A month ago, on the 20th of April, the world celebrated UN Chinese Language Day. Chinese is the native language of 1.3 billion people and is the first among the languages spoken worldwide.
Chinese is also the language of commerce since China is one of the biggest global markets. And, there’s a chance that one day Chinese will replace English as the international language of trade and commerce.
There’s no doubt that the demand for Chinese will grow in time. But this language is also notorious for being very difficult to learn. A great way out in this situation is learning Chinese with a native speaker.
But isn’t learning a language with a native speaker too expensive?
It doesn’t have to be, and today we’ll show you how to learn Chinese with a native speaker without pouring too much money into your lessons.
Why Learn Chinese with a Native Speaker?
Before we reveal the ways you can learn Chinese for free, let’s take a look at the benefits of learning it with a native speaker:
- Full language immersion. Native Chinese speakers usually give lessons only in Chinese, which can feel uncomfortable at first but helps you master the language faster.
- Better pronunciation. Pronunciation is the basics of any language, but in some languages, you can’t move further without mastering the sounds first – you would experience the same when learning French. With Chinese, phonology is even more important – Chinese use tones to distinguish words.
- A deeper understanding of the culture. There’s no one like a native speaker who can explain certain cultural phenomena better.
Now, let’s discover a few ways you can learn Chinese with a native speaker for free.
1. Use Chats and Forums on Language Learning Apps
If you’re just starting with Chinese, we highly recommend trying language learning apps and platforms. The lessons in such apps are designed to help you advance critical language skills. And each lesson won’t take you longer than 20 minutes a day.
Language learning apps also have forums, and that’s where you can find a native speaker to practice your Chinese. For example, on Duolingo, you can log in to the forum and post a question asking if any native Chinese speakers are available. Often, people also ask for someone to do a language exchange. You can teach someone English while they teach you Chinese.
2. Subscribe to Chinese Learning Channels on YouTube
YouTube has become a learning platform for many subjects and areas, and languages are not an exception. There are plenty of language learning channels available to learners for free, including Chinese. And most of these channels are run by native speakers.
Take Yoyo Chinese, for instance. It’s a YouTube channel created by a Chinese teacher named Yangyang, but it has several native instructors covering different topics. You can find playlists on Chinese tones, beginner conversational Chinese, etc.
Of course, not every Chinese learning channel on YouTube will fit your requirements. Here are a few things you should be looking for:
- consistent teaching methodology
- various strategies of developing crucial language skills
- visuals aids and accessible learning materials
Also, look for a channel that has a proper, easy-to-follow lesson structure – it is crucial for those who’ve just started learning Chinese.
3. Practice Your Knowledge with Other Learners on Social Media
Lastly, you can join Chinese-speaking communities on social media. There, you’ll find people who have the same language learning needs. Apart from that, it’s an awesome opportunity to meet Chinese native speakers.
At Chineasy, we have a Facebook community which all learners can easily join and interact with each other. We also upload different learning materials that can make your Chinese lessons easier and more engaging.
You can also look for Chinese native speakers on platforms like Reddit and Quora. On Reddit, there is a popular subreddit (a forum on specific topic) for Chinese learners. Just post a question on this subreddit asking for some help with your Chinese skills. You can also offer to teach someone your language in exchange.
Learning Chinese for Free is Possible!
It is challenging to find a native speaker who would teach you Chinese for free, but it’s possible. Thanks to the power of the internet, you can easily meet Chinese speakers and practice your language skills with them.
So, become active on forums and chats in language learning apps, check out YouTube channels, and participate in discussions on social media. There’s a chance that you’ll find someone who will gladly help you become more fluent in Chinese.
