Fantastic learning tool
What sets this app apart from the rest is that the contents are all free, as well as being completely ad-free (unheard of these days). This app is up there with the best paid language apps! very easy to pick up and has great depth that cover the basics excellently, before steadily moving you onto a higher level which all feels very fluid and streamlined! It’s the perfect stepping stone for anyone beginning mandarin, and looking to progress onwards from there. The devs have obviously put a lot of time and effort into this app and clearly share a passion for language learning. Download it, give it a try, and if you enjoy it as much as I have be sure to give a little donation for their efforts!
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Enjoyable
I don’t speak or write Chinese yet. However I must say I’m starting to identify words by their Chinese characters and words after just a couple weeks using this app while commuting. It is entertaining enough that I often choose it over social media even when I don’t feel like making an effort to study. Good stuff.
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The best app for learning Chinese!
This is easily the best app out there. It’s easy to navigate, very well designed, you can easily access all of the different lessons of which there are many- and it’s not just for beginners either, there are many more complicated lessons. There are games you can play to consolidate the words in your memory, and there are many tips to tell you what to do. It’s great - and all this is entirely free! Anyone who wants to learn Chinese should get this app.
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Love the app - want to give it 7 stars!
I am a teacher and very thoughtful about the ways the human brain absorbs information. I teach in a predominantly Chinese area, so I am motivated to learn Chinese. My students think it is exciting and funny when I try to speak Chinese - they laugh, then help me with my accent and tones.
I bought Rosetta Stone (very expensive) and I do use it, but this app is 1) much easier to get into, 2) more memorable with art than with photos, 3) more multimodal (switching from recognize, recall, listen, write, fill-in, English to Chinese, Chinese to English, etc.), 4) more grammatically oriented (ie this/that), 4) more organized topically, 5) less confusing (when using RS I have to stop and look things up on google translate or else stay confused) 6) more reading/writing (on this app I am starting to read the Chinese before the English), more time friendly (5-10 minute sections), and 8) more [sic] FREE!!!
So great that I took the time to write a review! (I rarely do this)
[[[ If you are a developer reading this review, please turn the large written Chinese characters into Flashcards for optional ongoing vocabulary development (I currently screenshot them, but think it would be a great addition to the app - and thank you!! ]]]
I bought Rosetta Stone (very expensive) and I do use it, but this app is 1) much easier to get into, 2) more memorable with art than with photos, 3) more multimodal (switching from recognize, recall, listen, write, fill-in, English to Chinese, Chinese to English, etc.), 4) more grammatically oriented (ie this/that), 4) more organized topically, 5) less confusing (when using RS I have to stop and look things up on google translate or else stay confused) 6) more reading/writing (on this app I am starting to read the Chinese before the English), more time friendly (5-10 minute sections), and 8) more [sic] FREE!!!
So great that I took the time to write a review! (I rarely do this)
[[[ If you are a developer reading this review, please turn the large written Chinese characters into Flashcards for optional ongoing vocabulary development (I currently screenshot them, but think it would be a great addition to the app - and thank you!! ]]]
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Awesome
Really repetitive and builds on previous lessons. Which is exactly what you need when learning a language. Fun and strangely addictive.
Nice app, but I prefer HelloChinese
This app is okay, but I still prefer HelloChinese and DuoLingo (which I've used for other languages).
This app doesn't have as many different styles of questions, mostly just multiple choice and typing, so it's not nearly as engaging of a learning experience. It also starts to feel a bit too repetitive.
The sound effects are really annoying. I really don't like that unpleasant cash register-like sound.
Moreover, the test out feature is ridiculous. I already know a fair amount of beginner Chinese, so I didn't want to be stuck doing frustratingly simple exercises like "I am a girl" and "he is a boy." However, I failed the first three times I tried to test out because I didn't know "peach", "sun", and "round." It seems like the test out feature requires you to know everything already, which means the whole app is pointless.
Also, I really don't like having percentages at the end of lessons. When I see I, I feel like I've failed a test even though it's just an app.
The illustrations for vocab words are very well done. Sometimes the meaning is not as clear as the tacky stock photos used in HelloChinese, but they're a little more pleasant to look at.
After answering a question correctly, I wish the translation shown under "good job!" was bigger and easier to read.
This app doesn't have as many different styles of questions, mostly just multiple choice and typing, so it's not nearly as engaging of a learning experience. It also starts to feel a bit too repetitive.
The sound effects are really annoying. I really don't like that unpleasant cash register-like sound.
Moreover, the test out feature is ridiculous. I already know a fair amount of beginner Chinese, so I didn't want to be stuck doing frustratingly simple exercises like "I am a girl" and "he is a boy." However, I failed the first three times I tried to test out because I didn't know "peach", "sun", and "round." It seems like the test out feature requires you to know everything already, which means the whole app is pointless.
Also, I really don't like having percentages at the end of lessons. When I see I, I feel like I've failed a test even though it's just an app.
The illustrations for vocab words are very well done. Sometimes the meaning is not as clear as the tacky stock photos used in HelloChinese, but they're a little more pleasant to look at.
After answering a question correctly, I wish the translation shown under "good job!" was bigger and easier to read.
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Response from developer
Thank you for leaving such a detailed review! Your feedback has been forwarded to our course design team. We appreciate every user's honest opinion and suggestions. We hope you continue to enjoy your learning journey!
Super easy to use
Mandarin is super hard. But with this app, I just keep playing and learning. Gets easier every day.
I struggled to interpret the voice on the app when it says "nan ren" (man) and "nü ren" (woman)... the word "ren" (人) sounds like "yen" in the app. Took me a long time to realise it was just that person pronouncing it that way.
Love it overall!
I struggled to interpret the voice on the app when it says "nan ren" (man) and "nü ren" (woman)... the word "ren" (人) sounds like "yen" in the app. Took me a long time to realise it was just that person pronouncing it that way.
Love it overall!
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Response from developer
Thank you for choosing ChineseSkill! We'll continue to improve!
Really user friendly and fun
Great app that's easy to use
Great app!!
I like this app so much!! I speak four languages and took two years of Chinese in high school - so I wanted to brush up and keep improving my language, but I found Duolingo wasn't helpful because it asked you to say really weird things that you would never say, like "my shoes are in the hat" - which you would never use..! I love that this app has so many different exercises.
The only thing I'm realizing is that I'm only using the pinyin, which helps me pronounce it, but not actually learn the signs.... maybe that could be an added exercise? That would make it even better!! (And as someone suggested before, a speaking exercise where you have to pronounce it right, since that's so important because of the tones you might actually say something else...)
Thank you so much for this wonderful app and for making it free for people who love studying languages!! :)
The only thing I'm realizing is that I'm only using the pinyin, which helps me pronounce it, but not actually learn the signs.... maybe that could be an added exercise? That would make it even better!! (And as someone suggested before, a speaking exercise where you have to pronounce it right, since that's so important because of the tones you might actually say something else...)
Thank you so much for this wonderful app and for making it free for people who love studying languages!! :)
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Response from developer
Thank you for the kind words and detailed feedback. We are aware of the need and will definitely improve the app more. Please recommend it to your friends who are also interested in learning Chinese. Wish you lots of success!!
I'm loving this app
I'm absolutely loving this app, I can't put it down now :) 谢谢 ^_^
