If you’re planning to learn Mandarin as an adult, mastering Mandarin reading skills is an important step, especially if you want to understand real-life Chinese expressions beyond textbooks. For many English speakers, mastering Mandarin reading skills can be challenging because of the unfamiliar Chinese characters used in many texts. Even so, improving your ability to read Mandarin texts can be done more precisely by using the right learning resources to practice. 

Using a variety of materials is one of the most effective ways to improve Chinese reading skills as an adult. While textbooks provide structure, expanding your Mandarin reading practice through real-world content helps you absorb expressions used by native speakers in daily life.`

Let’s learn how to improve your Mandarin reading skills through consistent practice with the right resources together! 

Textbooks are often recommended by many people when you want to start learning reading skills properly. Although learning through Chinese textbooks can surely help your ability to read Mandarin texts, having a variety of reading materials is another factor that you might want to consider. Learning through different reading resources can help you in absorbing written expression more naturally in different situations. As a reference, here’s the best resources that you can use to practice Mandarin reading.

Chinese Storybooks

One of the most effective resources that you can use when learning to read Mandarin texts is Chinese storybooks. These books are usually dedicated for younger students and are fairly easier to understand for beginners. Usually, Chinese storybooks may include common Chinese phrases and pictures to help with vocabulary acquisition. Furthermore, most Chinese storybooks are tied to Chinese cultures that can help you immerse yourself better with a Chinese environment. 

Chinese Comics

Reading Chinese comics will not only help you with understanding more written Chinese characters, but also provide a fun and entertaining way of improving your reading skills. With many Chinese comic genres available, you can pick which stories suit your Mandarin level better. Chinese comics are often a good choice if you’re aiming to learn common Chinese phrases used in everyday life. 

Social Media 

If you don’t have much time to sit and read physical books, another option that you can try to improve your Mandarin reading skills is by using social media. Contents on social media are often shorter and more efficient for people who struggle with a packed schedule. Aside from helping with reading shorter Mandarin texts, you can also learn Chinese slang and abbreviations by learning through social media. These expressions can often be useful for conversational purposes.

News and Articles

Learning resources such as news and articles are often suggested for those with an intermediate or advanced level of Mandarin. These articles often come with technical terms that can be quite challenging for beginners. Aside from learning technical terms, improving your Mandarin reading skills through news and articles can help you get used to engaging with a more structured and formal language. 

Movies with Chinese Subtitle

If reading books are too boring for you, another effective method that can keep you engaged is by watching movies with Chinese subtitles. If you’re planning to learn through Chinese dramas and movies, you can try beginning with a lighter topic such as slice of life or school life genres. 

Reading skills in Mandarin is not limited to understanding words and grammar, but also recognizing Chinese characters used in written expressions. Since texts in Mandarin aren’t written in alphabets, many English speakers struggle improving their reading skills. However, improving Mandarin reading skills as adults isn’t entirely impossible. With the right method, you can still improve your Mandarin reading skills effectively. Here are some tips that you can use if you’re planning to practice your Mandarin reading skills. 

Vocabulary Acquisition

Before you can read Mandarin texts faster, an important step that you need to take is understanding commonly used vocabulary. Without a proper understanding of Chinese vocabulary and words, reading full Chinese texts can be very challenging. While learning Mandarin vocabulary, you need to understand the Chinese characters, meanings, and how to use it in sentences to help you achieve better reading comprehension in the future. 

Picking the Right Material

Previously, we have listed out a few effective learning materials that you can use as extra resources in practicing Mandarin reading skills. However, not all materials are suitable for beginners. Therefore, you have to completely understand your current Mandarin level before picking reading materials to go through. If you’ve just recently learned Mandarin, you can start by reading Chinese picture books for kids. With the simple and repeated vocabulary, these books can help you recognize Chinese characters better. On the other hand, learners who have intermediate understanding of Mandarin can try focusing more on longer articles or news. 

Read and Take Note

Another technique that you can try to learn Mandarin reading skills effectively is by taking notes when going through your choice of learning resources. To do this, you can prepare a separate notebook and summarize the text you’re using as a learning material. Furthermore, you can also use your notebook to list down any technical or new Chinese vocabulary that you haven’t understood yet. These notes can be a great way to track which vocabulary you need to learn next. 

For many people, improving Mandarin reading skills is often a long journey that requires consistency. If you’re an adult with a tight schedule, practicing Mandarin reading skills can be difficult in the long run. Even so, you can still reach consistency in learning how to read Mandarin texts by applying the following strategies. 

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Set Your Learning Goal

One important thing that you need to set before beginning your learning journey is understanding your main objective. When choosing objectives, you need to take into account your availability and current Mandarin level. Try breaking down your learning goals into smaller, achievable objectives rather than setting a high expectation. For example, you can try putting “finishing 1 Chinese storybook in a week” as your learning objective to improve your Mandarin reading skills. 

Dedicated Study Period

Building a habit is another way to maintain consistency amidst your busy schedule. Before doing this, you have to understand your typical working schedule and how much free time you have after finishing your responsibilities. After finding the right time slot, you can try separating 15-20 minutes a day to read Mandarin texts through different resources. Unless there’s a major emergency that you need to handle, this study session should be done everyday within the same time. 

Review Progress Weekly

Keeping track of your progress is another important method you can implement when practicing your Mandarin reading skills. For example, you can track how many learning resources you manage to finish within a week and how many new vocabulary words you acquire during these sessions. Furthermore, this progress tracking may also include your personal struggles while learning. Listing down your weaknesses can be a great way to plan your next study session.