RTM Membership—Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s everything you need to know about the RTM membership in three sections:
Should I join RTM?
How do I use RTM?
How do I pay for membership?
Should I join RTM?
Q: I don’t have time for another resource—won’t this just add to my workload?
RTM saves you time by eliminating the hardest part 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, and challenging phrases translated, in multiple formats (newsletters, podcasts, transcripts, and app integrations). This makes native content more accessible while cutting out wasted effort.
We help you make the most of your time by offering structured approaches to fit different schedules.
During onboarding, we recommend choosing one of these approaches based on your time constraints:
The Daily Dash—10-20 minutes per day
The Weekly Walk—1-2 hours per week
The Monthly Marathon—2+ hours twice per month
Even if your schedule varies, many members find that a small weekly commitment makes a big difference in their confidence and comprehension.
And if you miss a week, that’s no problem either. Just pick it back up the next week!
We offer 1:1 onboarding support to fine-tune your schedule and keep you accountable:
When you join you get an optional 1:1 onboarding call to help you integrate RTM into your routine, and a check-in after one month to ensure you're on track. RTM members say this really helps them start and stick to a learning habit when then join.
With RTM, you’re not just adding another resource—you’re making your learning time more efficient and effective.
Q: Is RTM suited to my level? Can I try it out first?
RTM is an ideal resource for you if you describe your Mandarin level as “advanced”, followed by “but….”, and then “rusty” or something similar.
But the easiest way to see if RTM is for you, is to try it out for yourself!
Find one episode in the archive. Tell which one you like and we’ll give you free access of 24 hours to try it out for your self.
Q: If I decide it’s not for me, can I get a refund?
Yes!
We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee—if RTM isn’t the right fit, just let us know within your first month for a full refund.
No questions asked.
So no risk to you!
Q: I’ve tried lots of different paid resources, but never got motivated to continue. How is RTM different?
RTM is the only Mandarin learning resource which is based on “real news” while it’s still current. We choose from a range of topics which we know are interesting to seasoned Mandarin learner with an interest in modern China.
When you join RTM you get personalised onboarding support, with 30-minute tutorials explaining what is available and how to use it. After that you get one 30-minute 1:1 onboarding call, and a 30-minute check-in call after one month. This ensures you start and continue with the program based on your needs and restrictions.
Q: Free resources are available—why pay for this?
A: Free resources can be useful, and in fact, our RealTime Mandarin newsletter is free! But many learners struggle with unstructured, inconsistent study when relying only on free materials—especially when they are at a more advanced level.
RTM provides a curated, high-quality learning experience with expert analysis, native audio, and structured materials that keep you engaged and improving, all the way to feeling confident with native news content. Many members say that before RTM, they felt scattered in their approach—jumping between random videos, articles, and apps. With RTM, everything is in one place, making progress feel tangible.
How do I you use RTM?
Q: I only want to use one podcast or part of the membership. Is that possible?
Yes. You can select which podcasts and newsletters you receive in your Account Settings page when you sign up. You can choose the content that is best suited to your level. You can also decide if you want to receive content by email, or via the substack app.
The full archive is available on the RTM website, so you can access it any time there.
Q: There is so much in RTM. How do I avoid being overwhelmed?
RTM is designed with flexibility in mind. So you can pick and choose the content and integrations suited to your learning style. At an intermediate level, you already have your established learning preferences. So we provide you with the optionality and flexibility to engage with the RTM materials suited to your needs.
Also, when you join, you get personalised onboarding support so we can help advise you how best to use the resources based on your time constraints.
Q: I am lower intermediate and/or very rusty. Is RTM above my level?
RTM is designed to support learners of intermediate level and above. If you are at this level, or feeling very rusty, we suggest you start with RTM Intermediate first, and focus on that. As you gain confidence, you can progress to more challenging content, or mix and match depending on your needs.
Some members of the RTM community are at HSK3 level. The Intermediate content is challenging for them, but is manageable with a little extra effort.
Q: I’m only interested in topics about Chinese society, and don’t want to learn about business or politics. Is there enough of this content for me?
Yes! We publish content in three categories: society, business, and politics.
You can choose from the extensive archive in your area of interest. And even when we do write about business, or politics, we aim to link it back to broader social trends in China.
In each issue, we try to link to related content in the archive to give you the option of going deeper into your area of interest.
Q: How do I find RTM podcasts linked to the same episode if I want to try more challenging materials?
We make it as easy as possible for you to transition to different podcasts from the same episode:
All episodes are numbered. The same episode has the same number but is categorised differently as “Advanced” (高级), Intermediate (中级), Conversations (对话), and Fluent (文章) so you can easily find the content best suited to you.
At the end of each post, there is a navigation menu with links to posts of the same episode for the different levels of content, so you can navigate easily.
Q: How much time should I spend to get the most out of the resources?
A: RTM is designed to be flexible so you can fit it into your schedule. Ideally, we recommend:
The Daily Dash—15-20 minutes per day
The Weekly Walk—1-2 hours per week
The Monthly Marathon—2+ hours twice per month
If your schedule varies, that’s fine! Our onboarding process helps you personalize your approach based on your available time. Many members say even a small weekly commitment has made a big difference in their confidence and comprehension.
Q: Can I listen to RTM podcasts in my Podcast app?
Yes. After you become a member, you can connect RTM podcasts with your favourite podcast app in your Account Settings page. As long as you remain a paid members, the podcasts will also automatically update in your podcast feed. Learn more here: How do I listen to episodes on my podcast app?
How do I pay for membership?
Q: How do I pay for membership?
There are two ways to get access to RTM resources:
RTM Plus: “Self-paced resources”
Monthly: $30/month
Annual: $220/year (30% cheaper than monthly)
RTM Pro: “Structured immersion”
Annual: $600/year
Q: Can I expense my RTM subscription to my employer?
Yes! If you have a career related to China, the RTM subscription will be a valuable resource for you, and your employer. So if your employer does offer you a development budget, the RTM subscription should be highly expensible. We’ve made it easy for you by drafting an email application which you can use.
Q: Can I switch to an annual subscription if I’m on the monthly plan?
Yes! Just go to your account page, choose the ‘Subscriptions’ tab, and click the Annual upgrade button. You will be charged immediately, with a prorated discount applied for the remainder of your current monthly plan.
Q: Can I switch off auto-renew on my subscription?
Yes. You can switch off auto-renew on your Account Settings page. But don’t worry, even if you don’t switch that off, you will get email reminders, and the option to cancel or pause, before the next payment is taken.
Q: Do you offer a student discount?
We offer discounted “group subscription” rates to institutions. So if you’re a student and you use RTM, speak to your university and recommend RTM to them. We’d be happy to discuss a group subscription with them.
Q: Do you offer group subscriptions to RTM?
Yes! RTM is a valuable resource for institutions that need expert insights on China—whether you're in academia, government, or the corporate world. A group subscription ensures your team stays informed, sharpens their language skills, and deepens their China expertise.
We offer group plans for universities, think tanks, government departments, and companies, making it easy to equip your team with high-quality, real-world Mandarin learning and analysis.
Get in touch to learn more about setting up a group subscription for your organisation.
Q: Can I give an RTM subscription as a gift?
Yes. You can buy a friend of colleague an RTM subscription as a gift using this link:
Q: Still have questions?
If you still have questions which aren’t answered here, please contact us and ask! The easiest way to connect is to DM through the Substack app: