Learning Mandarin is a journey that involves more than just studying vocabulary and grammar. It requires consistent practice and interaction with native speakers. Below is a story from a parent who enrolled her child in an eChineseLearning course and saw how regular practice with a native Chinese teacher help the child build both confidence and fluency in Mandarin.
1. Ethan’s New Journey in Learning Chinese
Half a year ago, my 13-year-old son, Ethan, decided to take on a new challenge: learning Chinese. Like many parents, I was excited to see him dive into a language that’s rich in history and culture.
To support him, I enrolled Ethan in an eChineseLearning course. One day, after class, Ethan’s Chinese teacher, Ms. Li, made a suggestion: “I have a bit of time after class, so how about we have a 15-minute voice chat after class? You can practice speaking Chinese with me, just casually, and it’ll help you get more comfortable. You can send me voice messages or make voice calls if you prefer.” Ethan hesitated. He was unsure about talking to his teacher outside of the structured lessons. “But what if I make mistakes?” he asked, looking worried.
I could see the uncertainty in his face. I encouraged Ethan, “Why not? Don’t worry about making mistakes. It’s okay to mess up, and that’s how you get better. Ms. Li is there to help you. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from these voice chats.”
After a deep breath, Ethan agreed. And so, a new journey in his Chinese learning began.
2. The First Few Chats: Uncertainty and Shyness
At first, Ethan was hesitant. Every chat felt like a mini-test. He knew the words in his lessons, but stringing them together into sentences was challenging. And the tonal aspect of Chinese? That was terrifying! Ethan would often apologize for his mistakes, asking if his pronunciation was wrong or if he had said something funny.
To be honest, I was worried. I wondered if the pressure of these conversations might turn him off learning Chinese altogether. But Ms. Li was always patient. She didn’t correct him harshly; instead, she praised his efforts, gently guided him, and reassured him that mistakes were a natural part of the learning process. Little by little, Ethan started to look forward to their chats, knowing that they were a space where he could practice without fear of judgment.
3. The Transformation: Confidence and Fluency
As the weeks went on, I noticed something remarkable. Ethan’s Chinese wasn’t perfect, but it was noticeably better. His sentences became longer, his vocabulary expanded, and—most importantly—he started to speak with more confidence. What once took him several moments to figure out, now flowed more easily.
One day, after a particularly long voice chat with Ms. Li, Ethan came running to me with a huge smile. “Guess what, Mom?” he said, “I spoke for 10 minutes in Mandarin without getting stuck!” I was blown away. Ethan had gone from barely stringing two sentences together to holding a simple conversation. His teacher had even started complimenting him on his improved fluency.
But the most significant change wasn’t his ability to speak. It was his attitude toward making mistakes. In the beginning, he was afraid of saying something wrong, but now, he understood that errors were part of the Chinese learning journey. He embraced them as opportunities to improve. His fear of making mistakes had faded away, replaced by a genuine curiosity to keep learning Mandarin.
4. The Big Lesson: Practice and Communication Are Key
After about five months of chatting with Ms. Li, Ethan’s Chinese skills had improved far more than I could have anticipated. By speaking with a native Chinese teacher, Ethan not only improved his language skills but also developed the confidence to express himself in Chinese, knowing that making mistakes is a natural and valuable part of the process.
If your child is learning Chinese, encourage them to engage in voice chats with native speakers without fear. Embrace mistakes, ask questions, and practice regularly.
If you are interested in having your kid learn Chinese, sign up for a free trial class via the form in this page, and we will be happy to help.