Course: Beginner Bootcamp
The RTM Chinese Character Bootcamp for Beginners
Build your essential Chinese reading foundation in 30 days using real news — and unlock future fluency in Mandarin
If you’re a professional learning Mandarin but still don’t know where to start…
Or you’ve been using apps and flashcards for months but still rely on pinyin to read…
And you struggle to memorise and recognise basic Chinese characters…
Then I’ve created the perfect solution for you.
It’s a 30-day bootcamp which will help you learn, memorise, and recognise essential Chinese characters through real news in as little as 20 minutes a day.
You’ll be immersed in the 300 most important Chinese characters which I’ve hand-picked from five years of my archive news content.
So this isn’t textbook Chinese. It’s real, relevant, and current Chinese as it’s used in the media today.
This intensive bootcamp uses my proven context-based framework for memorising and recognising Chinese characters.
This is the same method I’ve used to help hundreds of intermediate learners finally crack Chinese reading, even if they’d failed with apps and textbooks before.
I’ll show you how to learn them easily and quickly based on my 20+ years of experience learning Chinese.
You’ll join a community of learners like you to keep you accountable.
And you’ll get direct support and input from me through live calls.
So by the end of this bootcamp you’ll have the solid foundation you need to go on and master reading Chinese even if it feels impossible right now.
Because you’ll be learning Chinese characters through real news with me from Day One — with content at your level that’s interesting and relevant, but not overwhelming.
So you get repeated exposure to help you memorise and recognise Chinese characters.
This is the first time I’m running this bootcamp.
It’s starting on November 1st, and places are limited.
The deadline to join is Sunday 26 October.
Click below to grab your spot before the deadline. Let’s build your Chinese reading foundation together.
Here’s why I’m doing this…
I’m Andrew Methven.
I’ve spent the last 23 years learning Chinese the hard way — in the real world, not a classroom. I’ve lived in China and Taiwan, worked in and with Chinese companies, and been reading Chinese news daily for over two decades.
I started RealTime Mandarin in February 2021 as a way to keep my language skills from getting rusty during COVID.
What started as a passion project quickly grew into a thriving learning community.
By the end of 2021, I’d built an audience of thousands who started asking for more advanced content. So I launched my paid membership in 2022, and since then I’ve helped over 1,500 learners move beyond textbooks to confidently read real Chinese news.
I’ve continued building based on what my community actually needs: intermediate content, live speaking practice, a conversational podcast channel.
And over the last year, I’ve been getting the same request over and over:
Create content for beginners.
So I’m doing it.
And you can be part of it.
Introducing the RTM Chinese Character Bootcamp for Beginners
The RTM Chinese Character Bootcamp is an intensive 30-day program to help you build the essential foundation for reading real Chinese with confidence.
You’ll be immersed in 300 essential Chinese characters curated from five years of my archive of Chinese news content…
That means you’ll be learning real Chinese as it’s used in the media.
I’ll help you strengthen your character memorisation, recognition, and reading comprehension in as little as 20 minutes a day.
And you’ll get direct support from me based on my 20+ years of learning Mandarin.
This bootcamp will be delivered live, by me, starting on 1 November.
Places are limited to ensure I can give you all the attention you need.
Here’s what’s included:
Each week you’ll get a new article with daily exercises to reinforce it, plus live sessions where I guide you through the material:
4 weekly news articles (100-120 characters each)
6 live sessions where I guide you through each article
Daily exercises and practice questions
Private community for accountability and feedback
Personalised support from me
This bootcamp is for you if you’re at beginner-level, between HSK1 and HSK2.
Or you know somewhere between 0 and 300 Chinese characters, but still struggle to recognise them.
It’s ideal for you if you’re a professional who wants to learn Chinese for work or your career.
Spots are limited, and we start Saturday 1 November. If you’re ready to finally crack Chinese reading, this is your chance.
The bootcamp starts live on Saturday 1 November, and the deadline to join is Sunday 26 October.
How Chinese Character Bootcamp works
In the 30-day bootcamp you’ll learn through this five-step process:
1. Understand
I explain the background and context in English first so you understand the bigger picture before reading the Chinese article.
2. Read
We read the short Chinese article together. I read it aloud in Chinese and explain it sentence by sentence in English, giving you guided exposure before you tackle it on your own.
3. Learn
You study the article, vocab, and grammar using the resources provided, and write out characters by hand—an essential step no app can replace.
4. Practice
You work through practice exercises for vocab and grammar structures based on the exercises set each week. This consolidates what you’ve learned.
5. Apply
You create your own simple sentences using the characters you’ve learned, share them in the online community, and get real-time feedback from me.
And here’s why it’s so powerful…
Learning Chinese characters is unlike anything you’ve learned before. Because there are no familiar reference points to help you remember them.
That’s why context is everything.
And it’s what most other beginner programs ignore.
So I use four types of context in this bootcamp to help you memorise and recognise Chinese characters by creating contextual links in your mind:
Situational: Learn through events in the real world
Cultural: Understand the cultural and societal trends behind the news
Linguistic: Learn characters within relevant vocab
Visual: Understand the visual components of characters (radicals)
You won’t memorise all 300 characters perfectly in 30 days — and that’s not the point.
