Fun First, Fluency Follows: Karl Vilhelmsson’s Chinese Strategy

What began as a teenage crush became a lifelong journey into Chinese for Matthew McGuire, an Australian creator and accent coach. In this episode, Jared sits down with Matthew to discuss how he learned Mandarin without textbooks, grammar drills, or writing practice. Instead, he immersed himself in love dramas, shadowed dialogue, and built a Chinese-speaking social circle. Matthew shares how his curiosity and enjoyment guided him from impressing a girl from Sichuan to achieving real proficiency and forming meaningful friendships. He also explains how Chinese opened doors for him both personally and professionally, and why he believes language learning should be fun, intentional, and grounded in real-life use. For anyone feeling stuck in their studies or unsure of how to move forward, Matthew’s story offers valuable perspective and inspiration.Links from the episode:Matthew McGuire on Instagram | @realozziemcguireChinese graded readers make an excellent gift! Head over to: https://www.mandarincompanion.comAllSet Learning has some amazing deals on lessons right now: https://www.allsetlearning.com

With AI advancing at lightning speed, many are wondering: Do I still need to learn Chinese? Jared and John say yes, and in this episode, they break down 10 ways your Chinese skills remain AI-proof. These are the kinds of things no app, bot, or translation tool can truly replace.Along the way, you'll hear stories about phone conversations that left taxi drivers in disbelief, the joy of reading your first Chinese book, and how language learning leads to deeper relationships.Whether you're just starting or years into your Chinese journey, this episode is your reminder that learning Chinese is still very much worth it and more human than ever.Links from the episode:Mandarin Companion Graded ReadersAllSet Learning

In this episode, Jared sits down with Renata Mirkova, a Chinese language educator from the Czech Republic whose journey into Mandarin began not with a grand plan, but almost by accident. What started as a university entrance decision led her to master Chinese, live in China, and now teach both Czech and Chinese across cultural boundaries.Renata shares the unique challenges of learning Chinese in a non-English-speaking environment, including outdated textbooks from the 60s, Czech-Sinology programs steeped in history, and a lack of direct Chinese-to-Czech resources. But through her perseverance and multiple immersive experiences in China, Renata carved out her own path to fluency.From surviving the linguistic chaos of Sichuan dialects to interpreting for Czech officials on business trips in China, she offers candid reflections on what works for her, what didn’t, and how learning Chinese changed her life. She also gives insight into her current work creating Chinese learning materials specifically for Czech speakers and what it’s like teaching Czech to Chinese speakers in return.Links from the episode:Learn Chinese with Renata Mirkova | WebsiteMandarin Companion Graded Readers

After 300 days of secretly studying Chinese, one guy surprises his partner with phrases like “the cheesecake is grieving” and “the purple elephant eats passion for breakfast.” It’s a bit humorous, but it also highlights a bigger issue: extreme learning methods that feel productive but fall flat in practice.In this episode, Jared and John dive into seven common extremes they’ve seen (and lived) in the world of learning Chinese. From bingeing flashcards or grammar rules to over-relying on Duolingo or doing nothing but watch TV in Mandarin, these extremes can slow your progress, or worse, burn you out completely.Drawing on personal experience, stories from past podcast guests, and insights from language learning experts like Paul Nation, the hosts break down what works, what backfires, and how to build a more balanced and effective approach to learning Chinese.If you’re stuck, overwhelmed, or questioning your methods, this episode will help you get back on track.Links from the episode:“Burnout, Breakthrough, and Fluency: Chaniece’s Story” | YCLC Podcast“Vocab Apps and Learner Engagement” – Jonathan Covey Interview | YCLC Podcast“Steven Kaufmann “The Linguist” Interview” | YCLC PodcastHack Chinese | Modern flashcardsMandarin Companion Graded Readers

Can you become fluent in Chinese without teachers, classes, or even Chinese speakers around you? For Serbian software engineer Marko Javoanovic, the answer is “yes” by focusing on “fluency now”.In this episode, Marko shares how he started learning Japanese out of a love for anime but quickly pivoted to Chinese when he realized there were far more Chinese people than Japanese in his hometown of Novi Sad, Serbia. What began as a curiosity turned into a disciplined daily habit that transformed not only his language skills but also his friendships and worldview.Marko dives into how he built real working fluency from scratch using English-language resources like Mandarin Companion, YoYo Chinese, and extensive listening and how that foundation led to translating live at a visa interview, making friends over baozi, and becoming part of his local Chinese community.His story includes:Why he stopped obsessing over flashcards and HSK levelsHow “fluency now” helped him understand without translatingWhy tones matter more than you think (like mixing up “food” with “video”)The emotional reward of using Chinese to truly connectThis episode is a roadmap for any Chinese learner, especially those going it alone.Links from the episode:Mandarin Companion Graded ReadersLittle Chinese Everywhere | YouTubeDo you have a story to share? Reach out to us

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 TaipeiWhy Shanghai might be the perfect balance for learnersHow non-standard Mandarin can actually improve your listening skillsWhat it's like to learn Chinese in tier 2 or tier 3 cities (or tier 88) and why it might supercharge your progressStories from past podcast guests, including John D’Andrea's experience being laughed at for his Lanzhou accentHow regional accents and fangyan (local dialects) impact Mandarin learningA mildly controversial debate on cilantro in beef noodlesIf 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 #10Do 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 SchafrothKathryn BozzayMing (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.” —JaredLinks from the episode:Mandarin Companion Graded ReadersDo 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 [email protected]. 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 ReadersDo you have a story to share? Reach out to us