Your Path to Fluent Mandarin Starts Here

The estimated time to reach B2 fluency (the ability to effectively communicate and get your point across) falls within the following ranges:

Optimistic estimate: Around 870 hours Pessimistic estimate: Around 1,600 hours

This is significantly faster than the 2,200 hours typically required for textbook-based language learning through programs like the Foreign Service Institute (FSI).

The actual time it takes can vary based on factors like your aptitude, learning style, and dedication to the program. More diligent and efficient learners could potentially reach fluency in as little as 800-900 hours.

MB Pro is designed to be flexible, allowing learners to work at their own pace - whether that's 2 hours per day over a year or 15 minutes per day over 10 years. The key is building consistent practice habits over time.

So in summary, you can expect to reach conversational fluency in Mandarin anywhere from around 870 hours on the optimistic end to 1,600 hours on the more pessimistic end, which is still a significant improvement over traditional language learning methods.

Yes, the Mandarin Blueprint program caters to learners at all proficiency levels - from complete beginners to advanced students.

Beginners and intermediate learners will likely benefit the most, as the course starts from the ground up and allows them to easily fill in gaps in their knowledge.

Even advanced students, however, have found the program helpful for improving areas like tonal pronunciation and patching up remaining weaknesses. The only learners who may not find it useful are those who are already completely fluent across all language skills.

But for the majority of Chinese language learners, MB Pro provides value regardless of their starting level.

Yes, you can skip the handwriting component of the course. In today’s digital age, handwriting Chinese characters isn’t essential for daily communication or survival in Chinese-speaking environments.

However, while not required, handwriting can offer some valuable benefits:

• Reinforces character memory
• Provides a deeper understanding of character components
• Offers a gratifying sense of achievement when you can write Chinese text
• Ensures thorough knowledge of character structure

Even without formal handwriting practice, you can still engage with characters by:

• Mentally visualizing them
• Tracing them in the air or on your palm
• Using digital typing methods

The choice is yours—you’ll still be able to achieve fluency whether or not you choose to learn handwriting.

No, you don’t need to be in China or surrounded by Chinese speakers to benefit from our program. Mandarin Blueprint focuses on language acquisition through “comprehensible input” — listening and reading Chinese, which you can access from anywhere with technology.

While interacting with Chinese speakers can enhance your experience, you can still make great progress through study materials, online resources, and apps like HelloTalk for language exchanges. Many people learn to enjoy Chinese entertainment or plan future travels, but immediate access to Chinese speakers isn’t required.

Absolutely! Mandarin Blueprint is designed to seamlessly integrate with other language learning resources and tools. In fact, we encourage using complementary apps and materials alongside our program.

Here’s why Mandarin Blueprint works well in conjunction with other tools:

• We cover the full breadth of language learning – from pronunciation and characters to vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension. Many other apps or resources tend to specialize in just one or two areas.
• Our graded reading content is highly tailored to your progress, but other apps like Chairman’s Challenge or Du Chinese can provide additional engaging reading practice.
• Tools focused on specific skills like pronunciation (Mandarin Companion) or paper-based workbooks can nicely supplement your Mandarin Blueprint studies.

The key is that Mandarin Blueprint provides a comprehensive core foundation. Any additional resources you use can build upon that foundation and give you more practice in areas our program may not emphasize as strongly.

You don’t need to use anything else to reach fluency with just Mandarin Blueprint. But incorporating complementary apps, books, or tutoring can enhance your learning experience and exposure to the language. As long as the other tools don’t significantly overlap with our program, they can be valuable additions to your studies.

Yes, the Mandarin Blueprint course is fully accessible on mobile devices and tablets.

The course materials, community features, and learning tools can all be accessed seamlessly across a range of devices, including:

• Smartphones
• Tablets
• iPads
• Android tablets

This mobile-friendly design allows you to conveniently fit your Mandarin studies into your daily routine, whether you’re at home, on the go, or traveling. You can review flashcards, read lessons, participate in the community, and more, all from the palm of your hand.

