Ever wonder how the place you study Chinese can shape your accent, comprehension, and even identity as a learner?

In this episode, Jared and John dive into the importance of where you learn Mandarin in China and how different regions can affect your speaking and listening skills. From Beijing’s “pirate R’s” to the relaxed tones of Taipei and the “happy medium” of Shanghai, they explore the linguistic quirks of China’s top Mandarin learning destinations.

You’ll hear:

• The differences between Chinese accents in Beijing, Shanghai, and Taipei

• Why Shanghai might be the perfect balance for learners

• How non-standard Mandarin can actually improve your listening skills

• What it's like to learn Chinese in tier 2 or tier 3 cities (or tier 88) and why it might supercharge your progress

• Stories from past podcast guests, including John D’Andrea's experience being laughed at for his Lanzhou accent

• How regional accents and fangyan (local dialects) impact Mandarin learning

• A mildly controversial debate on cilantro in beef noodles

If you’ve ever thought about studying in China or are curious about regional language variation, this episode is a must-listen.

Links from the episode:

• John D’Andrea’s story | YCLC Podcast #10

• Do you have a story to share? Reach out to us

What happens when you move abroad at age 10 and suddenly find yourself in daily Chinese class? For Freddy Buechel, it was the start of an adventure that took him from Singapore to Taiwan, back to the U.S., and eventually to Shanghai for a full-on study abroad immersion.

In this episode, Freddy shares his winding journey of learning Chinese across multiple countries, his turning point moment ordering bubble tea as a kid, and why fluency is a “moving target.” He talks about the humbling reality of using Chinese in the wild, how boxing with a former world champion in Shanghai boosted his Chinese, and why he eventually chose to focus on Chinese over Russian.

Freddy is now a student at the University of Colorado Boulder, known online for his hilarious and motivational Instagram videos shouting in Chinese from mountaintops, canyons, and even Times Square. He reflects on how making language fun has kept him motivated and how every learner can find their own way to enjoy the process.

Links from the episode:

• • @theBaoLuo 保罗 | Freddie’s Instagram
  • Do you have a story to share? Reach out to us

Jared and John are back with a full episode dedicated to answering listener questions covering everything from language learning strategies to cultural quirks.

They explore the challenges of using sarcasm in Mandarin, how to prepare for a trip to China if you're not yet fluent, and whether watching Chinese TV shows actually helps improve listening skills.

And yes, they also get into one of the most common learner frustrations: you ask a question in Chinese, but when the reply comes… you’re totally lost. It happens to everyone, so what can you do about it?

They also share thoughts on overcoming the intermediate plateau, what makes leveled content like graded readers so effective, and how to build study habits that actually stick. Along the way, they reflect on their own learning experiences, like John’s ongoing Italian project and Jared’s use of Chinese in everyday work and life.

Packed with relatable stories and practical insights, this episode offers encouragement and clarity for anyone learning Chinese—whether you're just getting started or pushing through the advanced stages.

Listener Questions Answered From:

• Elena Leeds (elenaleeds8505)

• Owen Kempton (owenkempton9691)

• Gregor Schafroth

• Kathryn Bozzay

• Ming (Chinese immersion teacher)

Notable Quotes:

“Sarcasm just doesn’t work the same way in Chinese. It’s not that it doesn’t exist, it’s just different.” —John

“If you’re learning Chinese and you’re not enjoying it, it’s going to be hard to keep going.” —John

“Leveling content is deceptively hard. It’s why our readers take so long to write, and why they work so well.” —Jared

Links from the episode:

• Mandarin Companion Graded Readers

• Do you have a story to share? Reach out to us
  

In this replay of a fan-favorite episode, John and Jared discuss the concept of fluency now as opposed to some distant time in the future and how reading will get you there.Guest interview is with Olle Linge of Hacking Chinese and Chinese language enthusiast extraordinaire. He offers the Chinese learning tips that he wishes someone had told him back when he started Chinese.Thanks for listening to our podcast! Please write us a review on Apple Podcasts and we’ll give you a shout out on the podcast! We are also taking questions from our listeners. If you have a question, reach us at feedback@mandarincompanion.com. Follow us on Facebook and catch our latest Chinese learning memes on InstagramLinks referenced in this EpisodeMandarin Companion Memes - InstagramFunny Chinese ShirtsHacking ChineseEscape – Chinese language text game#46 How to Learn to Read Chinese: Pinyin, Characters, Vocabulary#47 How to Learn to Read Chinese: Baby Steps to Real ReadingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when a Swedish physics student decides to go all-in on Chinese? Meet Karl Vilhelmsson, a particle physics student at Stanford’s SLAC lab and a self-described language adventurer.

