Here is a page devoted to Chinese learning. I will put the links to useful online resources available to the laowais trying to learn this fascinating but very complicated language!!! If it makes you feel better, I read on Mandarin Pod that there are … tens of millions of people learning Chinese as a foreign language. So we are not alone in our struggle!
Podcasts
Chinese Pod: My favorite and the most useful language learning method I’ve used for a long long time. Daily podcasts are available for free, download that on your Ipod/MP3 player and convert that commute to work into a class! For a reasonable fee, you can also access the transcripts of these podcasts and learn a lot more. The website is user centered and there is plenty for every one, from newbie to advanced learners. (I don’t get a commission for this!)
Mandarin Pod: Interesting podcasts geared towards the intermediate level students. Podcasts are delivered in Chinese, with an English translation of a few keywords. The transcripts are free but available in simplified characters only (run them through the Simplified-Traditional Character Converter). The topics are interesting and go beyond the food ordering/hotel booking/look at the Great Wall kind of lessons. I’m giving it a try and will come back with my opinion!
Chinese Learn Online: Podcasts with free pinyin transcripts, but you have to subscribe to get the Chinese transcripts. Listening is free, but subscriptions are more expensive than Chinese Pod. Looks promising! I’ll give it a try.
Chinese Lessons with Serge Melnyk: Interesting and enjoyable podcasts delivered by a Westerner fluent in Chinese. He is the living proof that learning this language is doable! Podcasts are free but transcripts are available for a reasonable subscription. Gets good reviews.
Online lessons
Chinese Tools: Haven’t tried this but for beginners, it looks like a reliable set of lessons for self-study.
BBC’s Real Chinese: A set of beginners’ lessons covering the basic topics needed to survive a trip to China! Includes pictures and cultural explanations in an interactive layout.
Dictonaries and resources
Yellow Bridge: Online dictionary, online Chinese classics, and a lot more to discover.
Zhongwen.com: Online dictionary, shows the etymology of every character. Also offers a lot of information on Chinese language and culture, and even some online reading. Interesting, well organized, a fun way to spend some time learning Mandarin!
The Traditional to and from Simplified Converter: Great tool that does just what it say, and simplifies our lives! Easy to use and fast.
Traditional-Simplified Chinese Character Tutor: For those of us that learn Traditional but also want to be able to read Simplified one day, this is the one! I’m giving it a try and will come back for a review!
The Pinyin Tone Tool: Ok, you’re scratching your head asking: what’s that? Well, it’s an easy to use converter tool that lets you input pinyin with the tone number, and at the click of a button, will convert it into pinyin with the right accents. If you ever tried writing in pinyin, you will truly appreciate this tool!
Chinese Blast: Self-described as : “A collaborative learning engine for Chinese”, I discovered it today, so I will add comments as I use it.
Any suggestions from my dear readers??? You’re more than welcome to tell about your secret weapons for studying Chinese.
