Duolingo, the wonderful language learning app, now has the ability to teach you Mandarin. It was one of the most requested language courses in Duolingo history, and just like all the others, it’s free to take part.
Chinese is one of the most difficult languages to learn for native English speakers, according to the Foreign Service Institute. It is estimated that it takes 88 weeks, or 2,200 hours, of in-class study to achieve proficiency. But don’t let that put you off.
Learn Mandarin anytime, anywhere
With Duolingo, you can learn the basics and more anytime, anywhere, without stepping foot inside a classroom. Its Mandarin course teaches the four main tones, Chinese characters, and more than 1,000 words.
That’s enough to pass levels one through three of the HSK, the official Chinese proficiency test. And because this is Duolino, leaning is fun, effective, and free.
You’ll start by learning numbers and greetings, and then advance to thematic lessons based on things like food, occupation, location, and phrases. You’ll also learn business and finance, since China is a major business and financial hub, and internet slang.
Get started with Duolingo by downloading the free app for iOS. You can also take courses at Duolingo.com.