Best Chinese Acquisition Podcasts (2024)

1
Characters, Cocktails, and Karaoke: How Mike Kennedy Blended Passion and Chinese 30:59

3d ago30:59

30:59

During a trip to Hong Kong, Mike Kennedy haphazardly began studying Chinese characters which started him on a path he could have never imagined. His growing passion for Chinese drove him to co-found Jinbu Pal, a reading app for Chinese, and start a YouTube channel where he makes cocktails in Chinese. From visiting factories in China to karaoke bars…

1
Language Learning Adventures: The Role of Randomness and Unpredictability 19:23

1d ago19:23

19:23

Jared and John explore how randomness and unpredictability can prepare you for adventures in your Chinese learning journey. From spontaneous conversations with native speakers to the unexpected challenges that push you out of your comfort zone, they delve into why seeking variety and embracing randomness are not only the “spice of life” but also ke…

1
Episode 56: Beyond the Hype - Building a Winning UA Strategy for Your Mobile Game 27:22

5d ago27:22

27:22

Join us as we break down the best ways to build a winning User Acquisition (UA) strategy for your mobile game. This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook is about all things UA. In the crowded mobile gaming market, cutting through the noise and figuring out how to acquire users can be challenging. Join our expert guests, Kentaro Sugiara, Senior Perf…

1
From the Classroom to China: Teenagers Putting their Chinese to the Test 36:21

15d ago36:21

36:21

In this special episode, host Jared Turner takes you inside a study abroad trip to China with a group of teenagers including his two sons. These teenagers, who have been learning Chinese for years in a dual language immersion program, finally get to put their skills to the test in the wild, navigating real-world challenges, stepping out of their co…

1
Episode 57: Mobile Gaming in 2024: A Mid-Year Deep Dive 39:23

27d ago39:23

39:23

Join us as we discuss the first half of 2024 and examine the trends dominating the mobile landscape so far. This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook is a mid-year deep dive. From Supercell’s comeback with Squad Busters to the emergence of hybrid casual and other core gameplay types, there are lots of lessons to learn from 2024 mobile trends. Join …

1
Is Your Chinese as Good as You Think it is? Confronting the Dunning-Kruger Effect 22:32

29d ago22:32

22:32

Do you think your Chinese skills are better than they actually are? You might not be alone. This cognitive bias can cause learners to overestimate their proficiency, leading to overconfidence and potential setbacks in their language journey. Jared and John share personal anecdotes and experiences, breaking down the stages of language learning where…

1
From Reluctant Traveler to Fluent Speaker: Cleopatra’s Chinese Language Adventure 47:57

1M ago47:57

47:57

Cleopatra Wise initially had no desire to learn a foreign language but after being convinced to go to China for a class trip, her visit to Shanghai became a transformative experience that sparked her interest in learning the language. She embarked on a quest to learn Chinese which ended up with her working in Taiwan, Beijing, and later working for …

1
When to Start Reading for Maximum Fluency 25:22

2M ago25:22

25:22

Discover why reading in Chinese is a game-changer for fluency and learn the best time to start using graded readers. Jared and John break down the benefits of extensive reading and offer tips on how to integrate graded readers into your study routine for maximum impact. Whether you're a beginner or intermediate learner, find out how reading can acc…

1
Raising Bilingual Children: Sunny's Story and Strategies from Spot of Sunshine Chinese 45:11

3M ago45:11

45:11

Dive into the world of raising bilingual children with Sunny from Spot of Sunshine Chinese. In a chat with Jared, Sunny shares her journey from Taiwan to the suburbs of Chicago, discussing the challenges and triumphs of maintaining language and cultural connections. She offers tips and expert advice on effective strategies for parents raising bilin…

1
Motivation and the Influence of Cultural Attitudes on Learning 27:04

3M ago27:04

27:04

Jared and John delve into research discussing the crucial role of attitudes and preconceptions of a culture towards learning its language. They explore the many facets of this issue, including how the current state of China’s political relations impacts language learning in the West. Links from the episode: Mandarin Companion graded readers Send us…

