John and Jared are going to revisit and unpack this classic question posed by Dr. David Moser three decades ago and identify what is hard about Chinese, what is easier now, and whether Chinese really is harder than other languages.
The guest interview is with Sarah Kutulakos, a lifetime Chinese learner and the executive director at the Canada China Business ... Show More
Jun 23
Crutch or Catalyst? The Truth About Pinyin
You’re reading Chinese, and there it is, pinyin over every character. It feels helpful, even comforting. But is it actually holding you back? In this episode, Jared and John explore how pinyin can become a crutch that cripples your Chinese progress and keeps you from truly master ... Show More
27m 40s
Jun 9
Starting Over in China: Chimsy’s Story of Risk, Grit, and Growth
In this episode, Jared sits down with Chimsy—marketer, meme connoisseur, and host of the China University Podcast—to dive deep into his unconventional journey from Costa Rica to China. What started as a challenge to prove a dismissive restaurant owner wrong turned into a life-cha ... Show More
49m 19s
Jan 2025
Chinese Podcast Ep131: Top 3 Trend Words in China for 2024 2024年中国3大流行词
Join us in this episode of our Chinese teaching podcast, hosted by three uncles, as we uncover the Top 3 Trending Phrases in China for 2024! From the buzzword "workplace vibe" (班味) to the ever-popular "sense of ease" (松弛感), and one surprising trend you’ll never guess — we’ll dive ... Show More
35m 31s
Oct 2024
Chinese Podcast EP119: So, You Think Chinese Men Don't Like Shopping Online? 中国男人真的不喜欢网上购物吗？
In this episode of our Chinese podcast, we continue our fun blind box discussion! We’ll explore topics like: do Chinese men like shopping online? And at what age do we envision ourselves passing away? Through these light-hearted and engaging topics, we’ll not only share personal ... Show More
45m 39s
Sep 2024
Chinese Podcast EP115: What do You Consider Cheating? 什么才算是出轨？
In this episode of our Chinese podcast, we dive into two intriguing topics: What counts as cheating in a relationship? What would you tell your younger self if you had the chance? And finally, we continue with our blind box theme, where each Uncle brings up a surprise question fo ... Show More
45m 53s
Nov 2024
Chinese Podcast EP125: Chinese girlfriend / Chinese boyfriend = Learn Chinese Faster? 有中国伴侣就能学会中文吗？
In this episode, we’re joined by William, whose Chinese has reached a near-native level, and his Chinese girlfriend Xiaoyun. Together, we dive into the question: Does having a Chinese girlfriend really help you learn Chinese better? They also share their heartwarming love story a ... Show More
1 h
Oct 2024
Chinese Podcast EP117: Ben is making a big change in life ! Ben叔的人生抉择!
In this episode, the three uncles—Uncle Richard, Uncle Ben, and Uncle Can—reunite after a long time apart to catch up on our recent lives. We talk about changes in our personal lives, family health, and share some personal reflections. There are so many life change moments, right ... Show More
47m 52s