How Long Will It Take You to Achieve Literacy and Fluency in Mandarin Chinese?

Class act. These guys have categorically crushed putting together and delivering a very effective, appealing, and achievable Mandarin Course. Big fan.

Keith T. 11 May 2021

I am currently at Level 16 of The Mandarin Blueprint Method.After going through the Pronunciation course and the first few lessons of Level 1 during the free trial, I was... read moreI am currently at Level 16 of The Mandarin Blueprint Method.After going through the Pronunciation course and the first few lessons of Level 1 during the free trial, I was completely sold. This is quite simply the best course for learning mandarin from zero knowledge.I am a broke student, but at a fraction of regular tuition fees boring universities would charge, this course is worth every single penny for the enormous amount of quality content it provides. My only regret is that I did not find about them earlier.There is so much that I could say, but I fully intend to complete the course and leave a second more detailed review then.Phil & Luke are the most passionate teachers and they set you up for success. They completely nailed it! Thank you so much!- Alex MK read less

Esnotion O. 11 May 2021

Thanks legends I was using Duolingo before, thinking it was fine and adequate. After starting this course, I've realised how little I knew: I would never have gotten anywhere with ad-hoc tools.... read moreI was using Duolingo before, thinking it was fine and adequate. After starting this course, I've realised how little I knew: I would never have gotten anywhere with ad-hoc tools. You need a structured course, and these guys have laid it all out optimally for you: this is by far the best course for Mandarin. Stop searching for the best way, you've found it. Huge thanks to the founders Luke and Phil for their tireless effort in making the course. read less

Andrew C. 05 May 2021

Good structured course. Phil and Luke are really good at explaining the concepts and breaking things down for regular people. I am starting over again on my language learning journey.... read moreGood structured course. Phil and Luke are really good at explaining the concepts and breaking things down for regular people. I am starting over again on my language learning journey. Looking forward to completing the next milestone in Mandarin Blueprint. read less

Vannak K. 04 May 2021

Eye opening, addictive, life-changing experience that goes beyond language learning. The method itself is an eyeopener into modern learning methods and practices. Your learning will never be the same. As... read moreEye opening, addictive, life-changing experience that goes beyond language learning. The method itself is an eyeopener into modern learning methods and practices. Your learning will never be the same. As a side benefit, you master mandarin in the most effective and efficient way that is possible today. Luke and Phil really devote their days and night, weekdays and weekends to develop this course and help their clients to progress 24h a day. Thank you Mandarin Blueprint. The journey goes on. read less

Roland 26 Apr 2021

YES! Most definitely! I love their approach to teaching. It is definitely a fun and relaxed way to learn a new language.

Jacqueline S. 26 Apr 2021

Great course, spent US$300 but worth every cent! Thanks guys for the great content and continuous improvement

Felipe R. 25 Apr 2021

Phil & Luke are developing a fantastic tool. I can say that I tried to learn Mandarin in many different ways and, by far, the Mandarin Blueprint method is the... read morePhil & Luke are developing a fantastic tool. I can say that I tried to learn Mandarin in many different ways and, by far, the Mandarin Blueprint method is the most effective. This is the first time that I feel that I am making real progress, and it is amazing to look behind and see how I can remember more than one hundred characters in just one month. I love the way they explain the different materials of the course, such as the characters structure. It is soooo interesting. I wish I had knew you guys before. Keep up this superb work. I heartily recommend this method to everybody that seriously wants to learn Mandarin. read less

Pedro J. 24 Apr 2021

This is by far the best Chinese course out there. I wish I was aware of this when I first started. I have been studying Chinese for 3 years and... read moreThis is by far the best Chinese course out there. I wish I was aware of this when I first started. I have been studying Chinese for 3 years and it is still a huge help. read less