You’ll learn how to use context to make characters stick, so you can keep building your reading skills long after the bootcamp ends.
What my students are saying
This is the first time I’ve run the RTM Chinese Character Bootcamp.
But this is based on my proven framework of helping over 1,500 Mandarin learners at intermediate and advanced levels since 2022.
They have used RTM to successfully move beyond textbooks and graded readers, and engage more confidently with real-world Chinese news.
Which has helped get results like these:
“RTM Plus boosts my confidence and motivation”
“RealTime Mandarin has been a game-changer for me. The episodes are so interesting and relevant. This has not only boosted my confidence and motivation to improve my Chinese, but it has also revealed a fascinating and important new world to me.”
“It keeps me up-to-date on current news“
“RTM has become part of my weekly routine to not only be able to keep up to date on current news but also keep up my motivation for language learning. I would highly recommend RTM to anybody learning Mandarin.”
“The next frontier in learning Chinese”
“RealTime Mandarin’s methods including listening, focused, current vocabulary, and speaking have helped me break through. I think Real Time Mandarin has really found the next frontier in learning Chinese.”
What’s next?
Join the RTM Chinese Character Bootcamp and finally learn Chinese characters the right way — with a system that actually works.
You’ll get my proven system for memorising and recognising Chinese characters in context.
You’ll get hands-on support from me to keep you on track and moving forward.
And you’ll join a community of learners like you so you can stay motivated, make time to learn, and be kept accountable…
So you can finally build your foundation for future fluency in Mandarin in less than 20 minutes a day.
All for a one-off investment of just $500
This is a pilot program.
It starts on Saturday 1 November.
This is a one-time pilot group, and the only time you’ll get this level of direct access to me. While future cohorts will include live sessions, I’ll be much more hands-on with this group to make sure everything works and you get the results you came for.
And you get lifetime access to all program resources.
This is the only beginner program that teaches Chinese characters through real news as it’s happening, using my proven context-based framework.
My guarantee…
I guarantee this will work for you.
So if you complete the program and haven’t massively improved your character recognition skills and established a strong foundation for continued learning, just email me for a full refund.
No hassle. No questions asked.
Remember: places are limited to ensure I can give my full attention to you through the process.
And the deadline to join is Sunday 26 October.
Ready to build your essential foundation for fluency in Chinese? Click below to join the bootcamp today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTM Chinese Character Bootcamp?
The RTM Character Bootcamp is a 30-day intensive program to help you memorize and recognise 300 essential Chinese characters in context through real news in as little as 20 minutes a day.
You get four weekly news articles (100-120 characters each), personalised support, six live Zoom sessions, daily self-paced exercises, and a community of learners keeping you accountable.
When are live sessions?
Live sessions will be held on Zoom at 2pm UK time on the following days in November, 2025:
Saturday 1 November: kick-off call
Sunday 2 November: Week 1 call
Sunday 9 November: Week 2 call
Sunday 16 November: Week 3 call
Sunday 23 November: Week 4 call
Sunday 30 November: Wrap-up call
What if I miss a live session?
All live sessions are recorded.
If you can’t attend live, you’ll get access to the recordings within 24 hours. And you can engage with me and other students on the course via the private community site throughout the bootcamp.
What if I fall behind or can’t keep up?
This is a live cohort, but it’s self-paced within each week.
If you miss a day, you can catch up the day after, or anytime during the bootcamp.
And because you have lifetime access to all materials, you can revisit anything after the 30 days end.
Is this suited to my level?
Yes, if you’re beginner level (HSK 1-2) and know 0-300 Chinese characters and want to learn Chinese for your work or career. Even if you feel totally lost, the weekly immersion and direct guidance from me will help you access content that currently feels out of reach.
How is RTM different from other resources?
RTM is the only Mandarin resource that uses real news as it’s happening through my context-based proven framework —not outdated textbooks. I scan hundreds of news sites weekly to find stories relevant to modern China. Plus, you’ll get direct support from me to make sure you’re learning the right way from day one.
300 characters sounds like a lot. Can I really learn that many in 30 days?
You won’t memorise all 300 characters perfectly in 30 days—that’s not the goal.
Instead, you’ll be exposed to them repeatedly in real contexts so they start to stick naturally. By the end of the bootcamp, you’ll be able to recognise the most common ones and have a system to keep learning the rest.
Why pay when there are free resources online?
Free resources can be useful (I have a free newsletter too!), but many beginners struggle with unstructured study. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed jumping between random videos, apps, and flashcards. RTM gives you a curated, structured learning path with expert guidance—all in one place.
And you’ll get personalised support from me based on my 20+ years of learning Mandarin, and teaching thousands of students how to get fluent through real news.
How much time do I need to commit?
Plan for six one-hour live sessions (or watch recordings) plus 20-30 minutes daily for self-paced exercises. This investment could save you months or years of learning the wrong way.
Can I get a refund if it’s not for me?
Yes! If at any time during or after the program you feel it’s not the right fit, just let me know and I’ll give you a full refund. No questions asked.
Can I expense this to my company?
Yes! The RTM Character Bootcamp is a valuable investment in your Chinese language skills and knowledge of China. I can provide an invoice for you to ask your company to cover the cost.
So… if you want to finally build your essential foundation for fluency in Chinese, click below to get started: