China has the largest population in the world. Therefore, it is unsurprising that Mandarin is the second most spoken language worldwide after English.
Before we get started, I will assume three things. Firstly, you can speak English. Secondly, you have an interest in learning Mandarin Chinese but have no idea where to start. Thirdly, you’ve probably seen a Chinese character before and recoiled thinking “There’s no way I can learn that’.
Make no mistake — Mandarin is difficult. Writing in Chinese is incredibly complex; it’s an array of intricate strokes that interweave to form a single character. Remembering the strokes can be a nightmare.
I’m not afraid to admit that my Mandarin speaking ability is at college student level yet my Chinese writing ability is at elementary school level.
Luckily, when you’re learning a new language, speaking and reading the language is more important than writing it. Simply because you are more likely to speak to someone in another language rather than write to them.
Here’s a fact that may surprise you: being fluent in English is quite beneficial when learning Mandarin. The…
