Master 80% of Everyday Chinese In as Little as 2 Months From Zero

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

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

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

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

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. Sorry for such a long and rambling review but after having spent the best part of two years using this course daily I wanted to convey as best I could what I think are it’s shining highlights. I also wanted to express my gratitude to Luke, Phil and any other MB team members without whom I don’t think I’d ever have reached this level of Chinese or had the motivation to push further on from here. I look forward to the next course expansion! read less

I am eternally grateful for having come upon this course while combing through YouTube videos for Chinese language instruction. They’ve developed an incredibly effective method for remembering the characters that... read moreI am eternally grateful for having come upon this course while combing through YouTube videos for Chinese language instruction. They’ve developed an incredibly effective method for remembering the characters that is so easy to work with and stimulating on so many levels. This course is keeping my aging brain nimble and gives me so much confidence in my ability to achieve a life-long goal of learning to read and write (maybe even speak!) Mandarin. I’m almost half-way through the course but I want it to never end. read less

I just started Mandarin as a way to tackle boredom during lockdown. I thought: if I don't find time now I will never find time, however I was not really... read moreI just started Mandarin as a way to tackle boredom during lockdown. I thought: if I don't find time now I will never find time, however I was not really convinced one could be engaged into learning Chinese without living there.But man, never taught this could be actually really engaging and funny. The videos are short to the point, the hanzi Methode is FUN! I hated learning languages in school (I am native German) but this is different. So thanks a lot! I got a good black Friday offer, for this the price was cheap! read less

Very fun and helpful! I've worked really hard alongside their videos and even feel confident enough to speak Mandarin outside of my home! 我真的开心！谢谢老师们！师父们真的好好。谢谢。

*I apologize for the long review, but this product deserves it. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in creating it* During the last 2-3 years, I have tried... read more*I apologize for the long review, but this product deserves it. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in creating it* During the last 2-3 years, I have tried different methods like podcasts, learning like a baby would without translations, multiple APPs, tutors, and some has worked to some extend. However, when I have talked to my in-laws (Chinese speakers), I haven’t understood them, and they haven’t understood me. I put off learning characters because it was so difficult, and I “just” needed to speak and understand Chinese. Big mistake! After doing the pronunciation course and the first 2 phases of the Mandarin Blueprint Method, I can now understand what my in-laws are saying, and they are impressed with how well they understand me. This is after 1.5 months of studying this course. I am by no means ”fluent” yet, but I now understand how important it is to learn Chinese characters when learning Chinese. But by learning the characters, you begin to understand the mean of the language. The Mandarin Blueprint Method has ”tricked” me into learning characters; it is not a chore; it just happens like a game, I have no problems studying 2-3 hours per day with this, any other method got boring after 15min, but we this you just want to learn more. An add-on is that you learn the Hanzi Movie Method, which you can use in all aspects of your life to better remember stuff, like what you read, conversations or anything else. However, if you love painful Chinese studying books, feeling that you don’t have progress, learning something one day and forget it the next, or simply paying a lot for nothing, then the Mandarin Blueprint isn’t for you! But good news there are a lot other course which would then fulfill your needs. read less

This actually works. I'm learning 10 characters a day as a beginner self learner and it's sticking.

I'm an English Teacher so it was a relief to know I was building thorough foundations especially with pronunciation. These guys are fun human and enjoyable, (nice looking too!!) they... read moreI'm an English Teacher so it was a relief to know I was building thorough foundations especially with pronunciation. These guys are fun human and enjoyable, (nice looking too!!) they know what they are talking about because they have maneuvered the pitfalls already. I was excited to work MB everyday because it is clear, well constructed and thorough with scope to revise and revisit. It was so cool that I rushed through (lifelong habit!!) but because it is so well laid out I was able to return to aspects I needed to reinforce. Checked out many other options but MB is the shining star for learning....and they even make the technology easy to understand! Definitely recommend read less

