Tips for Incoming Students: Maintaining Your Chinese Over the Summer

As you prepare for your time at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center by applying for visas, making packing lists, and submitting roommate preference forms, it’s also important to maintain (or improve!) your current Chinese level, especially for those who are not currently living in China and don’t use Chinese in your day-to-day life.

Below are several activities and resources to help you practice reading, listening, speaking, and writing in Chinese:

Reading:
Newspapers
Wall Street Journal China Real Time Report
Southern Weekend < 南方周末>  
Xinhua <新华>  
Chinese Literature
Books in translation If you’ve already read the book in English and know the plot, this can help you practice vocabulary and grammar.  For example, most students have read this book in English.
Movies with Chinese subtitles
ChinesePod 

Listening/Speaking:
Voice of America (free)
Meetup groups for Mandarin speakers
Chinese films/TV shows- Netflix has a selection of Chinese movies.
Language exchange partners
ChinesePod

Writing:
Keep a journal in Chinese
QQ
  
For even more ideas, check out the American Mandarin Society’s page on language study.

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