Tips for Learning Chinese While You're Young

If you've ever fantasized about learning to speak Chinese, it's certainly possible with enough dedication. There are many ways to learn another tongue, but the best method is through immersion. Traveling to another country is the most effective way. Chinese, or Mandarin, is a language that can take years to completely master. Allotting a good amount of time, such as around your college years, works to your advantage. Here are several tips for learning Chinese while you're young.

Learn Through Immersion

The best way to study Chinese, or any second language, is through the immersion method. Learning this way can entail staying in another country where using the new language will be required on a constant basis. This is by far the most efficient approach for becoming bilingual. Since immersion takes time, choosing this type of learning program is perfect when finishing up high school or during a gap year after college. 

Choose a Language

Choosing a language is a very personal decision. Some people select a language based on heritage, job opportunities or just because they like the sound of it. If you're looking to speak another language to expand employment possibilities, Chinese is extremely valuable. Grasping the Chinese language is a challenge, but can benefit you in any number of careers.Take a Year OffWhy is college the best time to learn Chinese when you've got so many other demands? If you think about it, there's no other time period when you're likely to have this much free time available. Soon after college, you'll be looking at career choices, paying back student loans and possibly even getting married and starting a family. If you're going to travel and learn a second language, this is the time to seize the moment and go.

Make the World Your Classroom

For those who may judge your decision to take a gap year as frivolous, remember that this is actually an additional year of study. You'll be using travel as your education and will definitely be working hard. A year away gives you real life experience, not just in learning a language, but also for interacting with new people in a different culture. You'll have to rely on your own problem-solving skills, and you'll grow stronger each day.

Prepare Your Future

Preparing for your future by learning Chinese is a terrific addition to your resume. You become instantly more employable when you can add one or more extra languages to your list of qualifications. A second language is advantageous for careers in business, teaching and interpretation. Having this extra skill can even allow you to live overseas and work remotely if you desire.

Master the Culture

When you decide to take a year off to study another language, you'll learn a lot more than you bargained for. Living abroad gives you the advantage of experiencing the extra ins and outs that you wouldn't learn in a classroom back home. You'll get a chance to learn slang terms, local words and gestures that are part of the culture. This is valuable knowledge and will give you an edge that not many people get an opportunity to pick-up.

Develop Self-Confidence

Learning another language is a very powerful feeling. Once you are speaking and understanding the language fluently, you will develop a take-charge attitude that will put you ahead of the rest. Suddenly, you can communicate with millions of new people. It gives you a boost of self-confidence and the thrill of knowing you can do almost anything you want with this new skill.

Go With Your Instinct