Before the 21st century, the only way to acquire a working knowledge of Chinese was to either go to China and immerse oneself in the culture full-time or happen across a native speaker who was willing to share their expertise for free.
But fortunately, we are now in the 21st century, which means it is simpler than ever to locate a Chinese instructor online. But if you don’t make the most of your time with them, Chinese tuition might end up becoming a waste of money.
After choosing a tutor that works for you, let’s talk about some recommendations you can put into practice.
Take Notes Regularly
You should never be without a notepad or a scrap of paper close at hand during class. Your notes do not need to be very elaborate. Even if your instructor provides you with the vocabulary or grammatical points via a message or download, it is still beneficial to write things down so that you may learn them more effectively and quickly.
Repeat After Your Tutor
Your pronunciation will improve if you mimic your instructor, allowing them to correct you if you mispronounce anything. Even if your instructor doesn’t ask you to repeat after them or come up with your own lines, there’s no harm in you doing so on your own anyhow. The vast majority of tutors will ask you to do so. After all, you did engage them to assist you in some way!
Ask Your Tutor to Correct Your Sentences
After studying a new set of sentence structures, one way to practise your grammar is to compose your own examples of sentences, which you can email to your instructor in advance of your next session. They will then be prepared for the class by having the corrections ready and being able to communicate them to me at the outset. Of course, this extra process is not necessary. However, it is a good tip for those who want to go the extra mile to prepare for their O Level or PSLE Chinese, for example.
Write and Make Note of the Questions You Have
If you are unable to message your tutor during the week, be sure to keep a record of all the questions that you have posed or those for which you are having trouble finding solutions. After that, at the following class, inquire about it with your instructor (and write down their response).
Do Additional Practice in Between Your Sessions
If you supplement your lessons with a tutor with continuous, self-guided practice, you will acquire new material more quickly. Keep your Chinese listening skills strong throughout the week by listening to people who were born and raised in China. There are plenty of online language-learning websites that provide users with a plethora of tools. For example, Chinese media clips can come equipped with interactive subtitles and customised flashcards for the purpose of translating and practising vocabulary.
