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Feel like your Mandarin is declining and out of date?
How to go from rusty and out-of-touch back to fluent and confident in as little as 20 minutes a week
— Even if you've lost motivation and feel like you "have no time" to learn
If you’ve been learning Mandarin for years, but you feel like your language skills are getting worse…
And you get lost in Chinese conversations you used to be able to keep up with easily…
Then you can use my six-step FLUENT system to bridge the gap back to real-world fluency in Chinese through real current news.
It will help you stay informed about China, and communicate with confidence in authentic Mandarin.
This is not a textbook or a graded reader.
It’s the only Mandarin learning platform which teaches you contemporary language through immersion in real news as it happens, as it’s being discussed in the Chinese-speaking world.
So you get unsanitized, uncensored, real-world, and relevant content.
Whether you're intermediate, advanced but rusty, or fluent with gaps, you’ll be able to learn, practice and improve your language skills every week through engaging real-world news content.
It’s designed for maximum flexibility.
You’ll unlock self-paced resources to fit your current level and busy schedule. So you can get motivated and inspired, and build a lasting learning habit in as little as 20 minutes a week.
Plus, it’s already helped over 1,500 professionals improve their Mandarin and become more fluent.
Including China experts, authors, journalists, China studies professors, lecturers and students, and long-time Mandarin enthusiasts and China watchers.
They feel up-to-date with the news and the latest language trends in China, and they feel more confident, fluent, intelligent and informed in their Chinese conversations.
"Just the best resource I know of for learning modern Chinese in context: you not only learn new vocab and the mechanics of the language, but get a deeply-informed guide to how it's used in real life." — Kaiser Kuo, Founder, Sinica Podcast
But first, let me introduce myself…
My name’s Andrew Methven
I taught myself Chinese to a high level of fluency and had a China-focussed career over the last nearly 25 years.
I’ve worked with Chinese speaking entrepreneurs, investors, and teams, using my language daily in the trenches of doing business with China.
Though I never imagined I would get here.
I fell into learning Chinese by accident
I stopped off in China in 2002 on my way to Australia. I arrived in Beijing one grey winter morning by train from Mongolia, having travelled over land from London on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
I had no plan, other than to go on an adventure.
I‘d graduated two years before with a degree in Planetary Science. But had no interest in that as a career, or joining any graduate program. Taking an office job didn't interest me either. So I worked for a year in London to save money to go travelling.
My idea was to take six-months to get from London to Sydney, with two months in China, then to South East Asia, and on to Australia.
It turned out I didn’t like China to begin with
It was a daunting place to travel, difficult to get around, and all the cities looked the same.
My only preconception of the country before I arrived was based on the movie, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, which I’d seen just before I’d left the UK.
The China I was seeing looked nothing like that.
But as I continued to travel the country, and learn enough Chinese to get around, I got more confident. It turned out learning Chinese was deceptively easy to begin with, so I started to adventure deeper into the countryside.
Two months in China turned into six months, and then a year. Because I was having some of the most incredible experiences of my life, like travelling to remote parts of China on long distance trains and buses. And hitchhiking hundreds of miles through the wilderness deep in western China were I felt I was the first foreigner to ever go there.
And as I learned more Chinese, I started to realise the appeal of the China I'd seen in Crouching Tiger was all hidden in the language. As I learned more Mandarin, I began to unlock a deeper understanding of the country, its culture, its history, and its society.
By the time I left China a year later, I was already hooked
When I eventually did get to Australia, I quickly got bored. It lacked the stimulation, challenge, and exotic excitement of China. So I started to gravitate to China Towns wherever I went. But that wasn't enough.
After six months in Oz I decided to go to Taiwan.
I wanted to get back into being immersed in a Chinese speaking environment, but try something different, and a bit less intense than the Mainland. So I found work teaching English in a small town in central Taiwan for one year. After that I moved to a larger city, Tainan, to study Chinese intensively for another two years.
I came back to London in 2006, where I took a Master’s degree in Chinese.