I was fortunate to visit China as a tourist a few years ago, and I became interested in Chinese history and culture. That interest has stayed with me, and... read moreI was fortunate to visit China as a tourist a few years ago, and I became interested in Chinese history and culture. That interest has stayed with me, and I’ve done a lot of reading, in English. Wanting to get a little closer to the source material, I tried several apps to learn Chinese characters. But none of these worked - I could remember only a handful of characters for more than a couple days.So googling “how to learn Chinese characters” I found the Hanzi movie method and decided to give it a try. And found it really does work! I’m doing the Foundation course, and now have more than 125 characters/components that I not only recognize, but also know the meaning, pronunciation, and how to write them. It’s almost magic . Just as promised.The Anki cards are brilliant. They’re actually kinda fun to use. I don’t have to worry about forgetting, and I don’t take “quizzes” that I fail. The stress is gone from reviewing.Luke and Phil have their own lived experience, and they’ve studied the literature on learning and language-learning in particular. But constructing an actual method and courses based on that knowledge was obviously a huge, and successful effort. As I have found, it really works.Luke and Phil as teachers are very effective, presenting the material in clear and interesting ways. Technically the videos and supplementary material are all very well done. I really like the way the course develops over time: concepts that aren’t clear at first gradually come into focus. I don’t have to worry about missing some critical point because it will be presented again in the futureMy wife has been putting education online for a year, so I know how hard it is to do. The time and care put into the course materials is obvious and much appreciated. read less

I would recommend Mandarin Blueprint wholeheartedly. The Hanzi Movie Method which sits at the heart of the course really works. It allows you to deal holistically with learning... read moreI would recommend Mandarin Blueprint wholeheartedly. The Hanzi Movie Method which sits at the heart of the course really works. It allows you to deal holistically with learning all the elements of, what can seem at first glance, a pretty impenetrable language very efficiently and in a way which is so personal that it feels as if you are teaching yourself.That is a great feeling, but I cheerfully acknowledge that it is only because of all the hard work that has been put in behind the scenes in structuring, designing and maintaining the course that my progress seems so positive.The way that the course is structured makes it easy to see how much progress you are making, and that progress is all forward because of the thoughtful way in which the course has been put together.I have learned to trust the Mandarin Blueprint method and if I am given a character to learn, I feel confident that there is an extremely good reason for that character to be presented at that particular time in that part of the course.Luke and Phil do an excellent job, and they are so passionate about teaching Mandarin that they seem to be providing 1-1 tuition.I get a lot out of my daily practice, but they provide a lot of advice on how to get even more out the lessons and to boost your progress.I have barely scratched the surface of the resources that they provide. But, I have plenty of time - Mandarin Blueprint has led me into an endlessly fascinating hobby which has given me a window into a whole new world. I'm going to be enjoying learning Mandarin for years and years to come.There are cheaper resources out there - and I use some of those myself to widen my exposure to Mandarin - but you get what you pay for. The Mandarin Blueprint Method works and once you see how much Phil and Luke have put into this course you will see it as good value. read less

Can honestly say I never thought a course designed to teach Chinese could ever be this good, and when I say good I mean AMAZING. I searched for so long... read moreCan honestly say I never thought a course designed to teach Chinese could ever be this good, and when I say good I mean AMAZING. I searched for so long trying to find something modern and practical, but it seemed like the whole market was flooded with nothing but generic apps all following the same boring and unresearched methods. Mandarin Blueprint not only does it all, but it does it all BETTER than the competition for FAR CHEAPER and in WAY LESS TIME. I spend half of my study time thinking to myself that this can't be right, it can't be this simple, but guess what... IT IS. Seriously, what more could you want? read less

Mandarin Blueprint has been the best method I have ever used to learn to read, write and understand mandarin. Hands down I don't believe there is any better method out... read moreMandarin Blueprint has been the best method I have ever used to learn to read, write and understand mandarin. Hands down I don't believe there is any better method out there and I have wasted a lot of $$ trying many others. The value of the course is extraordinary and the ease of the program just blows my mind. Of course you could waste thousands of dollars first and try out other venues out there first if you would like but I would suggest you give a try with their free trial. I promise you won't be disappointed and you will quickly be on your way to fluency in no time.The owners are terrific and are always quick to respond to any questions or difficulties you might face and there is even an on-line community that is always supportive and encouraging.If you thought mandarin was too difficult and just impossible to learn give Mandarin Blueprint a try. On top of it all you will have fun all the way through. read less

