Master Chinese Up to 5x Faster Than the Average Learner!

The upfront payment is for the course materials (“The Blueprint”) which you own permanently, similar to buying textbooks for a university course.

The ongoing subscription payment is for the additional services and support, such as the Q&A forum, bonus content, live events, and community features. This is similar to paying tuition to access a university’s ongoing instruction and facilities.

The separation allows you to keep access to the course materials even if you need to pause the subscription due to life circumstances. This avoids a situation where you would lose access to the core educational content if you had to cancel the subscription.

In summary, the upfront payment gives you permanent access to the course materials, while the subscription provides ongoing access to supplementary services and support. This model was chosen to provide flexibility and ensure you retain ownership of the core educational content.

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.

Your Pro Membership includes ongoing access to our comprehensive learning ecosystem:

Community Support

• Active community forum for peer support and motivation
• Direct access to Chinese language experts
• Technical support assistance
• Dedicated space to share progress and overcome challenges

The Classroom

• Structured onboarding materials
• Categorized Q&A library for all 88 learning levels
• Community coffee hour recordings
• Expert language learning support

Extensive Bonus Content

• 450+ supplementary video lessons across Phases 1-5
• In-depth grammar explanations
• Curated YouTube shorts organized by character level
• Complete HSK word lists by character
• Access to 1,000+ screen-share video responses in our Q&A warehouse

Live Interactive Events

• Monthly “Good News” celebration calls
• Regular “Dear Mandarin Blueprint” sessions
• Community coffee hours
• Q&A sessions with Chinese experts
• Events scheduled across multiple time zones

Our Pro Membership community is continuously growing and expanding, with new content and features added regularly to enhance your learning journey.

Note: This is separate from the one-time course materials payment and provides ongoing access to our active learning community and supplementary resources.

Mandarin Blueprint takes a comprehensive approach to language learning, covering all aspects of Mandarin:

Reading

• Our strongest focus area with an integrated system
• Covers characters, words, sentences, dialogues, stories, and graded readers
• Seamlessly progresses from basics to native content

Listening

• Audio accompanies all reading materials
• Listen and repeat programs available (sold separately)

Speaking

• Based on our “input before output” approach
• We provide:
  • Shadowing techniques you can use with course materials
  • Clear action plans for language exchange partners
  • Optional tutor recommendations for conversation practice
  • Community support for speaking practice

Writing

• Writing challenges available in the Pro Membership
• Helps identify areas for improvement
• Allows self-paced output practice

Our philosophy is that understanding precedes expression – you need comprehensive input before you can effectively output the language. Through the course materials and community support, you’ll build a strong foundation that naturally leads to confident speaking and writing abilities.

Note: While our Listen and Repeat programs are available separately, they’re not required as the core program provides extensive listening practice through its integrated audio materials.

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.

Yes, Mandarin Blueprint will prepare you to pass the HSK exams. While not specifically designed around the HSK, the course covers all required vocabulary. By the end of each phase, you’ll have the skills to pass HSK levels: Foundation covers HSK 1, Intermediate covers up to HSK 3, and completion of the full program prepares you for HSK 6 and beyond. Although we prioritize practical, natural language use over formal test preparation, Mandarin Blueprint provides the comprehensive knowledge needed for success on proficiency exams.

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 immersion audio files are a key component of the Mandarin Blueprint learning experience. These files serve to provide constant, comprehensible Chinese audio exposure to enhance your language acquisition.

Here’s how the immersion audio files work:

Sentence-Level Immersion:

• At the end of each course level, we provide an audio file containing all the sentences you’ve learned up to that point.
• You can play these files continuously in the background to passively expose yourself to the language.
• As you progress, you can remove sentences that have become too easy, keeping your playlist fresh with just the right level of challenge.

Story-Based Immersion:

• In addition to the sentence-level files, we also provide audio recordings of the stories covered in the course.
• These narrative-driven audios allow you to experience full contexts and natural language flow, beyond just individual sentences.
• As you advance, the stories become more complex and engaging, immersing you in more native-level Chinese.

Comprehensible Input Focus:

• The goal of the immersion audio is to maximize your exposure to Chinese that you can actually understand.
• In the early stages, we prioritize content that aligns with your current learning, ensuring the audio is comprehensible.
• Over time, we guide you to transition to more native-level, compelling content as your proficiency increases.

By having these immersion audio files playing in the background consistently, you’ll be passively absorbing the language patterns and vocabulary you’ve learned. This passive exposure supplements your active study, creating a holistic immersion experience that accelerates your Mandarin proficiency.