Ericksii 22 Apr 2021

🎉Mandarin Blueprint is a game changer for learning mandarin Chinese. Luke and Phil (your guides to this complex yet amazing language) take you through the very basics of absolutely nailing... read more🎉Mandarin Blueprint is a game changer for learning mandarin Chinese. Luke and Phil (your guides to this complex yet amazing language) take you through the very basics of absolutely nailing and refining your pronunciation (undoubtedly the first hurdle) to a method that will get you reading, writing, and speaking Chinese. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? I'm here to say, this works. After starting the two week trial I was 100% convinced on this. So much so, I ended up purchasing the full bundle.🙋‍♂️Where I'm I now? Well, after averaging one to two hours of study each day for this past month and a half, I have full comprehension on over 125 characters. Not only what they mean, but I can write them AND remember the correct tone too. So why couldn't I just learn from YouTube or a workbook? Perhaps I could've, but it would be pure rote memorization. And you know what happens when you forget a character... it's gone! You can sit there as long as you want and have no way of remembering. With the methods Phil and Luke introduce, you have a thread of memories that will bring you back to exactly how the character looks, what the tone is and what the association you have for it which in turn reminds you exactly of what the word means.📚 Of course, you'll still need to put in some work. This includes logging into the site and checking out the next words or lessons as well as daily doing your flashcards. The beauty in all that work is that you set the pace. Be as aggressive or casual as you like - still, do those flashcards daily to reinforce your learning. The Mandarin Blueprint method will introduce a new way of learning, making it fun and perhaps even stretch your creativity a bit. If you're thinking about learning a new skill or looking to learn or even improve your mandarin Chinese, Mandarin Blueprint is hands-down the way to go.🤳 Luke and Phil also make this a very personal experience. They both are active in the course forum and comments section with each lesson. This means you have that student to teacher connection, whether through them answering in the forums or even posting the question and responding in their podcast. Fellow students are also quite active in the forums. It's a true community of Chinese language learners. You can't go wrong with Mandarin Blueprint! Hoping to see you there 😎 read less

Richard A. 21 Apr 2021

Firstly, I would say if you haven't taken the amazing offer of a free trial then you are missing out. The videos and explanations provide are absolutely top quality. I... read moreFirstly, I would say if you haven't taken the amazing offer of a free trial then you are missing out. The videos and explanations provide are absolutely top quality. I had questions after reading textbooks which I have previously bought and they were answered clearly throughout the pronunciation course. The videos are short but straight to the point. Luke is great at explaining and demonstrating the sounds. His Instructions on how to pronounce the Zh, Sh, Ch; J, Q, X were excellent. The extra videos provided at the end of the units are great as you get to hear of real experiences and are given very useful tips by both Phil and Luke. 10 out of 10. read less

Ricky L. 21 Apr 2021

I started self learning Mandarin Chinese and stumbled across the Pronounciation Mastery course. I'm tounge tied and have auditory processing disorder, this course helped me imeasureabley. Luke and Phil are... read moreI started self learning Mandarin Chinese and stumbled across the Pronounciation Mastery course. I'm tounge tied and have auditory processing disorder, this course helped me imeasureabley. Luke and Phil are quite personable and have great delivery. I feel like I have the best possible start to learning. read less

Jeremy 09 Apr 2021

This is a fantastic method for finally getting to grips with characters and tones. The method is ingenious, fun and fairly addictive. Well worth the money!

CEM M. 06 Apr 2021

I've finished the pronunciation mastery and almost four levels of the foundation course, which is pretty early into the course.The main things I've enjoyed so far are how Phil and... read moreI've finished the pronunciation mastery and almost four levels of the foundation course, which is pretty early into the course.The main things I've enjoyed so far are how Phil and Luke have created a sense of community. They personally respond to questions and comments, which makes you feel valued as a learner.In terms of pronunciation mastery, the descriptions of pronunciation technique, the examples, and the pronunciation reviews done by the native instructor Anny are all rather helpful. The guidance helps you to develop good pronunciation habits. I've practiced a few phrases with some Chinese friends, and they have all said my pronunciation is solid.In terms of the first six levels of the foundation course, I can attest to the effectiveness of the Hanzi Movie Method. I have no issues recalling how to write and identify all 21 of the characters I've learned as well as their pinyin and tone. It's unique, fun, and effective so far!I can't wait to see what's in store as I keep going through the course. read less

Raiyan S. 30 Mar 2021

I've finished the pronunciation mastery and almost four levels of the foundation course, which is pretty early into the course. The main things I've enjoyed so far are how... read moreI've finished the pronunciation mastery and almost four levels of the foundation course, which is pretty early into the course. The main things I've enjoyed so far are how Phil and Luke have created a sense of community. They personally respond to questions and comments, which makes you feel valued as a learner. In terms of pronunciation mastery, the descriptions of pronunciation technique, the examples, and the pronunciation reviews done by the native instructor Anny are all rather helpful. The guidance helps you to develop good pronunciation habits. I've practiced a few phrases with some Chinese friends, and they have all said my pronunciation is solid. In terms of the first six levels of the foundation course, I can attest to the effectiveness of the Hanzi Movie Method. I have no issues recalling how to write and identify all 21 of the characters I've learned as well as their pinyin and tone. It's unique, fun, and effective so far! I can't wait to see what's in store as I keep going through the course. read less

Raiyan S. 24 Mar 2021

The course is unbelievable. I can't believe less than a year on, we've learnt 1530 characters and we're reading short stories. I can''t imagine another way of learning so many... read moreThe course is unbelievable. I can't believe less than a year on, we've learnt 1530 characters and we're reading short stories. I can''t imagine another way of learning so many 汉字 so quickly and effectively. read less

Alex 22 Mar 2021

I have been using Mandarin Blueprint method for a few months now and I think it's a great way to learn Chinese.

Alex B. 21 Mar 2021

This course is amazingly motivational. It gave me back the hope I already lost. Phil and Luc seem to be such nice guys that you want to hang out with... read moreThis course is amazingly motivational. It gave me back the hope I already lost. Phil and Luc seem to be such nice guys that you want to hang out with them every day a bit. They become like virtual friends and give you the energy you need to climb the mountain. I am so grateful that I found this resource and I am so unhappy that I did not discover this earlier. If this would have just existed 6 years ago when I was coming to China... I can recommend this course from the bottom of my heart! read less

Til M. 18 Mar 2021

This is the best system for learning Mandarin in an integrated way that I’ve found since I started looking about 3 years ago. The videos they make are very high... read moreThis is the best system for learning Mandarin in an integrated way that I’ve found since I started looking about 3 years ago. The videos they make are very high quality and have made learning more enjoyable and the Anki flashcards that go with their system are great. read less

J.R. B. 13 Mar 2021

So far i really like the course, it doesn't feel like seating in a boring classroom trying to remember words, i like that i can go at my own... read moreSo far i really like the course, it doesn't feel like seating in a boring classroom trying to remember words, i like that i can go at my own speed. The ways of teaching seems really accurate and professional. I highly recommend this course to anyone willing to learn chinese in a non-traditional and sometimes funny way. read less

Diego U. 09 Mar 2021

I've completed the introduction (Pronunciation Mastery) of this course, and it's excellent. It's complete with helpful lessons, tips, graphics, audios, download materials, and useful conversations between the two hosts. Before... read moreI've completed the introduction (Pronunciation Mastery) of this course, and it's excellent. It's complete with helpful lessons, tips, graphics, audios, download materials, and useful conversations between the two hosts. Before going through this course, I'd had native Chinese teachers and was using language learning apps. This course has helped me to better prioritize and to redefine how I learn Mandarin. Additionally, for anyone who is hesitant to move forward practicing the language, Mandarin Blueprint gives that push and reason to stay motivated while practicing. read less

Regina R. 08 Mar 2021

Highly recommended. I’ve been trying to learn Mandarin for over 10 years but never managed to get anywhere until I found these guys. I have completed the pronunciation mastery course... read moreHighly recommended. I’ve been trying to learn Mandarin for over 10 years but never managed to get anywhere until I found these guys. I have completed the pronunciation mastery course and am now working my way through their amazing Mandarin Blueprint method that that teaches you everything else that you need to know (characters, tones etc). With Mandarin Blueprint, anyone can learn Mandarin and have fun doing so! read less

Brendon G. 05 Mar 2021

Phil & Luke are fantastic teachers. They make learning Mandarin so fun!The course is very organised and they give great tips for beginners! There are a lot of bonus videos... read morePhil & Luke are fantastic teachers. They make learning Mandarin so fun!The course is very organised and they give great tips for beginners! There are a lot of bonus videos that are as equally helpful as the lesson videos.These guys did a really great job! read less

Annika C. 26 Feb 2021

Just finished Pronunciation Mastery. Wish I'd had this when I first started learning about 7 years ago. Could have corrected some bad habits I've acquired along the way. I'm 65+... read moreJust finished Pronunciation Mastery. Wish I'd had this when I first started learning about 7 years ago. Could have corrected some bad habits I've acquired along the way. I'm 65+ years old, so never too late to learn! Thanks. read less

Georgia W. 22 Feb 2021

I have been an on and off self-taught Mandarin student for 4 years and I learned more in this course pronunciation section than in my 4 years. Take this course... read moreI have been an on and off self-taught Mandarin student for 4 years and I learned more in this course pronunciation section than in my 4 years. Take this course and save time and a lot of potential unlearning! I also found I did a lot of things right, but so many little tips to keep improving and enjoy learning Mandarin. read less

Milena T. 16 Feb 2021

I really can’t recommend Mandarin Blueprint enough (and regularly do so to anyone with an interest). The techniques you learn are groundbreaking and, while it can be a bit of... read moreI really can’t recommend Mandarin Blueprint enough (and regularly do so to anyone with an interest). The techniques you learn are groundbreaking and, while it can be a bit of a slow and difficult start adapting to the novelty, make the Mandarin learning process much more streamlined and accessible to practically anyone willing to try. I actually first came into contact with the course at the end of 2016 in Chengdu. I had dabbled a bit in teaching myself for a few months and wanted to learn how to actually do it efficiently. Choosing Mandarin Blueprint was, without a doubt, one of the best decisions I have ever made. I particularly enjoy how easy it is to dip into and out of the course. This is especially true now that everything is online; you can do as much or as little as you want and fit it around your schedule. I took a long break from the process and was able to pick everything up again with ease when the time was right, even after a few years away from the method. I recently finished the Intermediate Level, which amounts to 1530 characters and about 4000 words (I think). These have all been reinforced with sentences and stories with native audio. The way that everything is introduced progressively and organically is amazing. I constantly have to take a step back and realise how much I have accomplished as it is often so subtle. The best part of the course is the passion and level of support that Phil and Luke provide. They are actively engaged with the community and regularly respond to queries in record time. They clearly care deeply about the method and making it as easy as possible to use. There are regular updates and many more exciting changes are planned for the future. This means that your Mandarin Blueprint journey will last a very long time and I am sure that you will not regret starting it. I certainly haven’t! read less

Craig C. 16 Feb 2021

It took me a while to get used to the memorization method, but in the past week or two have been coming to appreciate it's effectiveness. I've tried several different... read moreIt took me a while to get used to the memorization method, but in the past week or two have been coming to appreciate it's effectiveness. I've tried several different courses to learn Chinese in the past, bút found each lacking in some way such that it wouldn't get me to my final goal of reading, writing and speaking with fluency. Ive still got a mountain of material to climb, but have confidence that this efficient system will get me there. read less

Jeff B. 07 Feb 2021

Okay, so this review might be a little long so I'm just going to get to the point right away. ( I want to be helpful, but also tend to... read moreOkay, so this review might be a little long so I'm just going to get to the point right away. ( I want to be helpful, but also tend to be wordy. 😉) I have only finished the Pronunciation Mastery course, but I am happily going to purchase the MB method course before my 14 free days are up. If you are reading this review, stop thinking about it and just sign up for the 14 day free trial. You have nothing to lose and a super powered language learning system to gain. The MB community is full on awesome. You can check out MB podcasts on spotify, watch videos on Youtube and interact with their page on Facebook. I personally love the interviews that Luke and Phil do with the members. I line them up on spotify and listen to them at work. The true kicker for me, other than the actual results I had, is the fact that if you ask a question, send an email or make a comment you will be answered by either Luke or Phil. The dedication they have to teaching you this learning method is amazing. They believe in it, and after only 10 days I believe in it too.I'm a full time factory employee and I work 12 hour, overnight shifts. I have a family to care for in-between. If I can find the time you can too.I plan on using the 12 month installment plan. That is the easiest way to work it into my budget. I was excited about this option because with a family to look after, the full bundle price was a bit steep all at once. Although in no way too much for the product.Thank you so much to Luke and Phil. Your enthusiasm is contagious. 😊 read less