I cannot really describe how great this technique is and how amazing these guys are at explaining it! I cannot recommend this highly enough to do it justice. If you... read moreI cannot really describe how great this technique is and how amazing these guys are at explaining it! I cannot recommend this highly enough to do it justice. If you have ever wanted to learn Mandarin but have felt intimidated by it (who hasn't, lol) these guys can take away that fear so easily with their method! read less

After living in China for a year and picking up some basics, I have since "attempted" (without much success) continuing with learning the language. Apps, courses, the usual over a... read moreAfter living in China for a year and picking up some basics, I have since "attempted" (without much success) continuing with learning the language. Apps, courses, the usual over a few years.I also had a little exposure to memory retention systems. So seeing what Luke and Phil were offering, plus their own personal experiences which was exactly what I was struggling with, I made the commitment and have not missed a day. It's just too exciting and rewarding for me.I've got 3 great reasons to learn, they are called grand children.100% recommend this method of learning and the guys who are teaching it. Listen to them and stick with the program."Learning how to learn" again. Great job guys. read less

I couldn't recommend Mandarin Blueprint enough. I started using Mandarin blueprint about 6 or 7 months ago and just finished the intermediate course. I had to have learned at least... read moreI couldn't recommend Mandarin Blueprint enough. I started using Mandarin blueprint about 6 or 7 months ago and just finished the intermediate course. I had to have learned at least five times as much in these months than the previous year and a half with different study methods. This course is very holistic. You will learn everything from proper pronunciation to grammar to character writing. Before this course, I couldn't write a single character. Now I can write 1,530! I know the pronunciation, tones, and meaning for all these characters. I'm also infinitely more comfortable reading, speaking, and listening. I still have a long way on the road to fluency, but this course has given me the confidence to know I can obtain it in Chinese. I can't see a way that someone would regret spending the time to understand their method and complete the course. read less

I'm really enjoying the mandarin blueprint method and ensure I do at least a little bit each day, not because I feel like I have to, but because I want... read moreI'm really enjoying the mandarin blueprint method and ensure I do at least a little bit each day, not because I feel like I have to, but because I want to, which is very important! Having already studied Mandarin at a traditional Mandarin school for around 9months before starting the Mandarin Blueprint method, I was a little sceptical when I read about their Hanzi movie method, however I was hooked after trial and have been loving it ever since! It's also making my live classes easier and helps me get more out of them as I'm able to identify and recall characters much easier. I also remember thinking at the start of learning mandarin, I'm never going to remember all the different tone pronunciations, how wrong I was! Highly recommended and great job Luke and Phil! read less

Having already studied Mandarin at a traditional Mandarin school for around 9months before starting the Mandarin Blueprint method, I was a little sceptical when I read about their Hanzi movie... read moreHaving already studied Mandarin at a traditional Mandarin school for around 9months before starting the Mandarin Blueprint method, I was a little sceptical when I read about their Hanzi movie method, however I was hooked after the trial and have been loving it ever since! It's also making my live classes easier and helps me get more out of them as I'm able to identify and recall characters much easier. I also remember thinking at the start of learning mandarin, I'm never going to remember all the different tone pronunciations, how wrong I was! There's so much content and I'm really enjoying working my through it all! read less

Excellent job breaking the language down so I could understand the pronunciation and build on my vocabulary and sentence fluency.