I went on to have a career as an interpreter and advisor between the UK and China. I used my Mandarin daily working with Chinese speaking teams, entrepreneurs, investors, and executives from all walks of life, across many sectors, and virtually all parts of China.
Although I was based in London, my working life was mostly in Chinese
And I continued to travel to China for business trips several times a year. So my Mandarin stayed current and continued to improve.
Now I was no longer learning as a student, but in the trenches on the front lines of business links between China and the West. Learning Chinese continued to be a passion. Whenever I came across a new word or phrase, I would always write it down, learn it, and try to use it straight away.
Then when COVID hit the UK in March 2020, everything changed.
Stuck at home and unable to travel to China my language skills quickly became rusty. I forgot words, my tones sounded awful, and my active language shrunk to just basic expressions.
My lowest point came on 16 October 2020
I was chairing an online meeting in Chinese for over 50 people. Before COVID, I would have breezed through it without much prep. But in this meeting, my language just fell apart. I forgot simple words. My tones were all over the place. And my pronunciation was a total mess.
It was so bad that afterwards, someone who was on the call, trying to be polite, messaged me to say:
“Your Chinese actually isn’t that bad.” (你中文说得倒是还是不错的)
Translation: it was bad. Really bad.
I was embarrassed, frustrated, and angry.
Nearly 20 years of hard work learning Chinese was fading away.
I knew I had to do something about it, fast.
I tried all the usual fixes: apps, graded readers, even the latest textbooks.
But none of them helped.
The content in them was dull, dry, out of date, and far removed from the real-world Chinese I’d been used to for so long. I didn’t want “textbook language” which I’d left behind more than 20 years ago.
I wanted to learn real Mandarin.
So I tried watching Chinese movies and TV dramas on YouTube, but I rarely had the time (or patience) to stick with them to the end. Reading novels was even harder, and took up more time. Not an option.
I tried reading Chinese news sites, but usually just hit a wall: got lost, got frustrated, and gave up. But, I thought, the length of a news article should be more manageable than watching a whole movie, or reading a novel.
So, I set myself a reading challenge
To read the news in Chinese every morning for 20 minutes. I started on Sunday 18 October, 2020. No excuses. Even if I only got through one paragraph, I would read the news in Chinese every day.
To make it easier, every evening I found an article to read the following morning. I had it open on my desktop, and made reading it the first thing I did every day.
Even still, it was harder than I expected. Every article was packed with phrases I didn’t know: idioms, internet slang, new expressions.
But I also realised those things I didn’t know were the exact things I needed to know. The things that gave me real insight into what was happening in China right now. What people were actually thinking and talking about.
So I kept going.
I started creating word lists every day as I consumed the news, researching the background of idioms, tracking the meaning and nuance of social media slang, and learning the cultural references and context behind them. The kind of things that all Chinese people “just know”.
And slowly, it started to click.
Articles that used to take me days to wade through, I could finish in under 20 minutes. It felt great to be getting back my language skills and confidence, even surpassing the level I was at before COVID.
And I realised: if this approach can help me, then it can help other people like me get their language skills and confidence back.
So after nearly four-months of daily reading I decided to start publishing my wordlists in a newsletter.
I first hit "publish" on 7 February 2021
Each week I shared what I’d learned so my readers could stay informed and learn as I learned them.
To begin with it was to an audience of 56 friends.
It slowly grew, and turned into what is now RealTime Mandarin read by some of the world’s top China experts.
“The internet's best way to learn real Chinese as its spoken by Chinese people and used in Chinese media. ” — Jeremy Goldkorn, Editor of the China Week.
After one year, the audience had grown from 56 to 6,000. Readers started asking me to add features, content, and integrations with language learning apps. Each time I got a request I figured out how to do it, and added it on.
By the end of 2021, it had become a serious side-hustle and like a second job for me
So in January 2022, I launched my first paid membership.
As the membership grew, so did the resources and tools on offer, catering for different levels of learner, and different styles of learning.