1
Episode 55: From Niche to Global - Top Tips to Cracking the Lucrative Japanese Mobile Market 31:55

4M ago31:55

31:55

Join us as we explore the ever-evolving Japanese mobile market. In this episode, we set our sights on the lucrative world of Japanese mobile games. We’ll dive into player preferences, effective monetization strategies, and the cultural nuances that influence this thriving market. Join industry experts Teemu Palomäki, Chief Games Analyst, and Sonja …

1
From American Football to Chinese Films: The Journey of Matt William Knowles 50:46

4M ago50:46

50:46

Jared Turner interviews Matt William Knowles, a former college football player, who turned an unfortunate event into a remarkable life-changing adventure in China. After a career-ending injury left him uncertain about his future, Matt took a volunteer teaching position in one of China's most impoverished regions, Guizhou Province. Here, Matt found …

1
The Frustrated Learner and the Sound of Progress 24:34

4M ago24:34

24:34

Hosts Jared and John discuss the frustrations of a learner who came to John for help, particularly with pinyin and differentiation of similar sounds in Chinese. They explore why learners often misapply English pronunciation rules to pinyin and how comprehensible input can ease the learning curve. This episode is not just a deep dive into the phonet…

1
Episode 54: Unlocking LiveOps Success - Lessons from Mobile GameDev Award Winners 43:38

5M ago43:38

43:38

Discover the strategies that drive award-winning LiveOps! In this episode, we analyze the Mobile GameDev Award winners, revealing their secrets to boosting engagement and revenue. Join host Jon Jordan and GameRefinery experts Erno Kiiski, Kalle Heikkinen, and Jiri Saarinen as they break down the essential components of successful LiveOps. Learn how…

1
Finding Your Voice in Chinese: Happi's Multilingual Melody 48:17

5M ago48:17

48:17

Driven by her love for Asian cultures, anime, and K-pop, Happi (from Happi Across Cultures) has learned Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Starting with friendships with exchange students, she went on to double major in Chinese and Japanese including studying abroad in Tokyo and Shanghai where she deeply engaged with the local culture. An accomplished …

1
Better than Netflix for language learners? || Interview with Lingopie CEO || Refold Podcast Ep 72 56:39

5M ago56:39

56:39

'Language learning feels like magic when it works...' - David, Lingopie CEO Truer words have never been said. In this special episode of the Refold Podcast, Clayton is joined by Lingopie's CEO, David! David is a long time language learner who struggled to learn Hebrew with traditional methods. However, all that changed when he started watching TV w…

1
Japanese and Chinese: Unraveling the Differences of Two Ancient Tongues 23:36

5M ago23:36

23:36

Dive into the fascinating world of East Asian languages with hosts Jared Turner and John Pasden. Whether you're navigating the tonal waves of Chinese or untangling the polite intricacies of Japanese, this episode offers a deep dive into the nuances, challenges, and delights of learning these two rich languages. They also discuss invaluable resource…

1
The Making of a YouTube Star: Ari Smith's Transformation into Xiao Ma 38:46

6M ago38:46

38:46

In this riveting episode, a clueless American white guy shocks a podcast host with flawless Chinese using one trick that teachers hate! Our special guest, Ari Smith, widely recognized as Xiao Ma on YouTube, shares the unexpected journey that led him from being a curious American to a Chinese-speaking internet sensation. Our special guest is none ot…

1
Bridging Continents and Cultures: How Akeel Alleyne Found His Calling and Career in the Heart of China 44:58

7M ago44:58

44:58

Some people may find they have a knack for learning Chinese, but deciding to make Chinese a part of your life is another decision entirely. Akeel Alleyne shares his story from learning Chinese in high school to making the move to live and work in China. He talks about how Chinese has enriched his life, helped find his calling, and enabled him to ca…

1
Fluency by Chinese WEBNOVELS? - Refold Podcast Ep 71 47:08

7M ago47:08

47:08

The Refold Podcast is BACK! This week, Clayton is joined Krystal, a Chinese heritage speaker who rediscovered her love of Chinese because of webnovels! She's also the admin of a thriving Chinese learner Discord community that is dedicated to learning Chinese with native content. The community she helps manage is known as "The Heavenly Path," but it…

