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Try to imitate accents. Whether listening to our podcast or working with a language learning partner. Don’t believe the myth that you’re not capable of speaking like a native speaker. Many foreigners make the mistake of assuming that since they aren’t native speakers they shouldn’t even try. If you work on it long enough you will get close!

This is a tip for those living in a Chinese speaking area. Carry a small notebook with you everywhere you go. Try to pick out the same word mentioned a few times by different people. If you do hear one, write it down. Chances are if you heard it several times already, you’ll probably hear it again. Find someone to translate it for you and write down the meaning and the tones. This way the next time you hear it you won’t be lost and you’ll remember it from hereon.