Now it's read by over 12,000 China watchers and Mandarin enthusiasts every week.
“An excellent resource to help learners of Mandarin stay up to date with the latest language trends in China.” — Bill Bishop, founder, Sinocism
Introducing the RTM Plus membership
RTM Plus is a resource which helps you bridge the gap to real-world fluency in Mandarin, stay informed about China, and communicate with confidence in Chinese.
It does this all through weekly immersion in real news as it happens, sourced from both sides of the Great Firewall.
As a member of RTM Plus you'll be immersed in real news.
You’ll get four podcasts and newsletters focussing on one news story each week, plus learning resources and word list integrations with all major Chinese language learning apps.
Published every week through email, all major podcast apps, and via the Substack app, it’s also available on the RealTime Mandarin website, including nearly five years of archives.
It’s a self-paced program is designed to fit around your schedule and learning style.
Choose from audio or text, or combine both. Follow structured lessons, or enjoy passive immersion. Access everything through seamless app integrations, or use print-outs.
Get results whether you have just 20 minutes a week, prefer 10-minute daily bite-sized sprints, or if you want 1-2 hour intensive study sessions.
When you join, you'll get personalised support from me.
We have a 1:1 onboarding call when you join, a check-in call after one month, and you’ll have ongoing support over email.
Because I want to help you get started, stay motivated, build a lasting learning habit, and get the most out of RTM Plus so you can see real results.
Since 2022, RTM Plus has helped over 1,500 members like you stay motivated and inspired to learn Chinese every week, so they can make progress towards real-world fluency.
“I very much enjoy and admire RTM Plus, which is essential reading on contemporary China and Chinese. Through it I rediscover old friends and encounter delightful new acquaintances. It often makes me wistful for nights spent in the rowdy company of revellers in “Old Peking”—Geremie R. Barmé, pre-eminent Sinologist, and Editor of China Heritage
RTM Plus is for you if you want to learn through reading the news in Chinese.
Who RTM Plus is for
RTM Plus is for intermediate-to-advanced Mandarin learners who feel stuck in their learning journey.
It's for you if you describe yourself as "intermediate", "advanced but rusty" or "fluent-ish" with gaps in vocabulary. Or if you’re missing the knowledge and cultural context to understand native-level Chinese news.
Perhaps you used to live in China.
But your language is slipping.
You feel out of touch with the latest lingo (Chinese changes much faster than English!).
Or maybe you're stuck in the intermediate plateau.
But you’re unable to progress.
At your stage of learning, textbooks and graded readers can't get you any further, but native-level news still feels out of reach.
RTM Plus helps you bridge this gap.
You'll go from the limitations of structured learning to being able to confidently read, understand, and engage with real-world news. Because I help you understand it by breaking down the context and giving you everything you need to know to understand it as native speakers do.
From pop culture to historical references, from ancient idioms to modern and ever-changing social media slang.
These are the contextual things native speakers "just know," but no textbook or graded reader can ever teach you.
A textbook is out of date as soon as it's published.
Whereas I create current and relevant content every week, by scanning hundreds of Chinese language news sites inside and outside of China.
And then I select one news story being discussed in the Chinese-speaking world.
I learn about it, break down the context, and explain it and the language you need to know to discuss it in authentic Mandarin, how it’s actually spoken today.
This is what makes RTM Plus different: it's based on real news as it happens.
It's independent and doesn't use state-sponsored content. Unlike all other Chinese language learning apps and resources, I draw from independent writers and news from both sides of the Great Firewall as the news is happening.
“This really is a wonderful platform for people like me who want to keep their Mandarin current and refreshed, while staying informed about what ’s happening in China” — Madelyn Ross, President Emeritus · US-China Education Trust
What’s included in RTM Plus
1. Podcasts
Choose from four weekly podcasts:
RTM Advanced (Saturdays)
RTM Fluent (Saturdays)
RTM Intermediate (Sundays)
RTM Conversations (Wednesdays)
Every week I take you on a journey to get informed, and learn about one news story being discussed in the Chinese speaking world.
On Saturday, I'll explain it to you in English first, so you understand the context and background.
Then I’ll challenge you with advanced and even native (fluent) level content so you can apply what you’ve learned. I link to archive content in each issue so you can learn similar vocabulary in relevant contexts.
On Sunday, if you’re not quite ready to use the advanced content yet, you can go straight into the intermediate level. It’s a shorter, easier version of the same news story. So you can build confidence and fill gaps before moving onto the more challenging content.
Then on Wednesday, you can hear it all come together in a real conversation between two native speakers discussing the story. So you can hear how Chinese people are actually talking about it in authentic, real-world language.
You can listen via the Substack app, the RealTime Mandarin website, or on your favourite podcast app.
You get the content you need to confidently engage with native Chinese news through these four podcasts, even if you know nothing about the news story or topic at the start of the week.
So you can go from zero understanding to informed and fluent, able to communicate with confidence.
2. Resources
Each podcast episode is packed with resources, tools, and app integrations for maximum flexibility, so you can learn, practice and improve systematically around your learning style.
Content for immersion
Native language: 8-20 minutes of native Chinese audio in each podcast episode (four a week), so you can hear real Chinese voices explain, discuss, and read the news as it's spoken by native speakers. And I also recommend links to high-quality news articles, audio and video content for further practice.
Transcripts: Full text of the audio in each episode so you can learn on a deeper level based on how you prefer to consume content: read first and then listen, listen and read at the same time, or just read it at your own pace.
Tools for learning
Word lists: Two word lists every week (Advanced and Intermediate), including pinyin, translations, example sentences, and explanations, so you can learn language in "chunks" and in context.
PDF printouts: Word lists and example sentences with full pinyin in an easily printable format, so you can integrate them into your own study system.
App integrations: Word list integrations with all major apps—Pleco, Anki, Skritter, Hack Chinese, Laoshi.io, and mylingua—so you can access through your preferred tool.
Exercises for understanding
Grammar points: 4-5 common grammar structures with examples, so you can understand how they work in context without feeling overwhelmed. Use these to fill gaps in your knowledge or learn more sophisticated ways to express yourself.
Test questions: Comprehension questions about the news story to help you test yourself, put what you've learned into practice, and check your understanding.
3. Personalised onboarding
One of the biggest challenges for intermediate and advanced Mandarin learners is to find the time to start, and stay motivated to keep going.
That’s why I provide personalised onboarding support when you join RTM Plus.
So you can start in the best way possible, stay consistent, and make real progress.
When you join, you’ll get a series of short onboarding tutorials to guide you through everything RTM Plus offers. It will show you how to use it based on your learning style, your level, and your schedule.
Then you’ll book a 30-minute 1:1 onboarding call with me. I'll give you personalised advice on how best to make use of the RTM Plus resources, and answer any questions you have. Together, we’ll create a study plan which will work for you.
After one-month, we’ll have a 20-minute 1:1 check-in call so I can see how you’re doing. We can discuss and fine-tune your approach to make sure you’re getting the most out of the membership.
You’ll also get ongoing support from me via email and DMs on the Substack app.
So with RTM Plus you’re never learning alone.
“RTM's weekly podcasts, along with word lists, examples of usage, and exercises, have been a boost to my Chinese. As a lawyer with an almost-exclusively Chinese clientele, RTM increases my ability to conduct meetings in Mandarin and to communicate more effectively.” — Todd Platek, author, and immigration attorney, specialising in Chinese-American issues.
How RTM works
RTM Plus isn't graded by HSK or CEFR levels.
Because in real life, language isn't graded either.
RTM Plus gives you essential Contextual Input.
Contextual Input is what I call all the stuff you need to know, which native speakers “just know” but is not normally said.
Like implied meanings, cultural references from literature, history, and pop culture, and evolving slang. Without this context you'll always face barriers when reading Chinese news, and never fully understand what the language really means as native speakers do.
