If you’re trying to learn Chinese then I can’t stress enough how you should be using ChinesePod. Whenever someone first asks me how to learn Chinese I tell them to start there. I started learning Chinese with their podcast lessons in June of 2006 and I still use them on a daily basis. In my opinion, it’s the BEST resource you will find for learning Chinese. ChinesePod is part o...

Here are two more great tools to help you learn Japanese. As long as you use Firefox as your internet browser, you will find these tools to be really handy and convenient. They’ll help you save time and create a more passive learning experience. The first tool is Rikaichan. Rikaichan is a firefox add-on that translates Japanese to English. Just hover the mouse on top of a word, and a popup a...

Most people have been hearing about China’s rise over the past few years with all the hundreds of books written on China and the Beijing Olympics bonanza. However, with all the uncertainty in the world economy today, many people are skeptical of China’s continued development. But as the United States digs itself deeper into debt insolvency, China is still managing to push forward. Chin...

I’m glad you’ve decided to follow my advice and start using a spaced repetition system (SRS). Remember that this is a very simple concept that everyone can be successful with. Just put in the small amount of time to set up your SRS and dedicate some time to using it every day. If you still haven’t read Part 1, then please do that before continuing. First thing you need to do is download some...

It’s simple. The best tool to quickly and efficiently learn a language is to use an SRS system, or “spaced repetition system”. You might be thinking something like “why didn’t my middle school French teacher ever talk about SRS back then?” It’s not a traditional method for language learning. That’s why you never heard about it back then. An SRS is so simple though that you’ll pro...

I came across this really interesting video today about language in Chinese rap music. It shows how different rappers around China are using Mandarin (the common language), Cantonese, and other local dialects in their songs to appeal to different audiences. The differences between two Chinese dialects can be like the difference between English and German. This is making rappers choose whether they...

If you’re serious about learning to speak your new language then get ready to throw out all your old English music and replace it with that of your language of study. All free, all the time! Who would have thought it would be so easy? You don’t even have to spend a penny! I’ve never spent my money on iTunes or other similar services for music, and I honestly don’t feel bad ...

One of the best Chinese movies I’ve seen lately, Warriors of Heaven and Earth, offers a unique story of adventure through the Gobi desert that will keep you entertained for it’s whole two hour duration. It’s full of great scenes taken in the deserts of Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China, and is action packed with realistic battle scenes. No wire-fu in this movie. The movie is se...

One of the best things you can do for yourself when learning a new language is to always have a dictionary ready. Don’t let yourself get stopped in the middle of reading something to go find your paper dictionary or to flip through your bookmarks to find your online one. At least when you’re at home or at the office, keep your dictionary ready at all times. I recommend consistently kee...

These days, Asia is like the ant and the United States and Europe are like the grasshopper. If you don’t save for a rainy day, you’ll be sorry. I know China has a savings rate of about 35% compared to America’s…maybe 2%. Anyway, here’s a video interview of Jim Rogers from a Dutch TV station about Asia and it’s bright future. I always listen to Jim Rogers for my ...