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 Podcast

• Hack Chinese | Modern flashcards

• Mandarin 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 levels

• How “fluency now” helped him understand without translating

• Why tones matter more than you think (like mixing up “food” with “video”)

• The emotional reward of using Chinese to truly connect

This episode is a roadmap for any Chinese learner, especially those going it alone.

Links from the episode:

• Mandarin Companion Graded Readers

• Little Chinese Everywhere | YouTube

• Do 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 Taipei

• Why Shanghai might be the perfect balance for learners

• How non-standard Mandarin can actually improve your listening skills

• What it's like to learn Chinese in tier 2 or tier 3 cities (or tier 88) and why it might supercharge your progress

• Stories from past podcast guests, including John D’Andrea's experience being laughed at for his Lanzhou accent

• How regional accents and fangyan (local dialects) impact Mandarin learning

• A mildly controversial debate on cilantro in beef noodles

If 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 #10

• Do you have a story to share? Reach out to us