Contextual Input is what will help you bridge the gap from structured learning, to being confident engaging with native news content.
So I use Contextual Input through my six-step FLUENT system which helps you access native news content.
Each step of the FLUENT system helps you overcome one big barrier to reading real news in Chinese.
And here’s how it works:
Step 1: Find
Step 2: Learn
Step 3: Understand
Step 4: Engage
Step 5: Navigate
Step 6: Transform.
Step 1: Find
The first barrier is finding high quality, trustworthy news content.
You might spend hours wading through difficult-to-navigate news sites, reading things which are suddenly removed or censored, getting lost in bad writing, and falling into advertorial content traps.
So I scan hundreds of Chinese media sources weekly.
I help you save time and effort, and a lot of pain, to find the most relevant news stories being discussed in the Chinese speaking world, and the best writing about them.
Step 2: Learn
The next barrier to entry is vocab you’ll never learn in a textbook.
Because Chinese is a living language with new words, phrases and concepts invented all the time. The kind of things people in China just know, but outsiders get stuck on.
I will break down these challenging phrases for you, and explain them in English.
This helps you learn them and be equipped to tackle native-level news which would otherwise be out of reach.
Step 3: Understand
The next barrier is the things which aren’t said: the context.
Real fluency in Chinese isn’t just about words. It’s about understanding this context. So I unpack the cultural, historical, and social meanings to give you the essential "Contextual Input."
This is how you will truly understand what you’re reading.
Step 4: Engage
The next challenge: the problem of learning on your own in a vacuum.
Through my range of podcasts and newsletters, I guide you through native news content as it’s being discussed in China right now.
You get the understanding, tools and knowledge which other resources just can’t provide.
I link to relevant archive content in each issue too, so you can see vocabulary in similar contexts.
So you can engage effectively and deeply with real-world news content without feeling overwhelmed.
Step 5: Navigate
Next, it’s how to actually use what you’ve learned in real conversations.
Each week, after you’ve learned about the news story, you get a real-life conversation between two native speakers discussing the topic using language as it’s really spoken.
This means you'll feel confident to navigate these challenging topics in your conversations with native speakers.
Step 6: Transform
Last, it's breaking through your current learning plateau.
When you reach intermediate level and beyond, you hit phases when you feel stuck, or even like you're moving backwards.
That's why I give you fresh, interesting, and challenging content that pushes you to learn and improve every week.
I help you stay consistent and stretch your skills so you can break through your learning plateau, and transform your language skills and get real-world fluent.
What RTM members are saying
Since 2022, over 1,500 Mandarin learners have used RTM to move beyond textbooks and graded readers—and engage more confidently with real-world, up-to-date Mandarin.
Here’s what some of them are saying about how RTM is helping them:
"RTM Plus boosts my confidence and motivation"
“RealTime Mandarin has been a game-changer for me. The episodes are so interesting and relevant that I can’t wait to challenge myself every week. 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"
“With the recent difficulties of being able to visit China first hand, 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.”
"Removes a lot of the barriers to literacy"
“An absolutely fabulous resource and really fills a niche in Chinese-language education. It removes a lot of the barriers to literacy by giving students the context they need to understand important idioms and how they are used today. It's also great for advanced learners, especially those who live outside a Chinese-speaking community, helping them understand Chinese as it's spoken.”
"Easily accessible"
“I am really enjoying the content from RTM! It can be used in all sorts of ways, fitting your own needs and interests. Personally, I am using the content to learn a few new words and expressions at a time and to listen to native speaker content! I really like that everything is stored in one platform and it is easily accessible. Big thanks for your support and for sharing your passion!”
"Can’t find it elsewhere"
“There is more to the RTM subscription than meets the eye. Little did I know I’d be joining a community of highly motivated and dedicated students and teachers, which has not only transformed my learning experience but launched my language capabilities to a new level. This is truly a unique Mandarin learning product you will not find elsewhere.”
