John and Jared discuss the all too common situation of pinyin over Chinese characters, something Jared sometimes refer to as the “crippling crutch”. They go into depth on why this is so common, why it is so detrimental, and what to do instead.

Guest interview is with Kwadwo [QUĀY.jo] Sampani Kessi, the founder of Elementary Chinese, a popular YouTube and Instagram channel for learning Chinese. He will tell his tale of falling in love with Chinese while in …Paris! And then he takes us on his journey moving past the limitations of the traditional Chinese education system and forging ahead with new ideas on how people can learn.

Links from the episode:

• Pinyin Over Characters: The Crippling Crutch | Mandarin Companion
• Elementary Chinese | Kwadwo on YouTube
• Chinese memes | Instagram

In this episode, Jared and John dive into the concept of "narrow reading"—a strategy that involves focusing your language learning on a specific topic or genre to accelerate progress. They explore how this targeted approach deepens vocabulary and comprehension through repeated exposure to related content, making language acquisition more efficient. By honing in on subjects you're passionate about, learning Chinese becomes not only more enjoyable but also significantly more effective. Tune in to discover how narrowing your focus can supercharge your language learning journey!

Links from the episode:

• “The Case for Narrow Reading” | Stephen Krashen

• How Your Personality Changes in Another Language | interview with Taha Shlibek

• Mandarin Companion graded readers

Elijah Wilcott never thought he was cut out for learning languages. With a self-proclaimed terrible memory and a history of struggling in language classes, he picked up only a handful of basic phrases after teaching English in China for two years. But when he found a compelling reason to learn Chinese, Elijah dove into full-time language study, and adopted a relentless approach to learning, immersing himself in every learning tool he could find. His persistence paid off, turning his language struggles into a powerful success story. Tune in to hear how Elijah discovered his purpose, pushed past his limitations, and ultimately transformed his life through learning Chinese. His story is a testament to the power of finding your "why" and never giving up.

Links from the episode:

• Mandarin Companion graded readers