About
Learning Chinese as a heritage learner
Hi! I’m Jane, the author of My Chinese Side.
I’ve been learning Chinese over the last 10 years through a mix of formal classes and informal self-learning. This blog documents what worked and what didn’t to guide other Chinese heritage learners in their quest to develop fluency and literacy.
As a Canadian who grew up in a Chinese household, I learned to speak and understand Mandarin, but had almost nonexistent literacy skills (does writing my name in Chinese count?)
Like many other kids, I took Chinese classes after school and on weekends, but I retained very little of what I learned into adulthood.
Some time in my early 20’s, I had a desire to learn Chinese and develop fluency. I got creative with learning Chinese, such as translating online graphic novels from Chinese to English (this was really challenging, so I only recommend it for intermediate learners).
During my Chinese learning journey, I’ve encountered many resources that cater to beginners and children, but none that target adult heritage learners (i.e. learned the language informally at home with family or because of your cultural background).
Learning Chinese is no cake walk, but it can be a very rewarding experience. 中文 (zhōng wén) means Chinese. 文 (wén) means culture. 中文 has taught me that language is a portal to culture, a means to access it. There is so much richness in Chinese culture for you to uncover, and I hope you’re excited about starting your learning journey, no matter what stage of life you’re at.
Who is this blog for?
This blog is meant to help Chinese heritage speakers who want to develop fluency and confidence to converse in Mandarin and write in Chinese. I’ll share tips and learning methods that have worked for me over the years.
As a student who is still learning Chinese, I’ll share my insights on the process to master this language and how I continue to find motivation to stay engaged.
Get in touch
I love hearing from readers! Tell me about why you’re learning Chinese and share resources with me that you’ve found particularly helpful. Get in touch via the form below.