What next
Join RTM Plus
When you join RTM Plus you’ll immediately take your first steps to breaking through your current learning plateau.
And you’ll get informed about China, and learn how to communicate confidently in authentic real-world Mandarin.
To unlock this valuable resource all you’ll need to invest is $220/year (or $30/month).
That works out at less than the price of one coffee per week.
I’m keeping the price low because I want it to be affordable for anyone who wants to transform their Mandarin learning.
Access this valuable resource with one click today:
If you choose to invest in the annual plan, this works out 30% cheaper over the year.
My guarantee
And I’m so confident that RTM Plus will blow you away that I’m offering you my personal guarantee.
So if after the first month of using RTM Plus you have not improved, and you don’t feel more confident and fluent, or you realise it’s not for you...
Just drop me an email and I’ll get you a full refund.
No hassle. No questions asked.
Start practicing and improving your Mandarin today!
Now you’ve seen RTM Plus is the only Chinese learning platform which uses real news, as it’s happening, to teach you authentic real-world Chinese every week.
When you join, I’ll guide you through everything you need to know to learn, practice and improve your Mandarin using real news.
You’ll get fluent, stay informed, and communicate with confidence in authentic real-world Mandarin.
It works for you if you’re “intermediate”, “advanced-ish” or “fluent with gaps.”
And you’re fully protected with my guarantee.
So if you want to start learning and improving Mandarin again, break through your learning plateau, and finally wave goodbye to that rusty feeling…
Click the button below to get started today:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTM Plus membership?
The RTM Plus is a resource which helps you go from rusty and out of touch back to fluent and confident in as little as 20 minutes a week — even if you've lost motivation and feel like you "have no time" to learn.
Choose from four weekly podcasts and newsletters based on your level, and access tailored resources, and get personalised support to get you motivated to start learning Chinese again, and build a learning habit that sticks.
It helps you get fluent, stay informed about China and communicate with confidence in Mandarin.
Is RTM suited to my level?
RTM Plus is ideal for you if you describe your Mandarin level as “intermediate” or “advanced.”
Even if you’re feeling rusty, through weekly immersion you’ll soon find you’re able to access content which currently feels out of reach.
How is RTM different from other language learning resources?
RTM is the only Mandarin learning resource which uses “real news” as a language learning tool.
I scan hundreds of news sites each week to find current news stories which are interesting to Mandarin learners with an interest in modern China.
When you join you get personalised onboarding support.
Through onboarding tutorials, a 1:1 onboarding call with me, and a 1:1 check-in call after one month, I’ll make sure you start and continue with the program and get real results, fast.
I can get free resources online. Why pay for this?
Free resources can be useful, and in fact, I also have a free newsletter!
But many learners struggle with unstructured, inconsistent study when relying only on free materials. Especially when they are at a more advanced level. They feel stuck in their approach, jumping between random videos, articles, and apps.
With RTM, everything is in one place, making progress feel tangible.
I provide a curated, high-quality learning experience with expert analysis, and structured materials to keep you engaged and improving, all the way to feeling confident with native news content.
Won’t this just add to my workload?
RTM Plus saves you time.
It helps you eliminate the hardest parts of learning at an intermediate-to-advanced level—finding the right native content.
Instead of spending hours searching for material that’s interesting, not too easy, but not too hard, RTM delivers carefully selected real-world content with key context explained.
This makes native content more accessible while cutting out wasted effort.
In my onboarding webinars, I recommend different approaches based on your time constraints: 10-20 minutes per day, 1-2 hours per week, or 2+ hours twice per month.
Even if your schedule varies, you’ll find a small weekly commitment makes a big difference in your confidence and comprehension.
If I decide it’s not for me, can I get a refund?
Yes!
I offer a 30-day guarantee. If RTM isn’t the right fit for you, just let me know within your first month and I’ll give you a full refund.
No questions asked, no risk to you!
Can I expense the cost of membership to my company?
Yes. The RTM Plus is a valuable investment to improve your Chinese language skills, and knowledge of China.
