I am learning Chinese.

August 10, 2020

I am really excited to finally be getting my first journal post up! This year I'm taking E=mc^2 in hopes of bettering my Chinese skills and learning how to teach. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to prioritize improving my Chinese, and get the practice in using it and teaching it that I need.

Actually, I've been studying Chinese for around 2 and a half years, and I have never once had a teacher. It probably wouldn't have taken so long if I had a teacher, one who had the same experience as myself to offer the most efficient learning experience. I think that what I know is worth sharing and worth making accessible.

If there's anything I want my coordinators/audience to know, it's about how we see the Chinese language. We've always been lead to believe that it's the hardest language in the world, and I want you to know that it's not. I think it is very achievable!

Unlike other languages, Chinese doesn't require the same amount of devotion to grammar as many other languages do. Most sources focus on how many characters there are, 50,000 or more, and that's true. Also true, though, is that all that's needed for most aspects of life is around 5,000. To be fluent, you must know around 2,000, but even accomplished scholars only know around 10,000. For comparison, English speakers require around 30,000 for a solid level of communication (as a native).

When I started Chinese, it was out of pure curiosity (and not really so much of an "interest"), but I grew to love it! My biggest question is: To someone who hasn't ever had an interest in learning Chinese, what would make them gain interest???