Where Can You Get the Best Chinese Lessons Online? The motivations for learning Chinese are as diverse and compelling as the language itself. Perhaps you're fascinated by the rich history and culture of China, eager to read its classical poetry or modern literature in its original form. Maybe you're looking to expand your business skills and communicate directly with the vast Chinese market. Or, you might dream of traveling through China, exploring everything from bustling cities to serene landscapes, all while engaging with locals in their native tongue.
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Rosetta Stone has long been leading the way in language learning. Since the '90s, it's been the trusted companion for anyone eager to learn a new language.
Immersive language learning method
Instead of the traditional drill of vocabulary and grammar, Rosetta Stone invites you into an immersive experience. You learn languages almost like your first, connecting words to pictures and sounds, making everything click intuitively. With its voice recognition tech and interactive exercises, it gently guides you through, helping you hit new milestones almost without noticing. But is Rosetta Stone still relevant among so many new competitors, and is it your best option for learning Chinese? We'll get into all of that and more in this review.
$47.97 for 3 months or $126 for a year
Rosetta Stone offers a 3-month plan at $15.99 per month, billed as one $47.97 payment. It also provides a lifetime subscription for unlimited languages at a one-time payment of $199, regularly priced at $399. A 12-month plan is available at $10.50 per month, regularly $13.99, billed as one $126 payment. All the plans include Chinese (Mandarin). If you do sign up and you're underwhelmed with your lessons, you have 30 days to get your money back.
Live Tutoring costs extra
Live Tutoring Sessions are available too, but they're not included in the basic package and need to be purchased separately. Live Lessons, on the other hand, are included. These are 25-minute live-streamed classes covering specific topics with real-world relevance. You can interact and review your knowledge through a live chat feature during these lessons.
Immersive Chinese language learning with immediate pronunciation feedback
With Rosetta Stone, you'll be speaking Chinese right away. You'll begin your lessons by repeating key vocabulary words aloud and the speech recognition software, TruAccent, will give you immediate feedback on your pronunciation. To test your skills at the end of a unit, you'll engage in two-way conversations - called Milestones - with pre-recorded native speakers. During lessons, you'll also improve your listening comprehension by matching spoken words and phrases to corresponding images.
More difficult than latin-based alphabets
As you move through the lessons, you'll start with simple words and phrases, and eventually progress to full sentences and complex ideas. Rosetta Stone claims you'll be reading in your new language from the get-go, without any need for translation or rote memorization. However, we think that's a pretty big promise to make when you're talking about languages that don't utilize the Latin alphabet. We'll let you know how that shakes out later on.
Your pathway is designed just for you
With Rosetta Stone's "Your Plan," you can tailor your language learning journey to your needs. You tell them the reasons behind your decision to learn a new language and your current level - Beginner, Intermediate, or Proficient. Based on this, they create a unique six-week learning plan specifically for you. You'll receive handpicked content that aligns with your interests and regular reminders to keep you focused and on track towards achieving your language learning goals.
Apparently no character writing practice
We created an account and signed up for the 3-day trial of Mandarin Chinese. Before we started our first lesson, we were asked to check a box indicating whether or not we wanted our lessons to include "extra practice on letters, characters, and sounds," which we did. However, it wasn't apparent what that actually did. We hoped it would mean we'd see additional lessons on how Chinese characters are constructed and proper stroke order for writing them, but no dice. The only thing we did find was a glossary of characters and their sounds, but that won't get you very far.
"Immersion" might be needlessly frustrating
We didn't love the matching-images-to-words portion of the lessons because it doesn't provide an English translation for anything - only pinyin and audio of the Chinese pronunciation. This meant we were unsure if we were learning the vocabulary for 'men,' 'men playing basketball,' 'women,' or 'old women laughing'. Although we could enable other scripts for Chinese vocabulary, we did not find a way to switch on English translations.
Missing tools help bridge gaps
While it's true that this approach is probably similar to how children learn, we don't think it's detrimental to have tools like translations to English in language learning. Just because kids don't have these tools when they're first picking up language doesn't mean they're harmful. In fact, for adult learners, these tools can bridge crucial gaps in understanding, making the learning process more accessible and less frustrating - and making you more likely to stick with it. We weren't the only ones who were frustrated. One angry Rosetta Stone user wrote in a review, "I'm presented with four pictures of people and it just says ‘Liang ge nu hai zi he ta men fu mu.' I don't know what a fu mu is. This is how I'm being taught? I'm not an infant, I know another language. Just tell me in that."