So you should be able to ask your company to pay for it on behalf of you.
To make things easy, I even drafted a request email which you can use to write to your company.
Still sitting on the fence…?
Here are more testimonials from members of RTM Plus on how the membership has helped them transform their Chinese language learning.
"Increases my ability to conduct meetings in Mandarin and to communicate more effectively"
“RTM's weekly podcasts, along with word lists, examples of usage, and exercises, have been a boon to my Chinese. As a lawyer with an almost-exclusively Chinese clientele, RTM increases my ability to conduct meetings in Mandarin and to communicate more effectively. All in all, RTM is a tremendously useful and enjoyable tool. I look forward to each weekend when new articles appear.”
"Excellent resource to stay focused on current and relevant vocab"
“If you're not immersed in Chinese news every day it is really difficult to stay up-to-date with the latest idioms, puns, and phrases. I'm so glad this resource exists, not only as a database of new vocabulary but also as a window into Chinese linguistics and internet-speak. It's an excellent resource to stay focused on relevant vocab and explore current events from the Chinese side.”
"Presents you with ready to go content"
“Most learners of Chinese will confess to regular bouts of frustration. Finding content at the right level, expending hours searching for meaning in dictionaries, to no avail, and listening to apparently interesting conversations without the benefit of someone willing to stop and explain it all. The RTM service speeds all this up, by presenting you with ready to go content.”
"Useful for professional and personal interest in China"
“RTM has helped me improve my reading and speaking skills in Chinese tremendously, which is useful for me both professionally and for my own personal interest in China. Strongly recommended to any of those who want to take the next step in actually mastering colloquial Chinese.”
"Easy to digest"
“RTM is a great initiative, providing useful and original content. The weekly content is well analysed and the podcast is a great additional learning tool. In short, great content presented in an easy to digest way.”
"Invaluable, integrated linguistic approach"
“As an advanced learner, I’ve been working on my Chinese for 15 years already. So far RTM is one of the best resources I’ve found. Weekly updates with an incredibly well integrated linguistic approach, real life Chinese with cultural references, native speakers - there’s nothing even similar on the market. The content is invaluable. Thank you so much for your dedication to learning about China!”
"Interesting, digestible and regular"
“When you get to a certain level of Chinese, the amount of tailored learning resources dwindles significantly, making it challenging to improve or maintain your abilities. RTM is so great because it repackages current and relevant materials in a way that is interesting, digestible & regular. Importantly, Andrew's passion for what he does also really shows, which is a great motivator!”
"Flexibility for each learner to use according to their needs"
“Us long-time Chinese language learners are a very diverse bunch, and Andrew has managed to come up with a product that unites us all: material that is current, varied and engaging, and an expanding set of resources that offer flexibility for each learner to use according to their needs - the most recent additions being podcast transcripts and monthly community meetings.”
"I’m progressing much faster than I ever thought possible"
“RTM breaks down an article and extracts words and sentences. You can read along with the native speaker with clear and standard pronunciation. The recommendations have been beneficial in helping me better utilize ALL of my Chinese materials, and I’m progressing much faster than I ever thought possible with just my “comprehensible input” books. I immediately found opportunities to use the information and vocabulary I learned in conversations with Chinese friends!”
"Gripping, insightful and accessible"
“As an advanced learner, I found that RTM offers respite from the laborious task of hacking through long-form Chinese articles, and aided my study with gripping, insightful and accessible definitional explanations, facts about contemporary language use, and introductions to topics I would otherwise be timid to approach. I’d recommend RTM to anyone who wants to engage critically and thoughtfully with current topics pertinent to China today, for which RTM is a stand-alone platform.”
"No better way to stay up on what’s happening on the Chinese Internet"
“Two critical areas for the advanced language learner are up-to-date cultural knowledge and diverse and sophisticated native text and audio to facilitate immersion. RTM has the best of both. Massively helpful for learning, and there’s no better way to stay up on what’s happening on the Chinese Internet in Chinese.”