I have been learning many foreign languages for a long time. From the old school years of learning them through books, then audio cassettes, CD-Roms, in college (with more books, but more people to study with) and through software of varying prices.
I am reviewing the Rocket Languages: Rocket Chinese – Level 1 (Lifetime Access).
I am a person who didn’t study Chinese in college, but I have had a long interest in Chinese culture since my college years back in the mid-to-late ’90s and even traveled to the country during my senior year in college.
And tried learning Chinese through books and software.
But to be truthful, I tend to get scatterbrained as learning many other foreign languages, they tend to start popping in my head and I would mix different languages together. Which is embarrassing.
But what is more important is that you keep active learning it. May it be watching a TV show or movie, listening to the music, speaking to friends who are Chinese in the native language.
Now, of course, there are two types of Chinese languages spoken. In China, Taiwan and Singapore, they speak Mandarin. In Hong Kong and Guandong province, they speak Cantonese.
Rocket Chinese focuses on Mandarin.
I came across Rocket Languages and wanted to see how it differs from other popular (and pricier software) and for one thing, let’s start out with what I like about Rocket Languages.
For one, I like how it’s audio-based and you can hear the pronunciations. You can listen to it via streaming and see how it’s written via romanization and also English translation.
But also, there is a choice to download the audio and listen to it. May it be in your car or phone.
I like how for chapter 1 it went through proper introductions. This is how I learned Japanese in college, through proper introductions. And that’s how I wanted to learn Mandarin.
Not through multiple photos with words, this is what I want to learn, the basics, so I can start speaking in this manner and knowing the politeness levels.
In fact, immediately you start to learn about how things tonal (and how they are written in romanization) can mean something different.
So, as mentioned, Romanizations, pronunciations via audio and repetition, I like. It’s almost similar to when I was in my college classes learning foreign languages.
For example: nǐ hǎo ma (how are you doing), wǒ hěn hǎo (I am doing good), wǒ yě hěn hǎo (I am also very good), xiè xiè (thanks), xiè xiè nǐ (thank you), Nǐ ne? (what about you?), wǒ ne (what about me?) [and how the “ne” is pronounced like “na”), Zàijiàn (see you or goodbye) [and “jian’ is pronounced like “jen”].
And also know there are politeness levels, so when addressing someone who is younger, you can say nin hǎo ma (how are you doing)
I also like the gamification of points and leadership position provided in learning,as well.
But I really do like it. If anything, it’s the basics, like any other language starting out as a beginner, intermediate and then to advanced.
There are seven modules with each having about 4-10 segments per module and I like the extra added “Survival Kit” lessons as well.
I still have much to learn but I really do like the Rocket way of teaching language.
Someone did give a poor review because there were no CD’s, it was just the code. It is an online course, not like the years where they had big boxes with many audio CD’s (many computers don’t even include CDs anymore). And with new technology and speed to access and stream audio, it doesn’t take long for audio to load up, doesn’t take long to download the lesson. You can also download the lessons and listen to them.
I am enjoying “Rocket Languages: Rocket Chinese – Level 1 (Lifetime Access)”. In fact, I would say that I have enjoyed this way of learning versus other software I have used prior. Recommended!