Heather R. 05 Feb 2021

There are so many options available to anyone who wants to learn Chinese, and I have tried many of them, but Mandarin Blueprint with Phil and Luke is the real... read moreThere are so many options available to anyone who wants to learn Chinese, and I have tried many of them, but Mandarin Blueprint with Phil and Luke is the real deal. They have come up with an ingenious way to learn and remember one of the most difficult languages.When I lived in China about 20 years ago, my Chinese teacher taught me to learn the language through rote memorization. I would have to repeat a word or phrase dozens of times, sometimes over a hundred times, before it stuck in my memory. And even then, I would often have difficulty remembering the tone or the exact pronunciation after just a few days. And I still couldn’t read anything.Even though I have only been learning with the Mandarin Blueprint method for just a few weeks, I can learn and remember a new word, the written Chinese character for it, the pronunciation, the tone, and the translation in less than two minutes. The most surprising part is that I can already read well over 100 Chinese characters.Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bragging at all, because this has very little to do with me. I give all of the credit to this learning strategy and its creators.Phil and Luke are fantastic teachers who are a pleasure to listen to and learn from, and their methods work. I would highly recommend them to anyone interested in learning Mandarin Chinese. read less

Scott E. 30 Jan 2021

If you’re considering learning mandarin or have already started but are struggling, I’d highly recommend Mandarin Blueprint. I started the course in April 2019 and have recently finished. So, I... read moreIf you’re considering learning mandarin or have already started but are struggling, I’d highly recommend Mandarin Blueprint. I started the course in April 2019 and have recently finished. So, I went from knowing basically 0 characters (I kind of recognised some of the food ones) to knowing 1530+ in under two years. Compared to others that have finished the course you could probably say I actually took quite a leisurely pace. That’s one of the benefits of MB. You can go through it as quickly or slowly as you feel comfortable. I learned about 5 new characters a day most week days (as well as daily reviews) but I believe that if someone had the time and motivation, they could definitely learn two or three times as fast using this course.As Luke and Phil stress, the quickest way to get over the high barrier to entry of learning mandarin is to get to grips with the tricky pronunciation and get a solid number of characters under your belt so you can start to read. The “Hanzi movie” method is an incredibly intuitive way to quickly learn characters and coupled with daily revision using the Anki spaced repetition software it’s actually very easy and often enjoyable to learn new characters. Already one of the toughest aspects of learning mandarin has been broken down!For me, when attempting to learn languages there are two major pitfalls the first is: Trying to analyse and understand grammar. Usually, I get frustrated with myself and trip over words trying to remember the grammar point that applies to the sentence I’m trying to produce. With MB the emphasis is just reading comprehensible input. You learn new characters and then you read sentences that contain those characters. There isn’t really any studying of grammar points and no grammar analysis (although if you have any burning questions Luke and Phil are quick to reply to any queries.) They often recommend: If you don’t understand a sentence, don’t spend time stressing about it and looking things up, just move on to the next one. If you keep reading and keep inputting new grammar, eventually you will just understand that sentence that troubled you. In my experience on the course, I can say I’ve found this to be true.The second pitfall for me learning languages is: Worrying that I’m wasting time studying the wrong thing. I worry “am I spending too much time on vocabulary when I should be practicing X grammar point. Do I need to focus more on listening comprehension?” This can lead to losing motivation. What’s the point in studying today if I don’t even know that the area I’m studying is definitely useful? MB suits me in this regard because Luke and Phil have already decided for me what I’m going to do today. Having researched the most frequently used Chinese characters in common speech and writing, they’ve made a straightforward order in which to learn the characters. My job is just to click through, learn the character, learn the words made up of this character, review sentences containing those words and then move onto the next character. For me, removing the stress of uncertainty and the excuses that come with it, allowed me to focus solely on that day’s study. We all learn better when we are relaxed!Two years on, my reading comprehension is quite good. I can read quickly enough to get through and pass HSK 4. (I remember looking at it before I started and laughing at how incomprehensible it seemed). Due to covid I haven’t actually been able to sit it yet but I’ve passed several past papers and am pretty confident I can get it. I can definitely express myself so much better in spoken mandarin and understand what people are saying to me too. MB has given me the foundation I needed to go on and learn through further reading of (the appropriate level of) Chinese books and conversation with Chinese people. read less

Liam W. 29 Jan 2021