How my new Beginner Chinese Program works

Registration is now open for the first time ever for my new speaking-focused Beginner Chinese Program.
So today I’ll talk a little bit about the program, who it’s for, and how exactly it can help you begin your Chinese language journey.

If you’re interested in joining, you’ll also get a 50 usd discount for being one of my newsletter readers if you sign up before the launch date (you’ll find the link at the bottom of the page).

If you’re not a beginner learner, feel free to skip today’s newsletter. Next week I’ll be back with a not-so-well-known Chinese website that can help you with your Chinese learning.

Now let’s get into the details.

The Chinese Speaker 20-Day Beginner Program

The Beginner Program will first open on February 2 (Monday). It’s a 20-day program spread over 4 weeks.
You’ll get access to the course videos on a weekly basis: starting on February 2 with the first 5 days, then February 9 with the next 5 days, and so on.

However, the course videos are only one part of the whole program.

When I first started thinking about this program about 2 years ago, I talked to many of you about your biggest obstacles when it comes to learning Chinese.
Back then, many of you mentioned pronunciation, not understanding native speakers, having no one to actually practice speaking with, and also something else that came up again and again: it’s easy to drift when you’re learning alone.

No deadlines.
No one waiting for you to speak.
No real push to continue.

I tried to address all of these problems in this new course.

How the Program Works

Anki Digital Flashcards

If you start the course, your first task each day will be to go through the new vocabulary using Anki (a digital flashcard app).
I’ve created cards for each vocabulary item with images and audio, and Anki has one of the best spaced repetition systems out there. I genuinely believe this is one of the fastest ways to move new words into your long-term memory. Each day you’ll learn about 20 new Chinese words. The first few days are lighter on purpose, so you can ease into the course without feeling overwhelmed. By the end of the 4 weeks, you’ll have built a vocabulary of around 350–400 words.

Pronunciation First

For those of you who struggle with pronunciation (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t), the first video every day is a pronunciation practice video.

We’ll start with the building blocks of Chinese pronunciation (initials, finals, and tones), and later move on to different pronunciation practices, such as tone pairs. You’ll also get pronunciation practice tasks where you can record your voice and send it to me on WhatsApp, and I’ll help guide you toward a more accurate pronunciation.

Course Videos

For those of you who are worried about not understanding native speakers, I hear you.
It can be very difficult to understand people who don’t slow down for you, speak with different accents, or use natural, everyday Chinese. And if you don’t live in China, training your ears is even harder.

I don’t claim that after these 4 weeks you’ll suddenly understand fast, difficult Chinese. But because all course videos are recorded in Chinese, your ears will gradually get used to the sound, rhythm, and speed of real spoken Chinese.

Some of you might prefer English-only videos, and I understand that. But I believe that replicating a Chinese environment helps you reach your goals faster.

In each video, you can choose between English, Chinese, or pinyin subtitles, and key words are highlighted on screen. The videos alternate between speaking practice and grammar explanation, and I’ve kept them short. On average, you’ll spend about 15–20 minutes per day on videos (sometimes a bit more, as you’re asked to actively answer questions).

After that, each day you’ll also get two short story videos featuring my social media characters, Lily and Zoe, to help you remember new vocabulary through memorable situations.

But after finishing the videos, your daily task is still not done. And this brings me to what is probably the most valuable part of the program.

Daily Speaking Practice

Every day, you’ll complete a speaking task with me on WhatsApp. Yes, with me personally, not with any of my non-existent assistant teachers. You’ll practice what you’ve learned through short voice-message conversations, and you’re encouraged to contact me anytime with questions, either privately or in our community group.

Depending on time zones, it might take me a bit to reply, but I’ll do my best to get back to you as quickly as possible. And if you prefer practicing together with other students, the community is there for that too.

For those of you who tend to drift or struggle to stay consistent when learning alone, I’ve built the program in a way that gives you clear daily structure.

Each day, you know exactly what to do. If you complete 5 days of videos, you’ll unlock 2 bonus videos each week. These bonus videos will grow over time based on your feedback and requests.

You’ll also be encouraged to finish your Anki practice and course videos before doing your WhatsApp speaking task. This isn’t a strict rule, but it makes speaking practice much easier and more effective.

And of course, you can always contact me anytime if you have questions.

What This Program Is Not

Now, who is this course not for?

If you’re looking for a writing-focused course, this isn’t it. At the moment, there’s only one video covering the basic rules of Chinese character writing, and unless many students request more, this program will stay speaking-focused.

What Else Is Included

That said, if you need extra writing tips or practice, I’ll always help you.

This is also what I hope sets this program apart from many others. I won’t just upload videos and leave you alone. I’ll only accept 10 students in this first round, and I may not open registration again for a few months after that.

I’ll listen to your feedback, create additional videos you’d like to see (just give me a bit of time), provide extra practice material when needed, and support you personally throughout the program.

If 4 weeks isn’t enough for you to finish everything, don’t worry. All 10 students will receive 3 months of personal support, giving you plenty of time to complete the program. This time limit can provide just enough push to keep you moving forward.

And if for some reason even 3 months isn’t enough, just reach out and we’ll figure something out.

You’ll also get lifetime access to the course videos, the community, and all future updates to this Beginner Program.

Here’s the promised link to the discounted price (originally 299 usd):

👉 THE CHINESE SPEAKER 20-DAY BEGINNER PROGRAM

I hope to see you there, and if you have any questions just reply to this email!

Sandy