. Hot Features That Only Software Can Have
One of the best ways to learn Chinese, or any other language, is by playing games. Books have crossword puzzles and word games. Classroom-based courses have class competitions. What do Chinese software games have? They have everything that books and classroom courses have and much more. Some of the best games are the vocabulary games. They are fully interactive and usually use pictures or other graphics, which really makes memorizing words easy. In addition to games, all of the top programs have recording or voice recognition capabilities. Using this feature, you can record yourself speaking Chinese. Then you can compare your pronunciation to that of the native speaker's. It really is amazing! Finally, Chinese language learning software programs come with active user forums. Here you can make friends with like-minded learners, get information about living and traveling in China, and, of course, get all the Chinese learning help you need.
Final Thoughts
Teachers and textbooks used to be the best way to learn Chinese. Clearly, though, Chinese language learning software has taken over the top spot. They provide individual attention. They use proven learning methods, and they have great features that only a software program can provide.