1
The Impact of Native Teaching Methods on Chinese Learners: Insights from a Shanghai Classroom 29:28

6M ago29:28

29:28

Join us as we step into the world of China's educational system. With an extra special guest interview, we pull back the curtain of how Chinese is taught in Chinese schools. These first-hand insights shed light on how China’s classrooms influence how Chinese is taught around the world. Links from the episode: Memes for Chinese Learners | Instagram …

1
How to use ChatGPT to Learn Chinese 19:45

7M ago19:45

19:45

Hosts Jared Turner and John Pasden give you some pro tips on how to use AI, specifically Chat GPT, to learn Chinese. They explore a variety of use cases, including limitations and tips on how to get the most out of these large language models we call artificial intelligence. Links from the episode: Chat GPT Send us a message | Mandarin Companion fe…

1
Episode 53: Predicting the biggest mobile game trends in 2024 37:49

8M ago37:49

37:49

Join us as we explore the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in mobile game design for 2024. In this episode, we’re looking at the most prominent trends to shape the mobile games landscape for the year ahead. We’ll dive into the anticipation surrounding upcoming game releases and explore key trends poised to dominate the industry. Join indu…

1
From New Year's resolution to C1 in 3 years // Andrew's Russian journey // Refold Podcast Ep 70 59:24

8M ago59:24

59:24

In this week's episode of the Refold podcast, join Clayton and Andrew, a Refold veteran who remarkably achieved C1 proficiency in Russian in just three years. What began as a New Year's resolution three years ago became an incredible journey to fluency. Tune in to listen to them chat about Andrew's journey as a language learner, the importance of c…

1
American teaches Irish to the Irish || Refold Podcast Ep 69 44:11

8M ago44:11

44:11

In this episode, Clayton is joined by Davis (known as Galaxy Rocker online). He's an American English native who learned Irish in college and teaches Irish in Ireland! In this episode, they go into detail about how Irish is used in Ireland and the differences between how the language is used professionally vs in homes. They also discuss how the lan…

1
Christmas in China (Ep. 25 Replay) 58:12

8M ago58:12

58:12

Our special Chinese Christmas episode first aired Dec 16, 2019.

1
Does input REALLY need to be comprehensible? - Refold Podcast Ep 68 56:10

8M ago56:10

56:10

The community is back for another special Round Table edition of the Refold Podcast. This week, Clayton is joined by some of our favorite Refold modmins, Skypon, Exaltedtoast, and Cyn. They're diving deep into the question: How comprehensible does your input need to be to make real significant progress? Is there a Goldilocks zone of comprehensibili…

1
Episode 52: Exploring the top five trends that dominated 2023 33:55

9M ago33:55

33:55

Join us as we explore the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in mobile game design. As 2023 comes to a close, we’ll uncover the latest trends dominating mobile games and driving changes within the industry in this episode. We’ll explore the innovative ways games differentiate themselves in the market and elevate player engagement. And refle…

1
From Duolingo to immersion learning || High level learner interviews || Refold Podcast Ep 67 52:02

9M ago52:02

52:02

In this episode of the Refold Podcast Clayton is joined by Bryan. Bryan is a heritage learner of Portuguese and went from learning with Duolingo before switching to immersion based methodologies. Tune in to listen to them chat about Bryan's experience as a heritage learner, his history with languages, and what drew him to the immersion language lea…

1
What it's really like WORKING in Japan 51:32

9M ago51:32

51:32

In this episode of the Refold Podcast Clayton is joined by Sparkles! He's a Refold veteran, Japanese server moderator, and is currently working as an engineer in Japan. Tune in to listen to his language learning journey, how he prepared for the move, and what it's really like living and working in Japan.…

1
Episode 51: How to navigate the evolving advertising and revenue landscape 31:13

9M ago31:13

31:13

Join us as we explore the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in mobile game design, advertising, and revenue generation. In this episode, we thoroughly examine the mobile gaming landscape, focusing on the constantly evolving dynamics of advertising and revenue with industry experts Kenneth Wong, Senior Director of Ads Revenue at Scopely, an…