Dear Readers
My name is David Snam from South Africa.I have compiled my honest review of YoYo Chinese.
Take your time and make your choice whether you want to buy this course or not.
CLICK HERE: YOYO CHINESE WEBSITE
Summary: YoYo Chinese is an online Mandarin learning platform. They market themselves as a convenient and comprehensive way of learning and understanding Mandarin. They offer 6 units, all being broken down into smaller units with video lessons, practices, downloadable audio and text files, flashcards, and quizzes. YoYo Chinese is a thorough language learning site whose only downfall is the lack of in-depth grammar instruction.
Pros:
- Comprehensive: the lessons are well thought out and include a generally well-rounded education from beginner to intermediate mandarin.
- Resources: includes plentiful resources to aid in studying.
- Value: the price point is a bit steep, but includes a lot of benefits.
Cons:
- Repetitive: lessons, quizzes, and practices can get a bit repetitive.
- Grammar: lacks in-depth grammar knowledge in lessons
In-Depth Review
Throughout my language learning process, I’ve tried all different kinds of platforms for learning; self-study through books, websites, apps, and of course, classes offered through my university. That being said, aside from university courses, YoYo Chinese may be one of the best Mandarin learning resources out there. It seems that YoYo Chinese has done a good job of adapting the website for the average, busy, adult just trying to pick up a second language. Their ‘study on your time’ approach really adapts to adult life, making studying and learning that much easier.
Lessons and Courses:
YoYo Chinese offers 6 different courses:
- Beginner Conversational,
- Chinese Character,
- Intermediate Conversational,
- Chinese Character II,
- Upper-Intermediate Conversational,
- Chinese Character Reader.
As you can see, the course curriculum is designed with two main curriculums; conversational skills and character learning. The two systems are separate but compliment each other nicely. According to the official recommendation, the learners should develop a foundation in spoken Chinese before starting to learn Chinese characters. Thus, Level 1 of the Beginner Conversational Course should be the first lesson. It‘s better to learn the Characters Course alongside the corresponding Conversational Course.
The most unique aspect of the Conversational Course is the “on the street” clips at each level. The real, natural conversations are mixed into the lesson flow. The style ranges from basic Q&A to interviews, and even to an unscripted conversation with Chinese people. The difficulty is increased gradually with each lesson, which brings you into a real practical Chinese language environment. The supplement materials are not only for fun but also for getting out of the textbook.
Each Course is broken down into 6 different levels, which is then further broken down into roughly 13 different units.
Every unit is broken down further into small video sections, roughly 3-6 per unit. For the beginning lessons, the videos are typically short, 2-4 minutes roughly. For the longer units, the videos can get up to 10 minutes long.
The videos introduce and explain the concepts in a way that native English speakers understand. After the video, there will be a button that says ‘Start Quiz’ or ‘Begin Practice’. Most units will have you practice the concepts that were introduced and some will then quiz you on those same concepts. Also included with each unit are lecture notes or a downloadable PDF file that goes over the vocabulary and sentences that were introduced.
The lessons themselves are pretty informational and digestible. The speaker, Yang Yang, does a good job of explaining the concepts, especially in the beginning lessons of tones and pinyin. In the earlier lessons, the videos are typically her explaining the concepts and then reviewing the previous lesson a bit. In the later lessons, she begins the video with a clip of native Mandarin speakers, and the rest of the video is a break-down and explanation of that clip. The lessons focus on every day, informal Mandarin, which in my opinion, is great. With university courses, and other platforms, there’s a focus on academic and formal Mandarin, but when put in a real-life situation, only about 2/3 of what you learn is applicable. The only downside I see to the lessons is there’s no formal walkthrough on grammar included in the lessons. This is found on a separate page. In my opinion, grammar should be taught within the lessons so you see when/how it is applicable.
Resources and Blog:
YoYo Chinese also has a really nice feature in terms of its resources. The resources page has three different options: The PinYin Chart, the Reference Videos, and The Download Center. The PinYin Chart is a comprehensive chart of all the different sounds found in Mandarin. It’s broken down by letter and ending. Each sound can also be clicked on. When clicking on it, you can listen to the sound spoken with all four of the different tones. It is a great resource to use for listening and practicing speaking.
The second part of the resource center is Reference Videos. This page offers 3 videos that explain Mandarin grammar. There are 12 different lessons, each containing a few videos. They range from Chinese Word Order to The ba (3) 把 Structure. It creates a good foundation to continue learning, but only touches on grammar. This section also offers tips and handouts to practice more specific things.
Lastly, the resource page offers the Download Center, which is just a comprehensive list of all the lecture notes. It includes downloadable PDF files, audio lessons, flashcards, and tips.
YoYo Chinese also offers a blog where they frequently upload articles about Chinese culture.
Store and Price Point:
The prices of YoYo Chinese are broken down by courses. The courses range from $110-$245. You have the option of purchasing the entire course or purchasing each level for $25. It is cheaper to purchase the whole course. YoYo Chinese also offers bundles, including the Conversational Course Bundle and the Character Course Bundle for $254, the Chinese Grammar Video Series, and the Chinese Learning Tips Video series for $25, and finally the Six Course Bundle for $424.
The latest addition (NEW) Chinese Character Reader Course
It teaches you how to read with Chinese Comic Books.
66 Illustrated Motion Comic for $127
Even though the price point seems steep, it is well worth it. For the price, the lessons, flashcards, all the resources, and the blog are all included. With such a comprehensive lesson plan for less than $150, it is a good deal and worth the money.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, YoYo Chinese is a great platform. With a comprehensive lesson break down, learners get a well-rounded instruction into their Chinese learning. For the price, a ton of information is included. With the option of video, audio, and PDF versions of lessons, there is an option for nearly every learner. If you have the money, I would recommend CLICK HERE :YoYo Chinese Website to begin or continue, your Chinese learning journey.
