Unlock social interactions and cultural understanding, connect with people and accelerate your learning with my new course, The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water!
Registration is open until February 16, so don’t wait! Once enrolled, you’ll enjoy lifetime access and the freedom to study at your own pace. Watch the video below for an overview or read on for more details:
Tune in to the Hacking Chinese Podcast to listen to the related episode (#224):
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and many other platforms!
Here is a sample lesson from section 3: The Input Pyramid: Chinese Listening for Any Situation (Ep. 236).
Listening comprehension is the most important skill of all
Listening is the foundation of language learning; the more you understand, the more you learn. Improving your listening ability unlocks many benefits:
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Navigate conversations with ease
- Build deeper connections with people
- Learn about language and culture
- Excel in exams like HSK or TOCFL
- Use Mandarin confidently in professional contexts
- Accelerate progress in other areas, including speaking
In contrast, if you struggle with listening, conversations become frustrating for both you and the person you’re speaking with. Not understanding limits how much you learn from social interactions and listening practice.
Most students struggle with listening comprehension in Mandarin
Learning to understand spoken Mandarin isn’t easy. Many students find listening to be the most difficult part of their language journey. In fact, in a survey conducted with several hundred learners, the majority identified listening as the most challenging aspect of learning Chinese.
I can ask questions, but when a native speaker replies, I’m completely lost.
Even when I know the words, I still can’t follow because they speak so fast!
Listening to Mandarin feels like guessing, so many words sound the same!
I understand my teacher, but anyone else might as well be speaking Martian.
I know I need to listen more, but with so much to do, I keep putting it off!
These are genuine concerns that need to be taken seriously. Listening in Mandarin is indeed harder than in many other languages.
There are several reasons for this. One key challenge is that many words in Mandarin sound similar, which becomes even more problematic if you struggle to distinguish tones.
Additionally, while Chinese grammar can make speaking easier, it places more responsibility on the listener.
Mandarin relies heavily on context, and if you miss crucial parts of the conversation, understanding the rest can feel impossible!
Developing listening comprehension is easier than you think
Unfortunately, many students struggle with listening comprehension, especially since improving it is easier than you might think. By following a few key principles, you’ll be on your way to understanding spoken Mandarin.
Listen more: Relying on a teacher, textbook or podcast isn’t enough. Create your own immersion environment and listen as much as possible.- Understand more: Choose materials you can understand naturally. Use strategies to improve comprehension and learn more over time.
- Communicate more: Focus on understanding meaning, not just practising vocabulary or grammar patterns.
- Enjoy yourself: Find listening materials and methods that you enjoy; it’s the best way to ensure you listen enough.
These principles are easy to describe but difficult to apply, which is why I created this course! I also talked more about these four principles in this article and podcast episode: Four key principles to improve your Mandarin listening comprehension.
What students are saying about the course
I thoroughly enjoyed “The Fluent Listener” and highly recommend the course. It put me on the right track to properly identify listening materials, improve my listening strategies and taught me to develop the listening habits that are sure to improve my comprehension over time. I’ve doubled my listening time and am well on my way to improving my listening comprehension. The course includes a wonderful library of listening materials for all levels so we can immediately get started and improve our skills.
– Jonathan G.
When I started learning Chinese, I focused on listening and reading. Not long ago, I began working on speaking, which quickly surpassed my ability to understand replies. Why is listening so hard? How do I improve? Online advice is often “just listen more,” which, while true, isn’t very useful. The Fluent Listener filled the gaps and gave me enough understanding to improve. I am actually starting to enjoy the process and, importantly, I now know it will work.
– Tristan
Olle Linge is a superb educator, and I have listened to the Hacking Chinese podcast for some time. His Fluent Listener course is thoughtfully structured, offering actionable strategies to improve your listening at any level. I like Olle’s practical approach—he doesn’t just give tips but explains the science behind them and how to apply them. The focus on active listening, and embracing not understanding everything was refreshing and motivating. The top-notch materials and step-by-step guidance make it easy to stay consistent.
– Kevin
This course will help you become a fluent listener no matter your current level
A fluent listener is someone who can process spoken Mandarin effectively and navigate conversations in various situations.
But becoming a fluent listener isn’t just about improving your ability to understand, it’s also about recognising and addressing common listening challenges and building a long-term strategy for continuous improvement.
Fluency in listening is possible at any level, but the content you engage with will differ:
Beginners will learn to become fluent with content related to everyday life and familiar topics- Intermediate learners will expand their fluency to a broader range of contexts, including work
- Advanced learners will develop their ability to handle complex, challenging, or sensitive situations
Whatever your current level, this course will equip you with the tools and strategies to improve your listening skills and thrive in real-world conversations.
Enrol to become a fluent listener now
- 40+ video lessons across 5 sections, offering more than 12 hours of content
- 50+ carefully curated resource recommendations, helping you find the right materials for you
- Access to an exclusive members-only learning community, where students support and motivate each other
- Tailored listening journeys, designed to guide your practice based on your level and learning needs
- A variety of exercises to help you maximise the course and boost your Mandarin skills
For full details about what the course contains, please check The Fluent Listener: Navigating Spoken Mandarin Like a Fish in Water!
