Many Chinese learners often wonder how to structure their weekly Chinese study routines effectively. As someone with over a decade of teaching experience, I want to highlight the importance of having a well-organized study plan for achieving success. Today, I’d like to share the study schedule of one of my students who is preparing for HSK 5. I hope this can provide you with insights and assistance for your own learning.
This student is a talented international learner who has studied in China and already passed the HSK4 exam. His goal is to continue his studies at the graduate level, which means he needs to succeed in the HSK5 exam. His main challenges are vocabulary and grammar.
During our practice tests, he often asked, ‘Why does it seem like every option in the test has a problem?’ This made me realize that we needed to focus more on grammar nuances during our reading sessions. So each week, we summarized common pitfalls to help him prepare more efficiently for the exam.
In addition to working on grammar, he also wanted to improve his oral proficiency for the HSK speaking test, which requires an advanced level of fluency. Recognizing his nervousness and lack of practice during our conversational sessions, I suggested that he join a weekly oral class to enhance his spoken Chinese skills.
Now, let’s take a look at his intensive six-month preparation routine:
1. Two 1-hour Online Sessions Weekly
Session 1: Structured learning and summarizing.
Session 2: Focusing on improving conversational skills.
2. 20 New Words Daily:
Using the Anki App, he learns ten new words each day, paying attention to tones, meanings, collocations, and example sentences. He also reviews and corrects the tones of ten words daily, especially those that caused difficulties during our speaking sessions.
3. 30-Minute Listening Practice:
To enhance his listening skills rapidly, he spends 30 minutes each day listening to Mandarin podcasts like Imandarinpop and chillchat. Usually, he listens in the morning and writes down familiar words while paying special attention to the ones he didn’t catch on the first listen. On weekends, he adds an extra listening comprehension test to his routine.
4. 15-Minute Reading Time:
Every day, he sets aside 15 minutes for reading. He engages with HSK reading materials that I provided and practices on websites like MandarinBean. During our classes, he notes down unfamiliar words for further study.
5. 15-Minute Shadow Reading:
Imitating accents can be highly beneficial. Each day, he spends 15 minutes listening to favorite podcasts like “Learning Chinese through stories” and mimicking the presenters’ accents. If you decide to try this method, it’s important to consult with a professional teacher or a native Chinese speaker to ensure the accuracy of your pronunciation.
This routine is tailored for intermediate to advanced learners. If you’re seeking personalized learning plans or additional resources for listening and writing, click here to seize the chance to snag one of the 30 free trial slots for a personalized one-on-one session. First come, first served!