The Mandarin Blueprint Immersion Resource Library contains a diverse range of Chinese language content organized into four different levels:

Level 1:

• Listening and reading focused materials
• Podcasts, audiobooks, and articles suitable for beginner learners
• Cartoons and children’s shows

Level 2:

• More advanced reading materials like comics and news articles
• Access to TV shows with simplified Chinese subtitles
• Monolingual Chinese dictionaries

Level 3:

• TV shows, movies, and other native-level content
• Materials for learners who have completed the core 88 Mandarin Blueprint lessons

Level 4:

• Advanced, near-native level content
• Designed for learners aiming to achieve a C1 proficiency level or beyond

The library is continuously updated by the Mandarin Blueprint team, who regularly curate new resources across these different proficiency levels. This ensures learners always have fresh, engaging content to immerse themselves in as they progress through the program.

The key focus is on providing comprehensible input – materials that are challenging, but still accessible based on the learner’s current abilities. As you advance, the library guides you towards more native-level, authentic Chinese media to maximize your language exposure and fluency development.

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.

Yes, all of the live coaching sessions and Q&A events are recorded and made available to view later. These recordings are saved in the “Classroom” section of the Pro Community platform, so you can access them anytime if you miss the live sessions.

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.

Nothing out of the ordinary. A laptop, smartphone or tablet will all suffice as hardware, and the softwares are all either apps or websites.

Not only will it help you understand all forms of media, we specifically teach you how to navigate native content and find what you love about the Mandarin Immersion Masterclass.

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.

No, the program doesn’t include traditional tests or assignments. Instead, progress is tracked in two main ways:

Continuous SRS Flashcard Evaluation

• The program uses a spaced repetition system (SRS) that automatically evaluates your progress
• Content you find difficult appears more frequently
• Content you’ve mastered appears less often
• This ensures efficient, personalized study

Real-World Application

• The true test is your ability to communicate with Chinese speakers
• Progress is measured through real-world interactions (speaking and writing)
• If you struggle with communication, the solution is to get more comprehensible input
• The focus is on practical language acquisition rather than academic testing

The program takes this approach because traditional language tests don’t effectively measure real-world communication abilities. Instead, they encourage learning the language through natural comprehension, practice, and real-world usage.

Mandarin Blueprint covers only simplified Chinese characters, however, community members often share resources for adapting the simplified characters learned in The Blueprint to traditional characters.

Yes, the program prepares you for real-life conversations through a comprehensive “bottom-up” learning approach:

Foundation Building:

• Starts with pronunciation and character components
• Progresses to full characters and compound words
• Teaches how words form sentences
• Advances to paragraphs and stories

Benefits of Bottom-Up Learning:

• Develops ability to think in Chinese
• Enables you to construct your own sentences
• Builds understanding from fundamentals
• Particularly effective for Chinese, which uses simple “puzzle pieces” without complex grammar rules

Supplementary “Top-Down” Learning:

• Optional courses available for specific situations (business meetings, pharmacy visits, etc.)
• Useful for learning common phrases quickly
• Available as separate courses for specific goals

The program’s focus on building a strong foundation leads to lifelong fluency and natural communication ability, rather than just memorizing set phrases. This comprehensive approach enables you to handle various real-life situations and think naturally in Chinese.

The course platform & flashcards require internet access, however, there is a ton of downloadable immersion & shadowing content that you can use when in offline situations.

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

Yes, but your goals should determine your approach:

For Short-Term Goals (e.g., one trip to China):

• The full program might be more than you need
• Consider the program’s standalone speaking/listening courses instead
• The “Phrase Vault” or “Speaking Listening Kickstarter” courses may be more suitable

For Long-Term Conversational Skills: The full program is recommended because:

• Mandarin has only 420 unique syllables (compared to English’s 16,000)
• Many words share the same pronunciation but have different meanings
• Learning characters helps distinguish between similar-sounding words
• Without character knowledge, achieving lasting fluency becomes very challenging
• Building a solid foundation ensures you maintain the skills long-term

The key consideration is whether you want temporary conversational ability or lasting language skills. If you’re aiming for sustained fluency, even just conversational, the program’s comprehensive approach will serve you better in the long run.

PayPal & all major credit cards that process through Stripe.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of our payment options:

Credit/Debit Cards (via Stripe):

• Visa
• Mastercard
• American Express
• Discover

PayPal:

• PayPal account balance
• Bank accounts linked to PayPal
• Credit/debit cards through PayPal

All payments are processed securely through either Stripe or PayPal’s trusted payment gateways. You can choose whichever payment method is most convenient for you at checkout.