The responsive layouts and touch-friendly interfaces ensure an optimal learning experience no matter which device you prefer to use. This flexibility enables you to make progress on your Mandarin goals anytime, anywhere.

Mandarin Blueprint employs proven memory techniques and spaced repetition to maximize your long-term knowledge retention:

Memory Science Foundations

• We leverage the same visualization and mnemonic strategies used by world-class memory champions
• These techniques are scientifically proven to create durable memories for facts and vocabulary

Spaced Repetition

• We utilize intelligent flashcard algorithms that automatically optimize the review intervals for each item
• This spaced repetition approach ensures you see new information at the ideal intervals to cement it in your memory
• Items you struggle with are repeated more frequently, while fluent ones gradually appear less often

Seamless Integration

• The flashcard and review system is fully integrated into the course, so your study sessions flow naturally
• You don’t have to worry about manually managing review schedules – the AI-powered system handles it for you

Reinforcement Through Reading

• By getting you reading authentic Chinese phrases and sentences early on, the new vocabulary and patterns become ingrained
• Extensive reading exposure cements the language as a natural part of your thought processes

The combination of cutting-edge memory science, adaptive spaced repetition, and immersive reading ensures the massive volume of Mandarin you’ll learn sticks with you for the long term. Our approach makes efficient retention not just possible, but automatic.

The program takes a primarily acquisition-focused approach to teaching Chinese grammar, rather than a traditional grammar-heavy approach:

• Language acquisition happens naturally through comprehensible input (listening and reading) before formal grammar study. Grammar should not be the main focus for language learning.
• Any grammar instruction provided is considered a “bonus” or “supplement” to the main focus on acquiring the language through consumption of comprehensible content. The program recognizes that grammar study alone is not sufficient for language acquisition.
• The program may cover common grammatical patterns or structures, but always frames this as an optional reinforcement of patterns the learner may have already subconsciously picked up through comprehensible input. The focus is on noticing grammar in context, not rote memorization of rules.
• The primary path to fluency is through continued exposure to and interaction with the language, not through extensive grammar study. Grammar understanding may develop organically as a byproduct of this acquisition process.

The program emphasizes communicative, input-based learning, with grammar instruction playing a minor, supplementary role, rather than being the central focus. The goal is natural language acquisition through exposure and use, not mastery of grammar rules.

The curriculum is divided into several main phases:

Beginning Course (Phases 1-5: Levels 1-36)

• Phase 1 (Levels 1-6): Characters and components
• Phase 2 (Levels 7-12): Vocabulary
• Phase 3 (Levels 13-20): Simple grammar
• Phase 4 (Levels 21-30): Reading
• Phase 5 (Levels 31-36): Stories

By completing these five phases, you’ll know the most frequent 20% of Chinese characters, which covers 80% of typical usage.

Additional Courses:

• Intermediate Course (Levels 37-58)
• Upper Intermediate (Levels 59-67): Reaches 2,000 characters
• Advanced Course (Levels 68-88): Achieves 99.4% language coverage

Each level gradually increases in complexity, starting with 5 characters per level and eventually reaching 50 characters per level in the upper intermediate course. The course includes comprehensive materials like audio files, flashcards, graded readings, and stories that become progressively more complex as you advance.

Progress is tracked throughout, with detailed breakdowns of your vocabulary and character acquisition at the end of each level.

100% at your own pace. We encourage you not to have “zero” days, but whether you spend 8 hours a day and become fluent in 6 months or spend 10 minutes a day and become fluent in 10 years, it’s entirely your choice.

Yes - By joining the free community “Mandarin Blueprint Lite” and following the onboarding process, you’ll see how to gain free lifetime access to Phases 1-3 of The Blueprint alongside a 30-day Challenge to reach basic literacy.

Yes, after each sub-phase of the course is complete, you’ll be emailed a certificate of completion.