Too frustrating for what it costs
There are a handful of other features that Rosetta Stone offers in addition to the lessons (like Stories and offline downloads of the Audio Companion) but we don't think they provide enough additional value to compensate for the shortcomings of the main lesson content. While you're welcome to test out the 3-day free trial and see for yourself, ultimately, we think your time and money would be better spent learning Chinese with one of our higher-rated websites.
Continued from above...
The motivations for learning Chinese are as diverse and compelling as the language itself. Perhaps you're fascinated by the rich history and culture of China, eager to read its classical poetry or modern literature in its original form. Maybe you're looking to expand your business skills and communicate directly with the vast Chinese market. Or, you might dream of traveling through China, exploring everything from bustling cities to serene landscapes, all while engaging with locals in their native tongue.
Learning Chinese, however, presents a unique set of challenges unlike those found in learning languages like Spanish or French. For one, there's the intricate system of Chinese characters, each carrying its own meaning and pronunciation, which can seem daunting at first glance. Then, there's the tonal nature of Mandarin Chinese, where the meaning of a word can change dramatically with the pitch of your voice.
But don't let these hurdles deter you. With commitment and the right resources, you're on your way to fluency. Mastering Chinese opens up a universe of cultural, professional, and social opportunities, allowing you to connect with over a billion speakers worldwide.
Online Chinese lessons offer a variety of approaches to suit different learning preferences. For auditory learners, there are programs focused on immersive listening practices, helping you attune your ear to the nuances of the language. If you're game for a challenge, gamified learning platforms make acquiring new vocabulary and grammar points engaging, rewarding your progress with points and badges.
For those who prefer a more structured learning path, comprehensive courses provide a blend of video lessons, interactive quizzes, and writing exercises, ensuring you develop a well-rounded skill set, from character recognition and writing to speaking and listening.
And if personal interaction is what drives your learning, tutoring services connect you with native Chinese speakers for real-time conversation and cultural exchange, enriching your study with authentic experiences.
Feeling overwhelmed by the options? Here's what to consider as you begin your journey to learn Chinese:
To guide you to the best Chinese lessons for your goals and preferred learning style, our team at Top Consumer Reviews has tested today's leading options and provided honest feedback on what each one offers. So, what are you waiting for? Embark on your Chinese learning adventure today!
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Why Should You Learn Chinese?
In this day and age there are lots of reasons to invest in learning different languages. But what are the reasons to learn Chinese specifically? You might be questioning which language you want to learn next, and if so Chinese would make an excellent choice. There are many reasons to learn the language of such an illustrious culture, and this list will only be an abbreviated version, but it's something to strongly consider if you are up to the challenge.
One reason to learn Chinese is probably the easiest to understand - do it for the culture! China is a country with a beautiful and fascinating history, and learning the language is one more way to learn about the culture. If you ever visit China, you'll be glad you took the time to learn the language, and it'll help you understand more while you're there. And even if you never visit China, it can be a fun experience for yourself that also gives you a peek into a whole different part of the world.
Another, more specific reason for learning Chinese is for the future. Right now, China has connections with almost every country across the globe, and learning the language to communicate could be very helpful. From being a translator, to hoping to work in business, a smart language to learn would be Chinese. China works with a lot of countries, and is a massive producer of various items, so learning how to negotiate and talk to people in their own language would go a long way towards making a good impression.
Chinese is a very difficult language to learn, and there are many different ways you can communicate with it. That being said, learning Chinese could open several new doors for you. You could impress people with your knowledge, and even expose yourself to Chinese pop culture. You would see a whole different side of the world through Chinese movies and literature; things so easily get lost in translation, but by cutting out the middleman and doing it yourself, you make sure you are hearing everything correctly. You must look at the challenge of learning the language as an invitation instead of an obstacle. You are bringing yourself to new heights, and perhaps you will inspire more people to join you, by learning Chinese as a second language.
For these reasons and many more, learning Chinese is a great decision. Use your time and money to learn a new skill that could be invaluable to you for a variety of reasons. As long as you remember to respect the culture it comes from, learning Chinese can be a very healthy and exciting goal to work towards achieving. Join millions today in learning a whole new world through the language of China.
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