How To Speak Chinese - FAQ

 1. Is Chinese a difficult language to learn?

Chinese can be a harder language to learn for some people, especially if your native language is Latin based. For example, if you're native tongue is English, learning Spanish or Italian is easier because often the words are based from the same Latin word.

But Chinese uses a very different system, and it's one that can take awhile to get to grips with. Fortunately, once you've learned the basics, you'll find it much easier to make progress.

One thing to bear in mind is that listening skills are very important when learning Chinese. It is a “tonal” language, which means you can often say the same word in 5 different ways, and each way will mean something different. If you get the tone wrong, people won't understand what you're trying to say.

2. What is a good software program or course to learn Chinese?

Rosetta Stone is often recommended, but it is quite expensive, and not the best option for learning Chinese. A cheaper and better alternative is Rocket Chinese. This is 1/3 of the price, and also caters to the beginner, intermediate and advanced learner in one complete and comprehensive package.

3. How long does it take to learn Chinese?

Of course, this varies from person to person, and depends on how dedicated you are to learning, as well as how much time you spend on practicing. If you're persistent and work on it regularly, you can learn the basics in a few months and start holding intermediate conversation within 6 months to a year. Another deciding factor is what course you choose to learn with.