From a middle school classroom in Stockholm to immersive conversations with a Taiwanese friend and a solo Chinese language-only trip to Suzhou, Carl shares how curiosity and fun fueled his Chinese learning journey.

Carl talks with Jared about building meaningful friendships through Chinese, discovering the joy of reading and writing characters, and how Chinese has deepened his global perspective, both personally and professionally.

Carl’s story is a reminder that Chinese is learnable, and it doesn’t have to be boring.

Links from the episode:

• Mandarin Companion Graded Readers

• Do you have a story to share? Reach out to us

Chinese learners today are surrounded by video, TikToks from tutors, YouTube explainers, online courses, sitcoms, and AI-powered tools promising to boost your progress. But with so much content, it's easy to feel overwhelmed or stuck in passive learning.

In this episode, we dive into how to actually learn Chinese through video. Jared and John discuss the strengths and limitations of different approaches, from short-form content on social media to more structured courses. They talk about when Chinese movies and TV shows become useful (and when they’re just frustrating), the surprising downsides of subtitles, and how to match video content to your level.

You’ll also hear about powerful tools like Language Reactor and SRT subtitles, how AI transcription can supercharge your review sessions, and why relying on ChatGPT alone might not get you very far—yet.

John also shares a big announcement: the launch of AllSet Go, a short video course designed to take absolute beginners from zero to ready for real online Chinese lessons.

Links from the episode:

• AllSet GO 10-lesson video course for absolute beginners | 50% off Voucher: YCLCGO

• #72 The Truth about Chinese subtitles | You Can Learn Chinese

• Do you have a story to share? Reach out to us

Chaniece Chen didn’t just study Chinese, she built her own major, battled burnout in an intensive language program, and came back for more. In this episode, Jared talks with Chaniece about her 12-year journey in China, from struggling with tones to thriving in Shanghai as a translator, community organizer, and content creator.

Chaniece opens up about the highs and lows of immersion: how her college program led to burnout, how thinking in Chinese helped her improve, and why perfectionism can be a hidden danger for motivated learners. She also reflects on what it's like being a Black woman in China, her experience in Xinjiang, and how she built a life, and family, abroad.

Links from the episode:

• @ThisIsChaniece | Instagram

• Do you have a story to share? Reach out to us

You’re reading Chinese, and there it is, pinyin over every character. It feels helpful, even comforting. But is it actually holding you back? In this episode, Jared and John explore how pinyin can become a crutch that cripples your Chinese progress and keeps you from truly mastering characters.

They revisit Jared’s blog post from years ago, Pinyin Over Characters: The Crippling Crutch, and unpack how this issue is still alive and well, especially with the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek.

You’ll hear how pinyin over characters affects your eye movement, slows your reading speed, and hinders character recognition. Jared and John also break down the psychology behind why pinyin is so hard to ignore and offer practical strategies to reduce your reliance on it. From browser extensions to smarter AI prompts, they share ways to keep pinyin available only when you need it, not when it interferes.

If you’ve ever found yourself relying too heavily on pinyin, or wondering why your reading fluency isn’t improving, this episode will give you the clarity and tools you need to move forward.

What you’ll learn:

• Why native Chinese speakers learn characters before pinyin

• How pinyin affects your focus, memory, and reading speed

• The difference between helpful support and harmful overuse

• How to use AI tools more intentionally in your learning

• What extensive reading looks like without pinyin distractions

• The importance of finding level-appropriate reading materials

Links from the episode:

• Pinyin over Characters: The Crippling Crutch

• Mandarin Companion Graded Readers

• Learn Chinese Characters by Reading | Amazon

• Do you have a story to share? Reach out to us