Want your kid to learn Mandarin in a fun way?
Let them watch Chinese cartoons!
Try these kid-approved favorites:
First, Boonie Bears is full of fun adventures and everyday Mandarin words.
Second, Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf has fast, playful dialogue that keeps kids …
Parents with no Chinese background, may wonder: Do their children need to watch cartoons to learn Chinese? Isn’t watching cartoons a waste of learning time? Actually, the answer is “not at all.” For many non-Chinese children, Chinese cartoons offer a more realistic language environment …
Think you need to speak Mandarin to support your child’s language journey? Think again.
In this uplifting episode of MandarinPod4Children, host Grace sits down with Sam, a California dad whose daughter Mia is thriving in Mandarin—despite both parents only speaking English. No flashcards. No forced …
As an experienced Mandarin teacher specializing in non-Chinese children, I’m always searching for creative ways to ignite kids’ curiosity about Mandarin. One of my favorite methods? Sharing the fascinating stories behind Chinese idioms (Chengyu).
Chinese idioms are four-character phrases packed with meaning, each with its …
Every learner hits a wall. It’s how we respond that matters.
First, try watching fun Chinese cartoons together. Your presence makes a difference.
Second, ask your child to teach you a word or phrase in Mandarin. It helps them review without pressure.
Finally, celebrate every …
As a Mandarin teacher with over a decade of experience working with non-Chinese children in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, I often meet parents who wonder: “Is learning Mandarin really worthwhile for my child?” Today, I’d love to share why I believe Mandarin is …
During this Spring Festival, a cartoon film has emerged as a dazzling star in the sky, sparking nationwide discussions. It is none other than “Nezha2: The Magic Child’s Sea Chaos”. This film has not only captivated countless audiences with its brilliant plot and stunning visual …
Learning Mandarin can be an exciting yet challenging experience for children, especially when they encounter obstacles that lead to frustration or resistance. Parents play a crucial role in supporting their children through these difficulties, and the right approach can make all the difference.
As a parent, you likely want your child to not only learn Mandarin but also use it confidently in conversations. However, many parents face a common challenge: after months of learning vocabulary and phrases, their child still hesitates to speak or even stays silent in …
Learning Chinese can be a rewarding journey, but it’s natural to feel stuck at times. Whether you’re working on mastering pronunciation, expanding your vocabulary, or refining advanced writing skills, having a clear strategy can make all the difference. In this guide, I’ll break down practical …
As China’s economy continues to grow and its cultural influence expands, an increasing number of parents are recognizing the value of mastering the Chinese language. However, children often face challenges such as language barriers and cultural differences when learning Chinese, especially in public speaking. …
In today’s globalized world, learning Chinese is not only an enhancement of language skills but also an important bridge for cultural understanding and international communication. However, people from different cultural backgrounds may have difficulties understanding and using certain Chinese vocabularies, idioms and sentences due to …
The Rodriguez family moved from the Philippines to Hong Kong in early 2022 due to the father’s job relocation. They have two children: 6-year-old Sofia and 10-year-old Alex. Before the move, Sofia had never been exposed to Mandarin, while Alex had attended a Chinese school …
As a parent of a non-Chinese-speaking child in Singapore, you might be concerned about whether your child can learn to speak Mandarin with a standard accent. This article provides parents with several methods to help their children develop a standard Mandarin accent. By following …
Many parents worry when their children quickly forget what they’ve learned in their Chinese lessons. Despite taking numerous courses and initially grasping a lot of information, it can feel like they’ve learned nothing if they can’t retain it. This article compiles the most effective techniques …
Irene, a bright 9-year-old girl from Singapore who embarked on a Mandarin learning journey at just 7 years old. Fascinated by the Mandarin language from a young age, Irene’s interest was sparked by watching Mandarin cartoons and listening to Mandarin songs on TikTok. Her parents, …
Lea, an 11-year-old girl from France, felt anxious while learning Mandarin, a situation that happens to some young non-native children learning Mandarin. The differences in language and culture were big obstacles, making Lea feel unsure and uneasy as she learned Mandarin. These things made her …
Kids adopted from China may have an advantage in learning Chinese despite the lack of a language environment, as many of them had an early exposure to Chinese before adoption. To make full use of this advantage, parents can create a supportive setting for Chinese …
Singapore’s multicultural environment provides numerous opportunities for non-Chinese kids to learn Mandarin effectively. Here are some suggestions to help these kids make the most of the local Mandarin resources:
Many schools and community centers offer various Mandarin enrichment classes, such …
Homophones play a crucial role in the Chinese language, but they often pose challenges for non-native children learning Mandarin. For example, words like “青” (green) and “轻” (light) sound the same but mean different things. Due to the existence of homophones, Mandarin learners can easily …