I have to say originally I was very skeptical about this method so skeptical that I actually emailed them. but after hearing their response and trying the method I actually... read moreI have to say originally I was very skeptical about this method so skeptical that I actually emailed them. but after hearing their response and trying the method I actually really like it now and can really see the logic. It makes the journey of learning mandarin so much more attainable. read less

I just finished the pronunciation mastery course and it's worth every single penny!! Fantastic approach, creating a strong foundation that you can build on with trust! Super motivating content. I... read moreI just finished the pronunciation mastery course and it's worth every single penny!! Fantastic approach, creating a strong foundation that you can build on with trust! Super motivating content. I am so happy I found this! read less

I have been using the service for over a year now. The first part mostly taught me to say the sounds properly. Now my Chinese coworkers are often impressed by... read moreI have been using the service for over a year now. The first part mostly taught me to say the sounds properly. Now my Chinese coworkers are often impressed by the fact that I can say the sounds so well. After that the service begins teaching vocabulary. Not just speaking, but reading and writing. Again, I often get to use this to surprise by Chinese coworkers. While I am learning new words slower than I would like, I recognize that is all on me. (I don't always add new words each day.) But I also know for a fact that I am learning these new words much faster than I would have if I was trying to learn in a more traditional fashion. If you want to learn Mandarin, I highly recommend the service. read less

I love this course! I studied Chinese at university in China and got to a resonably good level however there were still some parts of the language which I struggled... read moreI love this course! I studied Chinese at university in China and got to a resonably good level however there were still some parts of the language which I struggled with (mostly remembering tones). This course breaks everything down and then contructs each character using the method that allows you to recall each piece quickly and accurately. I cant say enough about this course and I frequently recommend it to my friends and family. I highly recommend this course for anyone serious about learning Chinese. read less

Did Duolingo for a year, Confucius Institute the next. This is a million times more efficient.

Topic: Chinees leren Ik ben nu in Phase 3 (level 13 van de eerste 36) aangekomen van The Mandarin Blueprint Method. Ik ben ermee begonnen in augustus. Daarvoor studeerde ik... read moreTopic: Chinees leren Ik ben nu in Phase 3 (level 13 van de eerste 36) aangekomen van The Mandarin Blueprint Method. Ik ben ermee begonnen in augustus. Daarvoor studeerde ik één jaar Chinees met Duolingo en daarna één jaar via de HSK-methode in het Confucius-instituut. Waarom zeg ik dat? Zeker niet uit pretentie, want ik kan ondertussen nog steeds geen eenvoudige conversatie voeren in het Mandarijn. Ik zeg het simpelweg om reclame te maken voor de Mandarin Blueprint Method. Want het is veruit de beste methode die ik na twee jaar ben tegengekomen. Ze is superieur aan alle andere, in die mate dat ik het zelfs compleet afraad om op welke andere methode dan ook met Chinees te beginnen. Plots werd het allemaal zoveel efficiënter. Groetjes read less

It works!I wish I'd stumbled across these guys sooner without wasting time getting frustrated trying to learn Mandarin by rote. Not only does the system in this course work amazingly... read moreIt works!I wish I'd stumbled across these guys sooner without wasting time getting frustrated trying to learn Mandarin by rote. Not only does the system in this course work amazingly effectively, but it's fun too! It feels like a hobby instead of a chore.Give it a go. There's a free trial, and I predict that, like me, you'll want to continue. read less

I have just completed the Foundation course and am looking forward to the Intermediate course. I recently invested in the lifetime membership as well since it is definitely worth it.... read moreI have just completed the Foundation course and am looking forward to the Intermediate course. I recently invested in the lifetime membership as well since it is definitely worth it. I am so excited to be able to read and write (and pronounce!) 600 characters and about 1000 words. I am reading fairy tales in Chinese and starting to understand my Chinese language movie series. The course is fantastic - very logically structured, with building blocks that really help you memorise and retain this knowledge. Luke and Phil offer fantastic support and the community is extremely supportive. I am not only learning a new language in a fun and creative way, but also making new friends along the way. There is truly no better way to learn Chinese, if you want a new, life-altering hobby, this is the way to go! read less

Finished all the lessons in the course, can't recommend enough. Loved the system and the way those guys approached learning the characters!