What does it take to go from barely speaking Chinese to giving a three-hour university presentation in Chinese? For William Whitaker, the journey was anything but planned, and when that intimidating presentation finally arrived, he wasn't even sure he could pull it off.

William originally moved to Shenzhen, China, to pursue his passion for basketball, not to learn Chinese. After spending his first year picking up relatively little of the language, the COVID pandemic unexpectedly changed everything. What was supposed to be a short trip to Bali with his future wife turned into nearly seven months, giving William an unusual opportunity to throw himself into learning Chinese.

When he finally returned to China, he discovered how much had changed. Street signs suddenly made sense, conversations became more accessible, and an entirely new side of life in China began opening up to him.

In this episode of You Can Learn Chinese, William shares how he went from self-study with graded readers, audiobooks, Anki flashcards, and Chinese basketball podcasts to eventually moving to Taiwan and enrolling in a master's program in East Asian Studies taught entirely in Chinese.

We explore the surprising benefits of handwriting Chinese characters, the difference between understanding Chinese and being able to use it, and how friendships and real-world experiences can transform language learning. William also recounts one of his biggest breakthroughs: overcoming his fear of delivering a lengthy academic presentation in Chinese in front of native speakers.

Throughout his journey, William has developed a perspective that every Chinese learner can benefit from:learning Chinese is a lifelong journey, and that's something to be excited about, not discouraged by.

Whether you're just getting started or have been studying for years, William's story offers practical insights and a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful progress comes from embracing the struggle, following your interests, and finding ways to make Chinese part of whatever season of life you're in.

Links from the episode:

• Mandarin Companion Graded Readers

Ever feel confident speaking Chinese with your teacher or tutor, only to find yourself completely lost when you're with a group of native speakers? Why does your Chinese suddenly seem to fall apart?

In this episode, Jared and John explore why group conversations present such a unique challenge for Chinese learners, even those with strong conversational skills. They uncover the "invisible help" that tutors provide, the hidden complexities of group dynamics, and why understanding individual speakers doesn't necessarily mean you’ll be able to follow a group discussion.

Drawing from their own experiences, you’ll learn practical strategies for preparing for real-world conversations, including how to adapt your learning, take a more active role in discussions, and gradually build confidence in group settings.

Whether you're preparing for your first dinner with Chinese friends or have spent years struggling to keep up at the table, this episode will help you bridge the gap between classroom Chinese and real-world conversation.

Links from the episode:

• Mandarin Companion Graded Readers

• AllSet Learning | Tutoring

Sharing a heater with the family dog during Chinese New Year. Sitting in the front seat of taxis to practice Chinese with the drivers. Rehearsing a speech in Chinese to thank her team at a store opening in Shenzhen. For Cassandre Egolf, learning Chinese has become inseparable from her life in China.

Growing up in France, Cassandre heard plenty about China from her mother, an Air France flight attendant who had studied Chinese herself. Cassandre wasn't particularly interested. Years later, stranded in Sri Lanka during COVID and considering a job in Shanghai, she started using apps to learn Mandarin on her own.

What began as something to give her routine and direction turned into a much bigger adventure. Cassandre kept studying through a year-long wait for her visa, eventually moved to Shanghai, worked on a major project in Shenzhen, and began using Chinese with coworkers, neighbors, taxi drivers, and people she met while traveling around the country.

In this episode, Cassandre shares what it was like to take Chinese from an app into the real world, why imperfect Chinese can still change how people connect with you, and how living and traveling in China has continually given her new reasons to keep learning.

Now, after five years in China, Cassandre is starting a new chapter as an entrepreneur while continuing to share the places, people, and experiences that have made the country feel like home.

Links from the episode:

• Cassandre Egolf on Instagram | @thecurator_shanghai

• Mandarin Companion Graded Readers

In celebration of Teachers’ Day in China, Jared and John reflect on the teachers who have shaped their language-learning journeys and what actually makes a great teacher. They share stories of teachers who were hilarious, inspiring, technically brilliant, and sometimes simply there with the right advice at exactly the right moment.

They also discuss the different strengths of native and non-native language teachers, why experience and expertise can make such a difference, and an important truth about learning: ultimately, the student has to do the learning. A great teacher can’t simply pour vocabulary and grammar into your head, but they can give you confidence, direction, and a reason to keep going.

As the saying goes, “Education is not the filling of a pot, but the lighting of a fire.” Sometimes the greatest thing a teacher can do is help you find that fire for yourself.

Links from the episode:

• Mandarin Companion Graded Readers
  

In a mildly confusing bit of podcast naming, Jared Turner sits down with comedian Turner Sparks.

Turner moved to China in 2004 to teach English, planning to stay for just one year. He ended up staying for twelve.

In this episode of You Can Learn Chinese, Turner talks about learning Chinese out of necessity, from struggling through everyday conversations with almost no shared language to using Chinese while building and running a business across China.

Turner shares stories from his years in Suzhou and Shanghai, including launching Mr. Softee ice cream trucks in China, navigating local government and business culture, whitewater rafting with Chinese officials, and stumbling into stand-up comedy when a local bar owner built him a stage and told him he had a month to prepare.

That hobby eventually became a career. After performing around Asia, Turner moved to New York City to pursue comedy full time, where his years in China, his Chinese-speaking wife and family, and the Chinese language itself continue to shape his comedy.

Turner’s path from English teacher to ice cream entrepreneur to full-time comedian is not exactly the standard Chinese-learning story. Join us for a funny and unpredictable conversation about China, Chinese, business, comedy, and the strange places learning a language can take you.

Links from the episode:

• Turner Sparks | Website & Tour Dates

• Follow Turner | Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok

• Mandarin Companion Graded Readers

Jared and John discuss the frustrations faced by a learner who came to John for help—particularly with pinyin and distinguishing similar sounds in Chinese. They explore why learners often misapply English pronunciation rules to pinyin and how comprehensible input can help ease the learning curve.

This episode serves as both a deep dive into the phonetic and perceptual challenges of learning Chinese and a reassuring reminder that, while the path to fluency can be frustrating, personalized strategies and persistent effort can lead to real progress.

Links from the episode:

• Mandarin Companion graded readers

What does it mean to walk in the footsteps of an ancestor whose life connected China and America more than a century ago?

In this episode, Ben Lee shares how moving to Wuhan in 1992 pushed him to learn Chinese for survival—and eventually led him back to a remarkable family legacy. His great-grandfather was part of the Qing Dynasty’s Chinese Educational Mission, became an early voice in Chinese American literature, and even crossed paths with Mark Twain.

Ben and Jared explore heritage, identity, education, and the lifelong rewards of learning Chinese. Ben also shares practical advice for learners, including why the best approach is simple: start, keep going, and accept that there will always be more to learn.

Links from the episode:

• “When I was a boy in China” by Yan Phou Lee | Project Gutenbert and Amazon

• Mandarin Companion Graded Readers
  

Whether you're planning your first trip to China or reminiscing about past adventures, Jared and John share why even a little Chinese can transform your experience, from connecting with locals through place names and ordering regional specialties to navigating trains, buses, and the occasional unexpected adventure.

Along the way, they swap memorable stories of language mishaps, overnight train rides, questionable transportation choices, and the kinds of travel misadventures that become some of the most memorable stories. They also discuss the balance between relying on translation apps and building the confidence to communicate on your own, and how some of the best language learning happens when you step outside your comfort zone.

If you're thinking about visiting China, or just looking for motivation to keep studying, this episode will remind you that travel isn't just a reward for learning Chinese; it's one of the best ways to accelerate your progress.

Links from the episode:

• Mandarin Companion Graded Readers