In this replay of a fan-favorite episode, Jared chats with Grant Brown, an expert in HSK and AP Chinese test prep. Grant shares why so many students fail, and more importantly, what you need to do to pass. Drawing on his experience as both a teacher and test prep specialist, he offers practical and often overlooked advice you won’t hear anywhere else.

You’ll learn why reading is your secret weapon and how it can make your classmates think you did a year abroad in China. Grant also shares how to build stamina for test day, memory tricks that actually work, and why learning in context helps you retain more, faster.

Whether you're taking one of these exams or just want to improve your Chinese study strategy, this episode is packed with insights that can give you the edge.

Links from the episode:

• ⁠How to Pass the AP Chinese Exam: Secrets from a Teacher with a Perfect Pass Rate⁠ | Mandarin Companion

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Surprise! When it comes to Chinese, learners sometimes know things native speakers don’t. In this episode, John and Jared explore intriguing aspects of the Chinese language that learners often understand better than native speakers. From tone change rules, verb conjugations (or the lack thereof), and those tricky three 的, 得, and 地, they break down details that most Chinese speakers never had to consciously learn. They also highlight why having a trained tutor can make a difference for you.

Links from the episode:

• Aspect, not Tense | Sinosplice

• Structural particle "de" | Chinese Grammar Wiki

• Separable verbs in Chinese | Chinese Grammar Wiki

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No matter how long you've been learning Chinese, you’ll still have an accent. But why is that? In this episode, Jared and John talk about your accent in Chinese and how to reduce it. They discuss the differences in how accents are perceived in China versus the West, tackle some of the toughest pronunciation challenges like pinyin pitfalls, tone swaps, and the elusive Mandarin "R" sound, and share insights on what it really takes to sound more native.

Whether you’re a beginner struggling with pinyin, an intermediate learner trying to nail your tones, or an advanced student aiming for clarity over perfection, this episode will help you level up your pronunciation and be understood with confidence.

Links from the episode:

• Chinese Pronunciation Wiki | Free pronunciation guide

• Pronunciation Packs (scroll down) | AllSet Learning

• Mandarin Chinese Tone Pair Drills | Sinosplice

• The 3-2 Tone Swap Error | Sinosplice

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